Top prospects for New York Islanders

NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 1-Sept. 1. Today, the top five prospects for the New York Islanders, according to NHL.com.

1. Victor Eklund, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 16 pick in 2025 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Djurgarden (SWE): 43 GP, 6-18-24; Bridgeport (AHL): 9 GP, 3-7-10; New York (NHL): 1 GP, 0-1-1

Eklund (5-foot-11, 161 pounds) turns 20 on Oct. 3 and has a realistic chance to break training camp with the Islanders. He had an assist in his NHL debut, a 2-1 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at UBS Arena on April 14, after finishing fourth in scoring among players 20 and under in the Swedish Hockey League.

"There's definitely room for growth, but at the same time he did not look out of place," Islanders center Bo Horvat said. "I think there's a spot open for him. It's just up to him to come into camp and be ready to go."

Projected NHL arrival: This season

2. Malte Gustafsson, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 13 pick in 2026 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: HV71 (SWE): 27 GP, 0-3-3; HV71 Jr. (SWE-JR): 19 GP, 4-18-12

Gustafsson (6-4, 200) appears on target to play for Sweden at the 2027 IIHF World Junior Championship after he had three assists in five games at the World Junior Summer Showcase.

"He's so young, but I think he's a professional," Sweden coach Magnus Havelid said. "He looks at himself in the mirror first before he talks to someone else or complains to someone else."

The 18-year-old signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Islanders on July 14 and will play another season in the Swedish Hockey League, likely with more ice time than the 11:02 he averaged for HV71 last season.

"I think he has a good picture of his strengths and what he needs to work on," Havelid said. "When you see a guy like him, he's focused on the right things. Every practice is a good chance for him to learn something new and be a little bit better, step by step. That's, I think, one of the keys."

Projected NHL arrival: Next season

3. Kashawn Aitcheson, D

How acquired: Selected with No. 17 pick in 2025 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Barrie (OHL): 56 GP, 28-42-70

Though Aitcheson (6-2, 200) turns 20 on Sept. 21 and likely will start his first professional season with Hamilton in the American Hockey League, he will get a long look during training camp. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract March 17 after setting a Barrie single-season record for goals by a defenseman. His 171 points in four seasons are the most by a Barrie defenseman.

"He's a rare breed," Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche said. "He's not afraid to answer … and there's not as many players like that as there were 25-30 years ago. He's going to show us with the way he's playing where he belongs, and if it's on the island, we'll make room. If he needs time in the AHL, it's OK too."

Projected NHL arrival: Next season

4. Dmitry Gamzin, G

How acquired: Selected with No. 115 pick in 2024 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: CSKA (RUS): 40 GP, 22-10-6, 1.49 GAA, .938 SVP, 8 SO

The 23-year-old (6-3, 174) led the Kontinental Hockey League in goals-against average and shutouts, was second in save percentage, and went 5-5 with a 1.90 GAA and .929 save percentage in 10 playoff games. Gamzin signed a two-year contract with CSKA on Jan. 12 and appears on a similar trajectory to Ilya Sorokin, who was 26-10-3 with a 1.50 GAA, .935 save percentage and nine shutouts in 40 games in his final KHL season with CSKA Moscow before signing a one-year contract with the Islanders at age 24 on July 13, 2020.

"Hopefully we'll be able to get him over here soon because he's definitely a very high prospect," Darche said.

Projected NHL arrival: 2029-30 season

5. Cole Eiserman, F

How acquired: Selected with No. 20 pick in 2024 NHL Draft

2025-26 season: Boston University (NCAA): 32 GP, 18-10-28; Bridgeport (AHL) 12 GP, 2-7-9

Eiserman (6-0, 195) turns 20 on Aug. 29. He signed a three-year, entry-level contract March 18 after he had 64 points (43 goals, 21 assists) in 71 NCAA games in two seasons. He also played twice for the United States at the IIHF World Junior Championship, winning a goal medal in 2025 when he had seven points (three goals, four assists) in seven games.

"Whether he makes the team right away, whether it takes him a few weeks, a few months, or a year, everybody has a different timeline, and nobody knows what that timeline is until they play pro," Darche said. "We're a team that's looking for goals, so his development will tell us where he will play the season."

Projected NHL arrival: Next season

NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman contributed to this report