Every year, the narrative around the New York Islanders prospect pool is as negative as can be. It's a fair assessment if the surface is the only thing that's being looked at.

Every year, the narrative around the New York Islanders prospect pool is as negative as can be. It's a fair assessment if the surface is the only thing that's being looked at.

Since Lou Lamoriello joined the Islanders as their president and general manager on Jul. 1, 2018, he has traded four first-round picks for bonafide NHL talent, including top prospect Aatu Räty in his deal for Bo Horvat this past season. 

The Islanders didn't have a strong prospect pool heading into the Lamoriello era and without first-round picks, there were no "studs" in the organization, which rewarded New York with prospect criticism.

That doesn't mean the prospects here can't be vital players for the organization. 

Lamoriello has had to take advantage of his late-round selections. 

Since the opening of rookie camp on Sept. 14 to the latest rounds of cuts this past Friday, the Islanders prospects in attendance have certainly changed the narrative. 

Not only have many shown to have bright futures, but they may be ready quicker than expected, which could impact Lamoriello's decisions at upcoming trade deadlines or routes to take in the summer months. 

WILLIAM DUFOUR

The Islanders drafted William Dufour with their fifth-round pick (152nd) in 2020. Over the last few seasons, he went from a reclamation project to now the organization's top prospect. 

Albeit an NHL-caliber shot, Dufour's skating would likely limit him to a bottom-six role at the NHL level if he ever made it as a regular. 

Well, things changed over the summer, as the credit needs to go to Dufour.

He knew that his skating was holding him back from being NHL-ready after his first pro season in Bridgeport, scoring 21 goals with 27 assists and in his one NHL game.

"Like I said every time, [I need to improve] my skating, my explosion," Dufour said. "When I'm max speed, I think I'm pretty fast for a big guy like me, but I think it's really my first couple of strides I need to improve. I worked a lot with my trainer this summer with this, so I think I really improved it this summer."

Although Dufour still may need some more AHL action before he can be relied upon as an NHL regular, his conditioning, mixed with his skating and elite shot, now makes him a player who has the potential to play a top-six role for New York. 

"Coming from junior, he could probably rely on his size. I know I used to, as well," Matt Martin said. "And, a lot of ways you rely on your size and your strength, and I don't want to say neglect any other parts of your game, but, probably, last year was a little bit of a learning experience for him. And I'm sure the coaches and management told him what he needed to work on and credit to him for pushing himself hard this offseason and working on that and getting better.

"[He's in] better shape, and I think a lot of people have been talking about his skating being better, so it's probably better."

MATTHEW MAGGIO

After going undrafted in 2021, the Islanders drafted Matthew Maggio in the fifth round (142nd) of the 2022 NHL Draft. 

He immediately showed just how talented he was, as in his final season with the Windsor Spitfires, serving as captain, he was named OHL Player of the Year, scoring 54 goals with 57 assists in 66 games. 

Yes, an over-ager by definition, Maggio was dynamic in all facets of the game, and he showed the organization a glimpse of that in his two games with Bridgeport before the end of the 2022-23 season, notching two assists. 

Coming into his second training camp with the Islanders, Maggio had all the confidence in the world.

"I'm not coming here to have a big camp and go to Bridgeport. I'm coming here to push for a roster spot," Maggio said. "Where I am right now, I have full confidence in myself to be able to do that or at least push as hard as I can for one and give the coaches a hard time."

And his words translated on the ice, as he impressed everyone, from his linemates to Lambert. 

He was quick with his decision-making, going hard to the net and making simple plays that allowed him to flourish. 

“I think he's been really good," Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said. "And I've said it from day one, he's a hockey player. He comes to work every day. His motor’s running. He’s smart. He wants the puck. So I think if anything, the game, the scrimmages, and things like that, just get him more up to speed and get him more adjusted, but I certainly like what I see.”

Maggio sounds like a coach's dream, and because of that, Maggio may have a leg up in the trust category, which means higher up on the call-up list. 

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.

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.

After missing training camp a year ago due to an ankle injury, he shined in his first opportunity against NHLers. He may not be the biggest player, but his edgework, his positioning, his active stick, and his confidence had him putting pressure on the Islanders blue liners throughout camp.

"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 has one more season in the OHL before joining the organization, and although he may need some seasoning in Bridgeport, it appears that an NHL spot will be his in a few seasons. 

"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 day two 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."

CALLE ODELIUS

The Islanders used their second-round pick in 2022 on defenseman Calle Odelius. 

The 19-year-old has a bright future, but his contract with Djurgadens IF of the Swedish Elite League made coming to North America not part of his plans until 2024-25. 

Although not a standout during rookie camp, Odelius' skating and smarts were displayed against the NHL veterans, which will help him get accustomed to the NHL game faster. 

In Europe, finesse and dekes are much more prevalent than physicality and board battles. While Odelius has the skating to use the bigger ice to his advantage, he believes his style actually fits better on this side of the pond.

"Coming from Europe, from Sweden, we played on bigger ice, so just to come here and get to experience playing on a small rink and getting those tips and tricks from the players and the coaches," Odelius said. "I would say my game fits better here. Like you need to make quicker decisions, quicker reads, and that's one thing I kind of struggled a little bit [with] back in Sweden.

"I felt like I had so much time with the puck side, so I didn't feel like I needed to get rid of the puck, so yeah, I think my playstyle fits better here because I need to play the puck quick, get up the ice and follow the offense."

Here's what Lambert thought of his first preseason game:

"You know what, I thought he was pretty good, his mobility, his skating," Lambert said following the 6-5 loss to the New Jersey Devils. "There were times when, potentially, he could move the puck a little quicker, but you could say that about all our defensemen tonight."

Odelius will need some time to reacclimate to NHL speed next season, but he may only be a few years away from being a staple on the Islanders' backend if he can shore up some areas of his game, especially his offense. 

EETU LIUKAS

Since the Islanders used their 2021 fifth-round pick on the Finnish forward, Eetu Liukas has faired well in the Finnish Elite League and on the international stage.

In his first taste of NHL camp, the six-foot-two, 202-pound forward showcased his strong board play and an ability to get to the front of the net. 

In Europe, Liukas has been an incredibly versatile player, playing up and down the lineup, wearing many hats for TPS, where he spent three seasons, and HPK, where he played a season ago.

However, his skill sets align perfectly with that of a bottom-six forward, and for the crowd that thinks the Islanders are overpopulated with those kinds of players, it's a critical role -- and Liukas plays it well.

With the Islanders' fourth line not getting any younger, Liukas has a solid chance to be part of the new generation of fan-favorite fourth-liners. 

"I'm a bottom-six player. I think my strengths are there, playing physical, and I play a good two-way game," Liukas said. "But I'm not afraid to score, either. So let's see, but I think my strengths are bottom six."

Liukas is incredibly versatile, and with Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck on expiring deals, it seems that the fourth line could have some openings as soon as 2024-25. We shall see how good of a first year in Bridgeport Liukas can have, but the potential is certainly there. 

ARNAUD DURANDEAU

Arnaud Durandeau, the Islanders' sixth-round pick (165th) in 2017, was given the first chance alongside Bo Horvat and Mathew Barzal and showcased his skill early on in training camp.

There's the reason why the second-year head coach went that route.

"I like his speed, and when he gets an opportunity, he has the ability to score, and he's proven that the last couple of days," Lambert said.

The 24-year-old had some positive moments, but after an underwhelming scrimmage, he lost his chance, and Lambert went with Simon Holmstrom.

That doesn't mean Durandeau lost his chance with the organization, as out of all the NHL call-ups in 2022-23, Durandeau may have shown the most upside in his nine-game stint. 

Scoring was the most significant issue, but he was doing just that early in camp. If he can continue to do that for Bridgeport, he likely will be the first player the organization does call up, given his experience, depending on where the lineup needs support. 

"There's prospects. There's older guys, Everyone's trying to get that NHL job, so I think there's a lot of good young guys, a lot of older guys, PTOs and stuff where everyone's pushing each other," Durandeau told The Hockey News. "And I'm trying to steal a job, and my goal is to make the NHL this year, so I'm very excited."

KYLE MACLEAN

After a five-year stint in the OHL with the Oshawa Generals, Kyle MacLean joined the Islanders organization as an unrestricted free agent ahead of the 2020-21 season.

The son of Islanders power-play coach John MacLean, Kyle clearly has a knack for the defensive side of the puck and showed quite well in his preseason showings.

The 24-year-old may have proven to Lambert and the rest of management that if someone on the fourth line did get hurt or a key penalty killer went down, he deserves the first call-up.

That's how reliable he was. And although he may not have been a bottom-six forward throughout his career, he's relishing the opportunity.

“I’m comfortable with that [fourth-line role],” MacLean said. “Down in Bridgeport, I [killed penalties] a lot. I was relied on to be a good two-way forward. Up here, the message is the same. Keep trying to be solid defensively, up and down the ice. Penalty kill, it’s a part of my game I need to be good at. Up here, I embrace it, just as I would down there.”

Lambert spoke on his intelligence.

“I’ve liked him,” Lambert said. “I think he’s extremely intelligent. He fits well into that [fourth-line] role. He killed penalties in both the games that he played and did a really good job. He takes faceoffs, and he can skate.”