Islanders Select Cole Eiserman It's official. Ruslan Iskhakov [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/ruslan-iskhakov-new-york-islanders-prospect-khl-cska-moscow-2024-25], the New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/]' 2018 second-round selection, is heading to the KHL to join CSKA Moscow. The 23-year-old was an AHL All-Star in each of his first two seasons but only got a chance to play in two NHL games. He suited up for the Islanders' regular-season finale against the Pittsburgh Penguins, earning his first NHL assist before getting in for Game 4 of their first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. But because the Islanders have not given him the opportunity to be an everyday NHL player, the pending restricted free agent who was given a qualifying offer, will be headed home. The Islanders will continue to hold his rights until he turns 27. While the results of the Islanders are the most important thing for the franchise, Iskhakov's leaving leaves a giant hole in Bridgeport. Last season, he led their team in all offensive categories, with 18 goals and 32 assists for 50 points in 69 games. In his first season in Connecticut, Iskahkov scored 17 goals with 34 assists for 51 points. So, he's been a big part of the offense, and now he is gone in the blink of an eye. The Islanders have brought two new players to the organization in Fredrik Karlström (21 goals & 23 assists for AHL Stars) and Marc Gatcomb (9 goals & 11 assists for AHL Canucks). Those two additions should help, but with Iskhakov no longer in the picture, who will be the main offensive weapon? MATTHEW MAGGIO Iskhakov may have led Bridgeport with 18 goals, but not far behind him was rookie Matthew Maggio [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/new-york-islanders-matthew-maggio-prospect-bridgeport-islanders], who scored 16 goals with 11 assists for 27 points in 61 games. The 21-year-old fifth-round pick by the Islanders at the 2022 NHL Draft is one of the players who brings it all. He competes hard, gets in on the forecheck, can shoot, can pass, and has a silky set of mits. Before joining Bridgeport, Maggio had a dominant final OHL season with the Windsor Spitfires, serving as captain. He scored 54 goals, added 57 assists, and scored 111 points in 66 games. Playing up and down the Bridgeport lineup in his first season, look for him to be given more minutes by head coach Rick Kowalsky. He may not be able to compete in goals, but given his strong hockey IQ, he should be one of their top producers. ALEX JEFFERIES Joining late in the Bridgeport Islanders' season after finishing a four-year collegiate career at Merrimack College (2024 Hobey Baker Nominee), Alex Jefferies [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/alex-jefferies-new-york-islanders-bridgeport-islanders-merrimack-college] showed his skillsets pretty quickly. He's a goal scorer, scoring four goals with three assists in his first 12 professional games, a 24-goal, 18-assist campaign pace (AHL plays 72 games). The 22-year-old fourth-round pick of the Islanders at the 2020 Draft could be considered the club's top offensive prospect, that is, until Cole Eiserman was drafted this past season. Eiserman would have been a perfect player for this list if he was coming to the AHL, but he's gearing up for his freshman season at Boston University. Jefferies currently has more finishing skills than anyone in the organization and should be part of Bridgeport's top power-play unit full-time this season. WILLIAM DUFOUR After winning everything under the sun in the QMJHL, William Dufour [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/players/new-york-islanders-william-dufour-matthew-maggio-arnaud-durandeau-calle-odelius-eetu-liukas] showed how good of an offensive player he could be if he cleaned up a few areas of his game. Despite scoring 21 goals with 27 assists for 48 points in his first 69 professional games in 2022-23, his skating needed tremendous work if he was to make the NHL (he played one game for the Islanders that season). Dufour knew how important last summer was and went to work. Not only did the Islanders' fifth-round pick in 2020 improve his skating, but he was one of the better skaters during development camp. It looked like the 22-year-old turned a page in his development, a major positive. But his second AHL season didn't go as planned. Due to personal reasons, he only played in 55 games, scoring 15 goals with 10 assists, really coming on later in the season. At this point, the 22-year-old is a wild card, and with Iskhakov out of the picture, Dufour will need to show off that elite shot at a more consistent rate. But there's no question that he can single-handily fill Iskahkov's production if he's available. TOP STORIES
