New York Islanders: Top 25 Under 25 2019-2020 Edition

By Matt O'Leary

Aug 16, 2019

TORONTO, ON - DECEMBER 29: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders waits for a faceoff against the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on December 29, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Islanders defeated the Maple Leafs 4-0.(Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 16: Otto Koivula #48 of the New York Islanders skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during a preseason game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Number 12: Otto Koivula (Center) | Age: 20

Bridgeport Sound Tigers Stats: 21 G, 25 A, 46 PTS

After back to back strong seasons in Liiga, over in Finland, Otto Koivula made the trip over to North America last year. Along with playing on North American ice for the first time, Koivula changed positions as well.

Switching over from left wing to center was a difficult transition at first but one that ended up helping out Koivula. He finished with an impressive 46 points in 69 games in his first year in the AHL and skyrocketed up the Islanders prospect rankings.

The Isles don’t have a ton of prospect depth at center but Koivula seems like the next center who will get the call-up, even ahead of Ruslan Iskhakov who was drafted higher but is still in college.

With his big body, six-foot-four and 220 pounds he isn’t afraid to use his body which projects him as a third-line center. Although the Islanders have a hole at this position right now, he may need another year of seasoning in the AHL before he is called up to the NHL.