New York Islanders Simon Holmstrom Signed to Three Year ELC

The New York Islanders have signed their 2019 first-round pick, and 23rd overall pick Simon Holmstrom to a three-year entry-level contract.

On Monday, the New York Islanders signed their first-round pick and 23rd overall from the 2019 draft Simon Holmstrom to a three-year entry-level contract.

Last season in 21 games with HV71 under 20 team, the winger scored 20 points with seven goals and 13 assists. A great return in a season hampered by injury.

If Holmstrom hadn’t missed time this season, there’s no doubt he would have likely gone higher in the draft. Even though the Islanders surprised many by taking him 23rd overall.

Three-Year ELC

Holmstrom’s deal with the New York Islanders is the typical three-years that most first-round picks get straight after the draft. He also got a $92,500 signing bonus in all three years of his deal. Again, something that is fairly common for first-round picks.

There were no performance bonuses to his deal. It’s not standard for players taken later in the draft to get performance bonuses. No player drafted after Holmstrom in the 2019 first-round signed to an ELC has performance bonuses.

Although 21st overall pick Tobias Bjornfot got $475,000 of performance bonuses in the last two years of his ELC with the Kings.

Options

With the ELC, Holmstrom is now able to play in Bridgeport as soon as possible. It doesn’t mean he will, it just gives him the option to do so.

It’s entirely possible that Holmstrom returns to Sweden for one more year to play with HV71’s senior team. But think about the influx of talent in Bridgeport if he stayed in North America to play with the Sound Tigers in the AHL.

Upfront you’d still have Kieffer Bellows. Oliver Wahlstrom would get to play a full year with the team. Otto Koivula will compete in his second year and look to improve upon his stellar introduction to hockey in North America.

On the back end, Sebastian Aho will look to take the next step after an impressive second season with the Sound Tigers. Bode Wilde could make the jump to the AHL after signing his ELC back in December.

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That’s five young, talented, and hungry players filling up the Sound Tigers roster. It’s an incredible collection of talent (even if Holmstrom goes back to Europe).