Eyes On Isles

Islanders Call Up Otto Koivula to NHL from Bridgeport Sound Tigers

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 21: Otto Koivula #48 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on September 21, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Islanders 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 21: Otto Koivula #48 of the New York Islanders skates against the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on September 21, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Islanders 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

On Wednesday the New York Islanders called up Otto Koivula from the AHL. The impressive prospect will likely make his NHL debut on Friday.

As injuries pile up for the New York Islanders, they turned to the AHL again to call up yet another impressive prospect from within the system. Otto Koivula has been called up from the AHL’s Bridgeport Sound Tigers and could be in the lineup on Friday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

After turning pro in 2018, Otto Koivula has risen to be one of the top prospects in the Isles system. And now, he’s going to get his opportunity to prove his worth at the NHL level.

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With Matt Martin and Tom Kuhnhackl, both added to the injury reserve list on Wednesday the Islanders were short on the active roster. Up comes Otto Koivula.

The Isles now have five players on IR: Andrew Ladd, Jordan Eberle, Leo Komarov, Matt Martin, and Tom Kuhnhackl.

After being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NHL draft, Otto Koivula made his professional debut with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the 2018-19 season.

Early in the season coach Brent Thompson converted Koivula from the wing to center. And things just clicked. Koivula would score 21 goals and 46 points in 69 games for the Sound Tigers in 2018-19.

Along with a strong training camp ahead of the 2019-20 season, his stock within the Islanders system hasn’t stopped rising since.

At Islanders practice, Koivula and Cole Bardreau skated as the third line center alongside wingers Ross Johnston and Oliver Wahlstrom. Koivula wore number 21 at Islanders practice.

Hopefully, Koivula gets a fair shake to show what he’s got. The last time the Islanders played this ‘third line’ picked up what amounts to fourth-line minutes. Johnston played 6:44, Bardreau played 7:51, and Wahlstrom played 8:36 in the Islanders 5-3 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.

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The Isles don’t hit the ice until Friday so we’ll have to wait a few days before we can see Otto Koivula in action. For now, this is yet another talented player from the Islanders system that the organization feels is ready to make the jump to the NHL.

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