Islanders Top 25 Under 25: Mathew Barzal reigns supreme

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.