Islanders: Three players that could make NHL in 2020-21

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GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 22: Sebastian Aho #28 of the New York Islanders skates with the puck during the NHL game against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena on January 22, 2018 in Glendale, Arizona. The Coyotes defeated the Islanders 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Sebastian Aho

This was his third year of AHL hockey for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. And he’s been steadily improving his game as he gains more and more responsibility in the AHL.

With his 30 points on the season, he ranks second amongst all Bridgeport Sound Tigers players this season. Only Kieffer Bellows has more points than Aho.

This is the second straight season where Aho has finished near the top of the Sound Tigers scoring charts. In 2018-19, he finished tied for second with Otto Koivula after a 46 point season.

He’s outgrowing the AHL, and if not for the log-jam of quality blueliners with the Islanders at the moment, he’d probably already be in the NHL.

Why he’ll make the cut in 2020-21?

We all saw first-hand how Sebastian Aho can be a useful pro when he skated in 22 games for the Islanders in 2017-18.

On almost half, the teams in the NHL Aho is an easy seventh if not a sixth defenseman. He can skate well, he’s got a good transition game, and he makes responsible decisions with the puck.

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