Islanders Top 25 Under 25: Mathew Barzal reigns supreme

How would you rank the top 25 players in the New York Islanders system who are under the age of 25?

On average, the New York Islanders are one of the oldest teams in the NHL. With an average age of 28.27, only the Minnesota Wild (24.42) and Detroit Red Wings (28.68) are “older” than the Islanders.

It’s a narrative we heard throughout the playoffs and certainly one we won’t hear the end of anytime soon. So with that in mind, I wanted to look at the youth in the Islanders system and create a sort of youth depth chart.

By youth, I’m focusing on any player under the age of 25. So that immediately removes guys like Ilya Sorokin, Anatoly Golyshev, and Grant Hutton, all three are 25 years old.

1. Mathew Barzal 

Age: 23
League: NHL
Draft: 16th OVR 2015

It’s incredible to think Mathew Barzal is only 23 years old. He’s only just completed his third year in the league but it feels like he’s been a dominant force for much longer.

Barzal is one of the better transition players in the league. His abilities with the puck are matched by few in the NHL. He’s a dynamic offensive player and he’s still getting better.

Yeah, there’s still another gear for Mathew Barzal to hit. Look out NHL.

2. Anthony Beauvillier

Age: 23
League: NHL
Draft: 28th OVR 2015

Anthony Beauvillier took a big step forward this season. In Beau’s first three seasons in the NHL, he struggled to put together a consistent effort with wild up-and-down swings. But this year Beau was perhaps one of the Islanders’ most consistent players.

That consistency had him put up a career-high 38 points in 68 games, putting him on pace for 46 points over a full 82 game season. Just like Barzal, Beau still has another gear he could hit.

3. Noah Dobson 

Age: 20
League: NHL
Draft: 12th OVR 2018

This is going to be Noah Dobson’s first full year in the NHL. He was limited to 34 games and an average of 13 minutes a night last year as Trotz tried to build the young blueliner’s confidence. Drafted 12th overall in 2018, big things are expected from Dobson.

4. Oliver Wahlstrom 

Age: 20
League: AHL/Allsvenskan
Draft: 11th OVR 2018

Wahlstrom didn’t produce as we thought he might at the AHL level this year with 22 points in 45 games, but the 11th overall pick from 2018 needed to get up to speed with the team game first. So while we thought he might score more at the AHL level, he ended the season well with eight points in his final 12 games.

He should get a chance to make the NHL squad this season.

5. Otto Koivula 

Age: 22
League: AHL/Liiga
Draft: 120th OVR 2016

I know that everyone thinks that Oliver Wahlstrom will get a spot on the Islanders third line in 20-21, but I feel like Koivula has a sneaky chance of getting it first.

It’s not that I feel Koivula has a higher ceiling. Wahlstrom is without question a better offensive player and could be the goal scorer the Isles are looking for. But Koivula is a better defensive player, he can play on the wing and down the middle, he also scored at a great rate this season with 33 points in 48 games between the AHL and Finland.

6. Sebastian Aho 

Age: 24
League: AHL
Draft: 139th OVR 2017

He’s too good for the AHL. Over three years with the Sound Tigers, the fifth-round pick in 2017 has played 156 games and scored 105 points from the blueline.

He could very well alternate with Andy Greene as the Islanders seventh defenseman for 2020-21. Aho is a good puck-moving defender that plays a smart game. He may not be a top-pair defenseman but he should be a good fit on one of the bottom two pairs.

7. Kieffer Bellows

Age: 22
League: AHL
Draft: 19th OVR 2016

Bellows will have a chance to make the team out of camp for the Islanders but it’s clear he’s lower on the depth chart than guys like Oliver Wahlstrom or maybe even Otto Koivula.

Bellows had a good year in the AHL, though it didn’t start well with a few healthy scratches. But once he got back on the ice he couldn’t stop scoring. From November 27 through to December 28, Bellows scored 12 goals in 13 games. Wild.

8. Josh Ho-Sang

Age: 24
League: AHL
Draft: 28th OVR 2014

Who knows what’s going to happen with Ho-Sang this year. He secured himself a decent raise at the AHL level, but the goal is clearly to hit the NHL as soon as possible. When Ho-Sng is on his game he can be a dominant player.

Two years ago, after saying the Islanders were burying him to the NY Post, Ho-Sang decided to atone for that blunder by showing the team what he could do on the ice. In the four games after that article came out, Ho-Sang put up ten points with three two-point nights and a four-point game on November 4, 2018.

He’s supremely talented but he’s got a number of hurdles to overcome before making the team so even ranking him eighth might be a bit generous.

9. Robin Salo

Age: 22
League: SHL (Orebro)
Draft: 46th OVR 2017

Robin Salo is developing so well out in Sweden. With 23:11 of average ice time, Salo is the second most utilized skater in the SHL. He’s also the eleventh highest-scoring defenseman in the SHL with nine points in 18 games.

His contract is up at the end of the season with Orebro, meaning he’ll likely be heading to North American for the 2021-22 season. Just in time for Sebastian Aho to make the leap to the NHL and for Salo to take his place in the AHL.

10. Simon Holmstrom

Age: 19
League: AHL
Draft: 24th OVR 2019

He might not be so high on other people’s lists but the Islanders like Holmstrom a lot. His 15 points in 46 games at the AHL level might not leap out at anyone, but we have to remember he just turned 19 in May and was the youngest professional hockey player in North America last season.

He’s developing well and could be a factor in two years’ time.

16. Ruslan Iskhakov

Age: 20
League: Liiga
Draft: 43 OVR 2018

I like Ruslan Iskhakov a lot. He might be a tad small for the NHL (5’8″) but I think he’s got the creativity and offensive abilities to shine. With that being said, he isn’t having the strongest start in Finland and that’s why I have him lower on my list. I would imagine as the season progresses Iskhakov may start rising the depth chart.

17. Bobo Carpenter

Age: 24
League: AHL
Draft: N/A

Carpenter had a decent first season in the pros with 12 points in 28 games for the Sound Tigers. A shoulder injury from the previous year limited his playing time in 19-20 so he’ll hope that an injury-free year could push him up the depth charts.

18. Arnaud Durandeau

Age: 21
League: ECHL/AHL
Draft: 165 OVR 2017

Arnaud Durandeau split his time between the ECHL and AHL in 19-20 putting up a combined 16 points in 36 games. With no ECHL this year for Worcester well see what happens to Durandeau who isn’t high on the depth charts. He’ll likely be a fourth-line player for the Sound Tigers in 20-21.

19. Blade Jenkins

Age: 20
League: AHL
Draft: 134 OVR 2018

Good player, even better first name.

With three productive years playing for the Saginaw Spirit, the Islanders signed Jenkins to a three-year ELC in May. He’ll certainly be a depth player for Bridgeport this season. He and Durandeau could likely alternate as the 13th forward for the Sound Tigers.

20. Mitch Vande Sompel

Age: 23
League: AHL
Draft: 82 OVR 2015

Vande Sompel is an alright defender but it’s hard to see him being able to make the jump to the NHL. Sebastian Aho is having a hard enough time getting on the Islanders roster. After missing the year due to injury just getting back on the ice is good enough for Vande Sompel I imagine.

21. Parker Wotherspoon

Age: 23
League: AHL
Draft: 112 OVR 2015
Just like Vande Sompel, I don’t see Wotherspoon making the jump to the NHL. There are just so many better blueliners ahead of him on the Islanders depth chart.

22. Reece Newkirk

Age: 19
League: WHL/SJHL
Draft: 147 OVR 2019
Newkirk is on loan from the Portland Winterhawks to the SJHL’s Melville Millionaires. In six games so far in the SJHL Newkirk has 12 points (4G, 8A). The fifth-round pick from last year put up a solid season in the WHL with 65 points in 55 games. Not sure the Isles sign him this year, maybe in 21-22 when he’ll be 20 and AHL eligible.

23. Cole Coskey

Age: 21
League: OHL
Draft: 209 OVR 2019

Coskey had a monster year for Saginaw last year with 80 points in 62 games (34G, 46A). The Isles signed him to an AHL contract in May. With the Worcester Railers canceling their season I’m not sure where Coskey fits into things, perhaps a loan elsewhere if he doesn’t have a spot.

24. Felix Bibeau

Age: 21
League: QMJHL
Draft: 178 OVR 2019

Bibeau and Coskey are essentially in the exact same position. They signed AHL deals but don’t seem to have a spot on the team and with no ECHL where do they go? Perhaps either of the two could force their way onto the Sound Tigers squad with a solid camp.

I only put Bibeau below Coskey because of the difference in quality between the OHL and QMHL.

25. Christain Krygier

Age: 20
League: NCAA
Draft: 196 OVR 2019

I like Krygier’s game. The solid ‘stay-at-home’ blueliner doesn’t put up points – he scored the first goal of his 72 game NCAA career the other day – but he’s a physical player that does a good job at keeping opponents away from his goal.