Isaiah George Talk On Hockey Night in New York The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] fan base watched the IIHF World Championships and now the Beanpot and must love what they saw from the 2024 first-round pick, forward Cole Eiserman. The 2024 first-round pick (No. 20) had three goals and four assists in seven games at the IIHF World Junior Championship. However, it wasn't all sunshine and rainbows. Eiserman started the tournament on the second line alongside fellow Islanders prospect Danny Nelson. But then, he was dropped to being the club's 13th forward, playing sparingly at 5-on-5 while receiving power-play minutes. That's where he did his damage. Because of being given the "one-dimensional" tag, the Massachusetts native fell much farther than expected in the draft. While he surely has value outside of just his shot, he still has work to do to become more of a complete player. The 18-year-old is dominating in his rookie season at Boston University under former NHLer Jay Pandolfo, with nine goals and six assists for 15 points in 16 games. A few months ago, Pandolfo weighed in on his young star, citing that he's been much better away from the puck than what was initially expected as a raw prospect. While Eiserman could make the jump to the Islanders following the conclusion of his rookie season, he should not be a one-and-done at college. There's hype. There's a clear need on the island for a player with Eiserman's skillsets. But the worst thing the Islanders can do, especially since he's shown signs of potentially being a two-way forward, is rush his development. It's clear that whatever Pandolfo teaches, the kid is absorbing, and he must continue to grow and make mistakes in college. Not to mention, with certain players aging out, Eiserman could not only see much more playing time at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championships in Minnesota but potentially also receive a leadership letter. Considering Bridgeport's struggle to develop players, the last place he should go is the AHL, at least under the current regime. If the Islanders are completely out of it by the end of the season, there are certainly benefits to Eiserman getting NHL games under his belt. But there's no going back once Eiserman signs his entry-level contract and turns pro. So, if that's the route Eiserman, his agent, and the Islanders want to take, they better be sure that he's mentally ready.
