New York Islanders Bobo Carpenter Scores in First AHL Game

The New York Islanders have been busy bringing in college talent into the system. Bobo Carpenter was brought in from Boston University. He scored in his very first AHL game.

As the college hockey regular season came to a close, the New York Islanders went shopping and brought in a number of collegiate players to stock their system with even more talent.

They brought in three collegiate players over the last few weeks. Defenseman Grant Hutton from Miami University of Ohio. Forward Mason Jobst from Ohio State University. And forward Bobo (Robert) Carpenter from Boston University.

(They also signed former eleventh overall draft pick Oliver Wahlstrom to a three-year ELC.)

Friday night was Bobo Carpenter’s first game in the AHL. And nine minutes into the third period, he scored a goal against the Providence Bruins.

Hit the Ground Running

Josh Ho-Sang makes a strong play along the board to get the puck loose to Ryan Bourque, who in turn finds Carpenter in the slot. Without thinking Carpenter rifles a shot at the net and finds a hole through Providence goalie Zane McIntyre.

First game, first goal. Outstanding. With 102 points in 144 games for Boston University scoring isn’t something new for Bobo Carpenter. And it’s great to see that trend continue.

But it’s just one goal and doesn’t prophecize his future potential. Bridgeport would lose that game by a score of 8-6. But it’s great to see new recruits hitting the ground running.

Defenseman Grant Hutton already has three points in five games. He picked up a goal and an assist in that 8-6 loss to Providence.

We haven’t seen the Islanders pursue collegiate level players this aggressively before (or at least recently). It doesn’t make sense as to why they didn’t. The collegiate level still holds a number of talented players looking to take the next step in their hockey careers.

The worst case scenario is the Islanders stock their system with players hungry to make the jump to the NHL and push the players already in the system. Best case is they find Joe Mullen or Adam Oates like gems. Two players that were undrafted and were developed in the collegiate ranks.

Now, there’s no reason to suggest Carpenter will be the next Adam Oates because he scored a goal during a goal fest between both teams. But if we’re to draw anything out of his immediate production, its that the Islanders are going to stock their prospect pool with as much talent as they can identify and get their hands on. It didn’t feel like that was the strategy with the previous regime.