A deep dive into the New York Islanders WHL prospect pool.
Welcome to this edition of the 2026 WHL Prospect Pools. Throughout the 2026 off-season, we will be looking at current or recently graduated WHLers who have been drafted or signed by NHL clubs. Today's organization is the New York Islanders.
The New York Islanders prospect pool features three players currently in the WHL, all of whom were selected in the 2025 NHL Draft.
Tomas Poletin was drafted in the fourth round (106th overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft. The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Czech winger transitioned to North America for the 2025-26 season, where he tallied 35 points (20 goals, 15 assists) in 43 games for the Kelowna Rockets.
Burke Hood of the Vancouver Giants provides the Islanders with a towering presence in the crease. The 6-foot-4 netminder put together a 19-13-6 record. He also bolstered his resume by capturing a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2025 U18 World Championship.
Lastly, Jacob Kvasnicka brings a high-scoring pedigree to the Islanders' pipeline. The forward had a massive breakout rookie season with the Penticton Vees in 2025-26, leading the team with 85 points (35 goals, 50 assists) in 65 games and adding another 15 points in 15 postseason outings.
tomasMake sure you bookmark THN's WHL site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.
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