Catching Up With Islanders Prospect Isaiah George

The New York Islanders may have found a diamond in the rough when they used their 2022 fourth-round selection (No. 98) on then-18-year-old Isaiah George. Our Stefen Rosner caught up with him as he's back on the island for his second rookie camp.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders may have found a diamond in the rough when they used their 2022 fourth-round selection (No. 98) on then-18-year-old Isaiah George.

The six-foot, 199-pound defenseman seems to have all the tools you want in a top-four blueliner, showcasing a defensive mindset and an ability to read, react, and join the rush. 

George native scored six goals with 17 assists in 67 games for the OHL's London Knights in his draft year, his second season with the club.  

After hearing his name called by New York at the podium, George said he wanted to add more offense to his game. 

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A few months later, George hit the ice for his first rookie camp, showing off his defensive prowess as he didn't allow forwards to get to the front of the net. 

Unfortunately, George sustained a lower-body injury a few days into camp, forcing him to miss the main camp with the NHLers and the entire preseason play.

His return to the OHL lineup for the start of the 2022-23 season was delayed due to the injury, missing 14 games. In 54 games, George scored seven goals with 15 assists. 

George and the Knights would go on a run in the playoffs, falling short in the finals, losing to the Peterborough Petes. The young defenseman recorded three assists in the 20 playoff games. 

On Wednesday, the day before the Islanders rookies hit the ice, the Islanders announced that they had come to terms with George on his three-year NHL-level deal. 

"It was a great feeling. It's kind of a little bit unexpected," George told The Hockey News. "Like I come home Monday and fly out Tuesday, and then sort of that night (Wednesday), I got a call from my agent that a deal was done. So it's a very exciting moment, but at the same time, I was already prepared to come into camp and try and get a contract. So, it was just a great moment to share with my family that I got to do it before I left."

George will be returning to the OHL for his junior season once rookie camp ends.

Although he did miss time with that injury, the now 19-year-old was proud of what he accomplished in his second OHL season. 

"I feel like it was pretty good," George told THN. "I feel like I got better throughout the entire season. I feel like I played my role. I worked on a lot of the things I wanted to work on, and overall, I felt like I put in a good body of work."

When asked about developing his offensive game, which was a goal, George said, "I think a little bit, so still an area I feel like I still want to keep on improving in, but still sticking to like my style of game."

After partaking in Islanders' rookie camp a year ago and maturing with another junior season under his belt, George said there's more comfortability this time around.

"Yeah, I think [I'm] a lot [more comfortable]," George said. "I just have more familiarity with the coaching staff, the players, the pace, the physicality, just all those aspects. So I just feel like I'm more comfortable, know what to expect from them, and obviously just better prepared."

George looked good on Day 1, especially defending the front of the goal. 

Here's what Bridgeport Islanders head coach Rick Kowalsky said Thursday:

"I really liked him last year when he came in and then had the ankle injury, which is unfortunate. We were looking forward to seeing him more, but again another very mobile [defenseman]. The one-on-ones today, the two-on-ones, he's a strong kid, but his ability to adjust his gap, which is the reason we set that drill in place today and move laterally, just again, another good strong skating defenseman, which you know you can't have enough of them. "