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The Islanders’ farm system is a highly divisive one. I could poll scouts on Oliver Wahlstrom, Bode Wilde, Kieffer Bellows, Ruslan Iskhakov and Simon Holmstrom, and get a very wide range of opinions. Some scouts think this is an elite farm; others think they’ve taken too many risky bets and it could go poorly. Their ranking tumbled a bit after I had to admit I may have overrated some players this time last season, like Wahlstrom and Iskhakov, even if players like Dobson and Otto Koivula went the other way.
Key additions: Simon Holmstrom
Key subtractions/graduations: Michael Dal Colle, Devon Toews
2018 farm system ranking: No. 5
2019 draft grade: C
Prospect Ranking
1. Noah Dobson, D, Rouyn-Noranda-QMJHL
Jan. 7, 2000 | 6-foot-3 | 183 pounds
Tier: High-end NHL prospect
Dobson had as good a season as you could have hoped for as a fan of the Islanders. He was dominant in the QMJHL, anchoring the QMJHL and CHL champion. He was very good at the world juniors for Canada, as well. Dobson is a five-tool prospect. He’s 6-foot-3, he’s mobile, he has skill with the puck, he has great hockey sense and he has a big shot. Because of his sense, skating and size, he can defend size and speed very well. I think he will be a tough minutes defenseman in the NHL. I also underrated his offensive game last season. He can make seam plays, his skill isn’t amazing, but he has 1-on-1 ability. He may not be a true first power play type, but he could spot there. There is no visible weakness in his game, just a bunch of strengths.
2. Oliver Wahlstrom, RW, Bridgeport-AHL
June 13, 2000 | 6-foot-1 | 187 pounds
Tier: Very good NHL prospect
Wahlstrom had a tough season, struggling to get it going at the college level for Boston College for lengthy portions of the season. A strong world juniors and end to the season in the AHL showed glimpses of the player he could be. Wahlstrom is a highly skilled player with size and an elite shot. Inside the offensive zone he’s very dangerous with his ability to create chances and finish them. He’s a good playmaker, with flashes of very good, but his shot is what he leans on. His skating worried me a bit more from his draft season. It’s fine, but he’s not overly quick. His major issue is consistency and competing for pucks, which can make him frustrating. I still believe in the player a lot because he’s so talented and I don’t think his season was that troubling, even if it was to some degree.
3. Otto Koivula, C, Bridgeport-AHL
Sept. 1, 1998 | 6-foot-4 | 220 pounds
Tier: Very good NHL prospect
Koivula had an excellent first season in the AHL, as one of Bridgeport’s top players and one of the better 20-year-old players in the league. He’s a big man at 6-foot-4 and is very coordinated with the puck for a large forward. Koivula often makes plays through defenders and has the skill to break open a shift. He can create for his teammates and finish plays. I wouldn’t call him a top playmaker, though. The main issue historically with Koivula is his skating. It’s still not good, but it’s improved enough to where he’s on a legit NHL track given his size, talent level and production.
4. Bode Wilde, D, Saginaw-OHL
Jan. 24, 2000 | 6-foot-2 | 192 pounds
Tier: Very good/legit bubble
Wilde had a great 18 year old season, hitting the ground running in the OHL and being one of the best players in the league all season. He’s a player whose toolkit stands out immediately. He’s 6-foot-2, can skate and has high-end skill. When Wilde winds up with the puck and you see a defenseman his size dangle through opponents on his way to a scoring chance, you can see the potential he has. Wilde also has a cannon of a shot, and scored 26 goals between the season and playoffs. I saw many high-end plays from Wilde from his zone and the offensive zone. He has great outlets and is a creative playmaker. He can be a victim of bad turnovers, and he will frustrate coaches with how many risky plays he makes in situations that can backfire. For that reason, he may not be a tough minutes defenseman in the NHL.
5. Kieffer Bellows, LW, Bridgeport-AHL
June 10, 1998 | 6-foot-1 | 194 pounds
Tier: Very good/legit bubble
Bellows had a rocky first pro season, but I still like the player a lot. I really debated still tagging him as a very good/projected second-line forward, but it was hard to do that on a guy with 19 points last season. The toolkit is top-six level, though. Bellows is skilled, has great hockey sense, and an elite, elite shot. He can score from anywhere in the offensive zone. He also competes hard and isn’t a typical sniper who hangs out around the dots. He can score from there, but he also plays around the net. His skating isn’t a selling point, but it’s average. He needs to get better defensively and be more consistent offensively, but I believe he will get it going.
6. Ilya Sorokin, G, CSKA-KHL
Aug. 4, 1995 | 6-foot-2 | 176 pounds
Tier: Very good/legit bubble
Sorokin was dominant in the KHL, clearing a .940 save percentage between the season and playoffs, and being the main reason why CSKA won the league. There is an effortlessness to his game. Sorokin has good quickness and can make tough saves, but he always seems to be square to pucks. He reads opponents plays so well and is always set to make stops. He’s not the biggest at 6-foot-2, but he’s aggressive with his angles and forwards never seem to have a lot of net to shoot at. He’s proven all he can at the KHL level, all that’s left for the 23-year-old is to cross the pond. His deal with CSKA expires after the 2019-20 season.
7. Ruslan Iskhakov, RW, Connecticut-Hockey East
July 22, 2000 | 5-foot-8 | 152 pounds
Tier: Legit NHL prospect
Iskhakov was up and down as a freshman at UConn, as he looked more comfortable in the second half. His game is all about skill. He’s dynamic with the puck and can make defenders look silly with his stick handling. He’s a very good passer as well who makes incredibly creative passes. His game is unique in how he plays with the puck on his stick. He can arguably try to do too much, though, and often gets caught getting too cute with his dangles and centering/drop passes. He’s a very good skater but not blazing fast, as you’d prefer at 5-foot-8. He does compete, though, and gets to the net.
8. Simon Holmstrom, RW, HV71-J20 SuperElit
May 24, 2001 | 6-foot-1 | 183 pounds
Tier: Legit NHL prospect
Holmstrom’s junior career has been bumpy to date due to multiple injuries the past two seasons, as he had hip surgery and tore a ligament in his thumb. When healthy, he’s generally drawn praise from scouts, and he played well at the junior and international levels. Holmstrom is a very skilled and smart winger. He makes a lot of smart decisions and finds options consistently well. With HV71, Holmstrom was often used in setups to make plays from behind the net, and he did so very well, finding players in high-percentage areas in a variety of ways. He has slippery skill, and while he won’t often go end-to-end, he can get through defenders and have the odd impact shift with his skill. Holmstrom competes well. He’s not overly physical, but he engages defenders well and will battle for space. His skating is fine. He can show the odd burst where he turns defenders, but his overall pace is average.
9. Sebastian Aho, D, Bridgeport-AHL
Feb. 17, 1996 | 5-foot-10 | 176 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Not the one who signed an offer sheet this summer, the other one, was a top defenseman in the AHL this past season. Aho’s skating stood out consistently at the AHL level. He’s so good at transporting pucks up ice, activating off the line and jumping into rushes. His skating allows him to survive defensively at the pro level despite his 5-foot-10 frame. Aho has always had offense in his game, good hands and instincts to make plays. The question with him is whether he has enough to be an NHLer. He’s not going to be a shutdown player, and in the past two years, while I’ve liked his puck game, he hasn’t blown me away in the AHL.
10. Mitchell Vande Sompel, D, Bridgeport-AHL
Feb. 11, 1997 | 5-foot-11 | 198 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Vande Sompel had his second straight quality season in the AHL. He’s a player you notice when he has the puck on his stick. He’s a great skater who can push the pace and create controlled entries with his quickness. He’s also a very intelligent player who shows great poise moving pucks at both ends of the rink. Vande Sompel is undersized, but defends fine because of his feet and brain. He’s not a top-end defender, though, and his offense doesn’t blow you away, which leaves a question of what role exactly does he fill in the NHL.
11. Samuel Bolduc, D, Blainville-Boisbriand-QMJHL
Dec. 9, 2000 | 6-foot-4 | 212 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Bolduc was the top defenseman for a rebuilding Blainville team this season, logging big minutes in all situations. His athletic tools are very impressive. He’s a 6-foot-4 defenseman who skates well, not just well for a guy his size. He’s able to lead a rush and escape pressure effectively. Bolduc may never be known as a first power play unit type, but he’s got sneaky good hands and he can make skilled plays through opponents. He also has a cannon of a shot. He’s not going to pick corners, but he can create havoc off his shot. Bolduc uses his size well and closes on his checks using his speed and frame. His main issue is his decision making. Bolduc often forces plays that aren’t there and too many times makes a pass into feet or onto an opponent’s stick. With that said, he will have instances where he makes a good play that makes you believe he’s got some playmaking in him.
12. Linus Soderstrom, G, Bridgeport-AHL
Aug. 23, 1996 | 6-foot-4 | 196 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Soderstrom hasn’t played hockey in a long time, as he’s suffered through numerous injuries the past few years and did not play any hockey in 2018-19. When healthy, he projects as an NHL goalie because of his size and hockey sense. Whether that’s a backup or a starter is debatable, but his play on the ice is not the question right now. It is simply whether he can stay healthy. He showed up healthy to development camp, which is a good sign. His quickness has never been a huge selling point, so I will be curious how quick he looks if he does indeed start the season ready to go.
13. Grant Hutton, D, Bridgeport-AHL
July 25, 1995 | 6-foot-3 | 205 pounds
Tier: Legit/chance bubble
Hutton is an interesting prospect because he’s a 6-foot-3 defenseman who skates well for a big man and has a cannon of a shot. He can help a pro power play with his trigger man abilities. His puck game is so-so. His hands and vision are not his selling point, but his feet allow him to bring pucks up the ice and dish off to someone off an entry. He was a fine collegiate player and impressed in his brief time in the AHL after he signed with the Islanders.
14. Parker Wotherspoon, D, Bridgeport-AHL
Aug. 24, 1997 | 6-foot-2 | 185 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Wotherspoon has been solid in the AHL the past two seasons. He hasn’t been a top defenseman on his team, and his numbers haven’t been great, but a part of that was playing on deep blue lines with offensively talented players in Toews, Vande Sompel and Aho. I think Wotherspoon has skill in his game, but it’s been inconsistent. He is a good skater, and can defend due to his skating, size and competitiveness.
15. Jakub Skarek, G, Pelicans-Liiga
Nov. 10, 1999 | 6-foot-3 | 196 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Skarek is a very gifted athlete, as a 6-foot-3 goalie with legit high-end lateral agility. He can make tough saves consistently and the way he moves makes him stand out to anyone who watches him. His performance has been very inconsistent the past few years, though. I don’t think his sense and puck-tracking are poor, they are fine. He has moments when he’s locked in and he stays with the play. He also has moments where he’s over sliding pucks, losing them and has too much chaos going on around his crease.
16. Ben Mirageas, D, Providence-Hockey East
May 8, 1999 | 6-foot-1 | 181 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Mirageas had a fine year on a good Providence team, playing on both special teams for them. He’s a player with an interesting toolkit. He’s 6-foot-1, skates well and has above-average skill. He can make stops with his mobility and stick, but I saw some lapses in games. The thing with Mirageas will be more consistency from his game, as he has the tools to be an impact guy at the college level. He’ll have more opportunity next season to put up numbers.
17. Reece Newkirk, C, Portland-WHL
Feb. 20, 2001 | 5-foot-11 | 172 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Newkirk had a good, productive season for a quality Portland team. He’s skilled and competes very hard, but I don’t see his skill level or speed being anything significant, especially for his size. Some scouts like him because of the compete level and they think there’s some offense, but they acknowledge he likely won’t be a power play type in the pros.
18. Cole Coskey, RW, Saginaw-OHL
June 1, 1999 | six-foot | 190 pounds
Tier: Has a chance
Coskey had some good stretches last season, earning an invite to USA’s World Junior camp. He has good skill and offensive instincts but is a very average skater. He was a player I debated a decent amount with scouts, because he would have moments where he looked like a real player, but then long stretches where he didn’t. I didn’t mind the gamble in the seventh round by the Islanders because he’s got the tools to be a solid pro if he finds consistency and gets quicker.
Depth Players
Logan Cockerill, RW, Boston University-Hockey East (Age: 20): He has great speed and I think there’s more offense than he’s shown so far, but for such a small forward he’ll need to score more.
Arnaud Durandeau, LW, Halifax-QMJHL (20): He has good skill and competes fine, but he’s undersized and a mediocre skater.
Mason Jobst, C, Ohio State-Big 10 (25): He’s a very skilled, smart and competitive small center with very average quickness.
Robert Carpenter, C, Boston University-Hockey East (23): He has skill and competes hard but for his size he lacks an NHL gear in his skating.
Blade Jenkins, LW, Saginaw-OHL (19): Jenkins has good skill and can score goals, but quickness is an issue and he’s not a true driver of offense.
2019-20 Impact
The Isles don’t have a huge opening for Dobson, but I think he should very much be in the mix for a spot out of camp. Koivula is a candidate for games as well. Bridgeport has a lot of guys but nobody who jumped out as clearly NHL ready. Aho, Vande Sompel, Wotherspoon or Hutton could help in an injury bind.
Organizational Top 10 (23 and Under)
Mathew Barzal, C (22)
Noah Dobson, D (19)
Anthony Beauvillier, LW (22)
Oliver Wahlstrom, RW (19)
Otto Koivula, C (20)
Josh Ho-Sang, RW (23)
Bode Wilde, D (19)
Kieffer Bellows, LW (21)
Michael Dal Colle, LW (23)
Ruslan Iskhakov, RW (19)
Barzal’s production took a step back, but I’m still a huge believer in the player. He’s very skilled, quick and intelligent and I think he’s an impact forward. Ho-Sang is a very tough player to evaluate. I saw Bridgeport games where he looked clearly above the AHL level with his speed, skill and vision, but he sill doesn’t produce to the level he should be able to. I like the player but at some point he’ll need to get it done. Some will argue he’s not given opportunity, which I don’t think is unreasonable, but scouts still think he’s a lightning rod when asked if they would try to trade for him. Dal Colle’s skating will likely keep him from justifying his draft slot, but he’s very skilled and can make plays. I think he’s an NHLer, just not in the upper half of a lineup. |
