Matthew Maggio Chat on Hockey Night in New York The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] enter the offseason with $7.05 million in salary cap space and a handful of pending free agents. On locker room cleanout day back on May 3, Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello mentioned his younger players when asked about his team. "There are some younger players coming in. They’re going to demand more ice time, and we will make whatever changes are necessary to get better." Here's a look-ahead at five prospects who could be fighting for NHL spots come the fall. Ruslan Iskhakov It seemed that the 23-year-old, two-time AHL All-Star wouldn't get a crack at the NHL level this past season after scoring 18 goals with 32 assists in 69 games with Bridgeport. But, with the Islanders taking care of business in New Jersey, clinching the third seed in the Metropolitan Division in Game 81, the Islanders recalled Iskhakov for a meaningless Game 82 against Pittsburgh. After making his NHL debut, earning his first career point on a secondary assist, the Islanders kept Iskhakov on the playoff roster, hearing his name called for Game 4 after veteran Matt Martin could not play due to injury. "He's got great energy. He competes. He's small, but I don't know if he knows he's small, the way he's been playing, so that's nice to watch. It was fun. I have time for him," Roy said. Iskhakov, who had rumors swirling during the season that he would be heading to the KHL in the summer, may have been convinced to stay stateside as he should be competing for an NHL spot in the fall. The former second-round pick in 2018 is a pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights. While just 5'8, Islanders head coach Patrick Roy made multiple comments that Iskhakov didn't play small and that he liked what he saw in a short time, he was up with the club. If he develops, Iskhakov will be a top-six talent, and the Islanders, as of right now, have two holes in their top six. Alex Jefferies Drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, Jefferies elected not to sign with the Islanders in the summer of 2023. But after finishing up his senior year at Merrimack College with 13 goals and 10 assists in 22 games, the 22-year-old joined Bridgeport on an Amateur Tryout before signing a two-year entry-level contract. In 12 games with Bridgeport, Jefferies scored four goals with three assists, showing off his shot more often than not. "I work on my shot a lot. I just try and use it whenever I can. Whenever I get in an area where I can shoot," Jefferies told The Hockey News. "I'm just trying to use my shot whenever I can use it to my advantage. It's a big part of my game." It may make more sense for the Islanders not to rush Jefferies, who may have quickly emerged as the organization's top forward prospect in short order, but if Jefferies, a top-six player, proves he can skate with NHLers, what's the point in waiting? Matthew Maggio After a dominant OHL season, Maggio joined Bridgeport for a three-game stint last season. He then competed in his first professional season, scoring 16 goals with 11 assists in 61 games. While it took him a bit to find his rhythm, Maggio showed his potential once his game caught up to the speed of the AHL. A grinding type of player, the 5'11 forward has the hockey IQ that would make Roy smile, a player that makes it easy for the players around him. But Maggio also has an offensive sense, using his edge work and shiftiness to create extra time and shooting lanes, especially in transition. Although the Islanders' fifth-round pick in 2022 may not be a true top-six player, given his Cizikas-esque work ethic, he could be a strong fit in a bottom-six role. And he's hungry. I know what it takes to get there, and I'm not where I ultimately want to be right now," Maggio said. "But it's a process, and I know that I have time, as the organization keeps reminding me that." With Cal Clutterbuck and Matt Martin's futures in doubt and Hudson Fasching and Simon Holmstrom failing to earn everyday jobs in the bottom six, look for Maggio to be another player fighting for ice time this fall. Isaiah George Currently playing in the OHL Finals, George is a prospect Islanders fans should be excited about. Their fourth-round pick in 2022 showed off at last year's training camp how good he can be if developed. With ease, George broke up odd-man rushes while using his elite edge work to evade forecheckers and break out of his own zone. He was performing so well that there was a slim chance he could have made the NHL roster at 19. "He looks solid. I think he's got good poise, offensively and defensively," NHL staple Ryan Pulock [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/features/ryan-pulock-kyle-palmieri-new-york-iislanders-playoffs-game-3] told The Hockey News. "Watching him for a couple of days here, off rushes and defensive zone, ending plays, he looks like he's got a lot of confidence in all areas of his game." However, the organization believed his going back for his final OHL season made more sense, scoring six goals with 24 assists in 68 games before four goals and six assists in 16 OHL playoff games so far. Whether pending free agent Mike Reilly comes back or not, George could be in the running for a spot on the Islanders' blue line in the fall -- if not being one of the first defensemen recalled if there's an injury. Calle Odelius After showing well last year's training camp after being selected in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, there was a chance that Odelius would join Bridgeport for the 2023-24 season. However, Odelius returned to Sweden but suffered a lower-body injury that required surgery 10 games (four assists) into his season, as he came stateside for the procedure and rehab. Odelius was able to play in eight games after being cleared to play, earning just one assist. Standing at 6'1, Odelius is a powerful skater who can walk the blue line with ease and is a future power-play quarterback in the National Hockey League. "Coming from Europe, from Sweden, we played on bigger ice, so just to come here and get to experience playing on on a small rink and getting those tips and tricks from the players and the coaches," Odelius told The Hockey News. "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." Like George, Odelius is a left-side defenseman, and depending on what happens this summer, there's a hole there at the NHL level and as an extra. TOP STORIES
