The Edmonton Oilers and Florida Panthers meet again in the Stanley Cup Final, and the two franchises have shown the importance of a strong development system.
92% of the Oilers' roster developed in the American Hockey League (AHL), while 67% of the Panthers' roster was developed in the AHL.
While this may not seem like a big deal, it relates to the New York Islanders
In 2024-25, the Islanders AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Islanders, posted a 15-50-4-3 record, far and away the worst in the league.
These struggles are not a new issue for the organization, either, as Bridgeport has made the playoffs once since 2019.
Development has been disappointing, too, as the only notable young AHL graduate to find NHL success in that span has been Simon Holmstrom, who took some time to find his footing in the NHL.
With Mathieu Darche now at the helm as GM, the Islanders franchise will shift more attention to Bridgeport in building a winning culture from top to bottom.
This will be all the more important given the Islanders have assembled a prospect pool filled with NCAA players poised to develop in a professional league like the AHL before taking on the NHL.
Changes are already underway, as Bridgeport’s entire coaching staff will be new in 2025-26, with the executives still under assessment.
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Photo Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images