Catching Up With Prospect Jesse Nurmi After His First-Ever NHL Islanders Skate

For the first time since being drafted by the New York Islanders in 2023, Jesse Nurmi took part in a skate, hitting the ice on day three of training camp.

EAST MEADOW, NY -- On Saturday afternoon, New York Islanders head coach Patrick Roy worked the second group to the brink. 

Amongst the tired bunch was prospect Jesse Nurmi, who was taking part in his first-ever skate with the Islanders.

The 2023 fourth-round pick (No. 113) didn't take part in either of the last training camp and missed the entirety of this year's rookie camp due to an injury. 

"It was hard for the first day, especially after not being on the ice for a week, " Nurmi said. "It felt pretty good going on the ice with the guys. I got little [to no] feeling in my legs, but I think it will be better after day one."

When Nurmi was drafted, the Islanders head coach was Lane Lambert. 

Now it's Roy, and Nurmi enjoyed skating for the Hockey Hall of Famer. 

"He's just a legend," Nurmi said. "It's been nice. He's been giving me some tips. There's pretty good players on the ice, too."

Nurmi, 19, decided that he wanted to play the 2024-25 season in North America. 

Talking with New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello, they believed the best move was for him to play in juniors rather than the AHL.

So, Nurmi entered the CHL's Import Draft as an international player from Finland. 

He was selected by the London Knights, a team that fell in the Memorial Cup Finals last season. 

"I just want to get used to the North American game," Nurmi said as to why he decided to come over. "It's fast here. The guys are bigger."

Before coming to Islanders camp, Nurmi went through camp with London.

"I think that's the best place for junior hockey in the world," Nurmi said. "So many guys are going to the NHL from there, and it's just a great organization. I was there for two weeks before I came here." 

Islanders prospect Isaiah George (2022, Rd. 4), who is gearing up for his first professional season with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League, played for London from 2021-2024. 

Nurmi has been picking George's brain about London. 

"I have been talking with him because he played there last year, too. And he was just saying that it's a really good place. And he really just enjoyed it," Nurmi said. "It was a nice year for him. And I have been talking with [Kasper] Halttunen, too. So, now I know how the place is."

Halttunen is a fellow Finnish forward drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the second round of the 2023 NHL Draft who plays for London. 

There's no question that Nurmi has speed and a wicked release, but at 5'10, weighing 165 pounds, he wants to work on the physical side of the game. 

"I want to work on getting stronger and getting used to the game here," Nurmi said. "It's pretty different here. Like in Finland, it's more trapping. The games may be slower. There are more battles, so I just want to get used to that."

After talking with Nurmi, Roy had some words for the youngster and his compete level, especially after grinding through the sand-bag skates. 

"The first thing I said to Nurmi is feel comfortable. Don't worry about how it's going to finish. Just give me what you can, and we'll go from there," Roy said. "And that's all you can ask for. This is not a punishment. It's to get ready for the season."

Roy thinks Nurmi can learn a lot from playing in the OHL this season. 

"First of all, this is a Lou [Lamoriello] decision to have him come over and play in juniors. But I think it will be good for him, confidence-wise, to learn how to play on smaller ice, learn the language, and learn to play the game," Roy said. "I think there's a lot to learn, and then when he is a 20-year-old, he'll be ready to either play with us [NHL level] or with the farm team."

We will see if Nurmi gets a chance to show his skill in a preseason game before heading back to London.

The Islanders kick off their preseason schedule Sunday night at 7 PM against the New Jersey Devils.