Islanders Isaiah George Run-Up To Pro Career After London Falls In Memorial Cup

Isaiah George, the New York Islanders' 98th overall pick at the 2022 NHL Draft will be turning pro this upcoming season. Here's a feature from Stefen Rosner on his chat with George over the last two years and what he's shown on the ice.

On Day One of the 2022 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders made a trade with the Montreal Canadiens, acquiring defenseman Alexander Romanov and the 98th overall pick for the 13th overall pick.

The Canadiens then sent that pick to the Chicago Blackhawks in a deal for Kirby Dach. That pick became Frank Nazar, a star out of the University of Michigan.

While the Islanders got a young defenseman in Romanov, a player who could make an immediate impact and be part of the future, the club also drafted what many people believed to be a diamond in the rough a day later with their newfound fourth-round pick. 

The player they selected was London Knights' defenseman Isaiah George.

Standing at six-foot-one and weighing 195 pounds, the left-shot blue liner was known for his skating prowess, with a keen ability to carry the puck while also gaping up against the best in junior.

When the 18-year-old came to the podium in the back of the Bell Centre, he sat down and unleashed a tremendous smile. 

George was soft-spoken -- a tad nervous -- as how can you not be after hearing an NHL team call your name?

Through his nerves, George shared what kind of player he wanted to be and who he modeled his game after. 

"I really want to become a two-way defenseman,” George said. “I think my defensive game is definitely my strong point at this stage in my hockey career. I think the offense is continuing to grow, and I think it’s gotten better even this season.”

In 67 games with the London Knights in 2021-22, George notched six goals with 17 assists for 23 points.

George said he modeled his game after two players: Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen and Florida Panthers Gustav Forsling.

Heiskanen was an up-and-coming star back in 2022, but it is interesting that Forsling was a player George studied. 

Forsling has become an incredible two-way defenseman who has a high chance of winning the Conn Smythe trophy in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, as Florida will battle the Edmonton Oilers in the Stanley Cup Final, which begins on June 8. 

After celebrating with his family and friends that night, George wasted no time, as he was back in the gym the next day.

“Yeah, [being drafted] was definitely an extra push of motivation,” George shared with me. “So I was just back in the gym the day after I got home, and then just continued what I was working on prior to the draft.”

A few months later, George attended his first-ever NHL camp, hitting the ice with his fellow prospects at Northwell Ice Center in late September 2022. 

"It’s been great. It seems like a great city,” George said after day two of rookie camp. “And then obviously the facilities, the coaching staff, and the players that are a part of the organization are awesome.

“I think it’s a great team to be a part of.”

George was a nervous wreck in the final days before coming to Long Island, but those nerves went away rather quickly.

“When I came here, it was a warm welcome,” George said. “So I definitely feel a lot more comfortable than the days leading up to [camp], and then once I was out on the ice, it’s just hockey.

"So, just being confident in my skills and abilities.”

Speaking of those skills, Matthew Maggio, the Islanders' 2022 fifth-round selection from the Windsor Spitfires, had some things to say about his fellow prospect and 2022 draftee.

“When I talked to teams during the [draft] interview processes, and they asked who was the hardest guy to play against, I said him a few times,” Maggio said. “Just his skating makes him such an elite defensive threat, and trying to get around him was definitely tough all year.”

For those who know Maggio at this point, through shared quotes and stories, he's a funny guy.

When I asked him about George initially, he looked at me with a straight face and said, "He actually hurt me midway through the year. He sprained my wrist before smiling and saying," It was a legal hit. It was my bad. Just on the follow-through, he clipped my wrist, but it's funny to get to see him."

Against the other prospects, George showed well. 

One battle stood out. They were running an offensive zone drill, and George was matched up against 2021 second-round pick forward Aatu Räty, the team's top prospect. 

Whenever Räty had the puck, George made his life hell. When the two got to the net front, George boxed him out in front of the goal, and frustrations boiled over for a second as Räty gave him a cross-check. 

George returned the favor.

The Islanders traded Räty, along with Anthony Beauvillier and their 2023 first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks for Bo Horvat on Jan. 31, 2023. 

Unfortunately for George, he suffered a lower-body injury after an awkward collision a few days later, which prevented him from skating alongside the NHLers.

His return to the Knights lineup was delayed, missing 14 games. 

In 54 games, George scored seven goals with 15 assists for 22 points. 

George and the Knights lost in the OHL Finals to the Peterborough Petes, with the young defenseman recording three assists in 20 playoff games.

"I feel like [my season] 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 [I developed it] a little bit. It's still an area I feel like I still want to keep on improving in, but still sticking to my style of game."

When his second training camp rolled around, George was the proud owner of a three-year entry-level deal, signing his first pro contract the day before hitting the ice on Long Island. 

"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. 

"It was a very exciting moment, but at the same time, I was already prepared to come into camp and try and get a contract. It was just a great moment to share with my family that I got to do it before I left."

There was more comfortability the second time around for George, who hoped he could survive the rookie camp and get a chance to match up with the NHLers.

"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 backed up his words with his actions, showing off his stellar defense, particularly in front of goal, while he shut down odd-man rushes like clockwork. 

First-year Bridgeport head coach Rick Kowalsky said this about George following the first day of rookie camp. 

"I really liked him last year when he came in and then had the ankle injury, which is unfortunate," Kowalsky said. "We were looking forward to seeing him more, but again another very mobile [defenseman]. The 1-on-1s today, the 2-on-2s...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. "

When training camp rolled around, the Islanders paired him with veteran Ryan Pulock, where he continued to shine.

"He looks solid. I think he's got good poise, offensively and defensively," Pulock told THN. "Watching him for a couple of days here, off rushes and defensive zone ending plays, he looks like he's got a lot of confidence in all areas of his game."

While George, who had one more year of junior eligibility, was a long shot to make the NHL squad, Pulock was brutally honest. 

"I mean, you never know," Pulock said on George cracking the roster. "If he can push somebody out, I'm sure he's gonna have a spot, so you never know. 

"I think for him, he's just coming in here and putting his best foot forward. He keeps working on every area of his game and pushing the veterans, myself, to be better and fight for our jobs. So it's great to see that."

For George, playing with Pulock was a "surreal" experience. 

"He's a top defenseman. He's very smart and good positionally. And then, obviously, I feel like he's good with the puck," George said. "He has a lot of poise and just makes a lot of good plays."

As a defenseman, George has had to go up against some pretty tough forwards, starting with Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

"He was the first guy, NHL guy, last practice that I was playing up against. So that was a pretty cool moment," George said.

Former Islanders head coach Lane Lambert, who lost his job on Jan. 20 with Patrick Roy taking his place, backed up Pulock's words regarding George. 

Former Islanders head coach Lane Lambert, who lost his job on Jan. 20 with Patrick Roy taking his place, backed up Pulock's words regarding George. 

"I've really liked him. He's confident, even from rookie camp. He passes the puck hard. It's on the tape," Lambert said after the second day of camp. "That's the key to being a defenseman, a breakout defenseman. He's young, but he doesn't necessarily play to his age. He seems to be pretty seasoned."

Confidence was the key to everything for George, and it's what allowed him to be productive.

"I think just having confidence in myself [has been key]," George said. "Knowing that I put in the work to be able to compete and then just staying focused and trusting everything I've learned throughout my entire hockey career."

George made his preseason debut against the New York Rangers and quickly learned how fast decisions must be made. 

After George, in his own zone, fed Pierre Engvall at the left circle in an effort to start some type of breakout, Engvall coughed up the puck to Kaapo Kakko, who beat Semyon Varlamov glove side just 15 seconds in.

Later in the first, Rangers prospect Matt Rempe, who became a fan favorite rather quickly after the physical impact he made during the regular season and early in these playoffs, laid a questionable hit on George. 

He had a hard time getting up, going down the tunnel when he did, before returning and finishing the game. 

“His first game is great learning experience for him,” Lambert said following a 4-2 loss. “[He needs to] learn to get back to pucks a little quicker and move the puck a little quicker. Every young player goes through that. I liked the fact that he gutted it out and played through what he had.”

George ended up being sent back to the OHL for his final season in London. Per CHL rules, he was ineligible to play in the AHL since he was under 20 and hadn't completed four CHL seasons yet. 

But before leaving Long Island, George shared what he learned. 

"I think the biggest thing is just the compete and just the pace of play and physicality," George said. "That's something I can always bring back and just have that reminder every time I'm out in practice in games, just to always make sure I'm skating hard, playing physical and just trying to emulate what it's like at the next level."

Although it wasn't a perfect final junior season for George, who struggled to score goals and add that element to his game, he played in all 68 games for the Knights, donning an "A" on his sweater.

He recorded a career-high 30 points, with six goals and 24 assists, before scoring four goals with five assists through the first 14 games of the OHL Playoffs. 

In the OHL Finals against the Oshawa Generals, George tallied three assists in their four-game sweep, setting up Game 3's double-overtime winner:

After a strong showing through Round Robin of the Memorial Cup, George and London came up short in the Memorial Cup Final, falling to the Saginaw Spirit on Sunday night. 

Trailing 3-0 early, the Knights scored three unanswered goals to tie the game at 3-3 in the third before giving up the game-winning goal with 24 seconds to play in regulation. 

A brutal loss for sure, George now gears up for his third Islanders camp but his first professional season.

Although the Islanders may need a left-side defenseman if they don't bring back unrestricted free agent Mike Reilly, which would be a shock, it's rather likely that George will begin his career with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League. 

With Calle Odelius, a left-shot defenseman who the Islanders drafted in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, George's draft, and who is also turning pro, there are four left-side defensemen projected to be on Bridgeport's roster in 2024-25: George, Odelius, Travis Mitchell, and Marshall Warren.

We can't sit here on June 3 and say that George is going to be an elite defenseman for the Islanders or even make it in the NHL.

But what is known is that the Islanders took a chance on a young, raw defenseman with NHL potential. 

Now, it's up to George to prove he has what it takes, starting with training camp this fall, his third but first as a professional hockey player.