Will Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi play in the OHL rather than Bridgeport in 2024-25?
Will Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi play in the OHL rather than Bridgeport in 2024-25?
On Wednesday, New York Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi was selected by the OHL's London Knights 58th overall in the 2024 CHL Import Draft.
The CHL Import Draft allows the Canadian junior teams to draft players that are from anywhere but North America.
Islanders defensive prospect Isaiah George, who is turning pro this season, won the Memorial Cup with London this past season.
Nurmi was already set to play in North America this coming season, but the expectation was for the Finland native to play with the Bridgeport Islanders.
Although he is 19, Nurmi can still play in the CHL and it may be beneficial for his development to play one season of juniors before turning pro and joining the Islanders.
This does, however, mean that Nurmi could take longer to reach the NHL.
Nurmi had four goals and four assists for eight points in six games with Finland's U-20 KooKoo team before two assists in 19 games with the big club.
The Islanders drafted Nurmi in the fourth round (No. 113) in the 2023 NHL Draft, signing him to his three-year entry-level deal on June 12.
Bridgeport currently has four left-wingers signed for 2024-25, including Nurmi.
They are likely to have Ruslan Iskhakov as well—if he reports—since the Islanders don't currently have room on their roster, personnel-wise or financially.