Islanders prospects daily: Sound Tigers end 2020-21 with loss

My daily New York Islanders prospects report only started a few months but I’m blown away about the interest they’ve garnered. With the season essentially over now (only Ruslan Iskhakov and Reece Newkirk are still active), I’m having a tough time figuring out how to keep these going over the lean summer months.

I’m open to suggestions. If you have any put them in the comments and I’ll make sure to review them.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll have a final ranking, the most improved prospects, prospects to worry about, and even draft previews. But that can only take us so far until the season starts back up in September/October.

For now, I’ve combined yesterday’s update with today’s. I didn’t get to the daily update yesterday with the Robin Salo interview, the Bridgeport “news”, and the Rangers meltdown. So here’s what took place on May 4th and 5th. (There are no prospects in action today).

New York Islanders prospects in action two days ago (4/5/21)

• Bridgeport Sound Tigers
  • Bode Wilde: 1G, 1A, 3SOG
  • Cole Coskey: 2A
  • Simon Holmstrom: 1G, 2SOG
  • Arnaud Durandeau: 1G, 4SOG
  • Samuel Bolduc: 1A

The Sound Tiger ended the regular season on a 5-1-1 run. An incredible turn of form from the way they played through most of the year. They still ended the year 27th out of 28 teams. But there’s promise there. Brent Thompson really tapped into something with some of his youth and vets like Cole Bardreau and Tom Kuhnhackl.

Guys like Bode Wilde and Arnaud Durandeau have taken big steps this year. They still need time, but we’re starting to see why the organization likes these players.

Bolduc’s impressive year finished with him being second on the team in scoring with 14 points in 24 games. Only Cole Bardreau had more points than the rookie defenseman with 16.

Again, the Sound Tigers season did not go well overall, but the way it ended gives me a lot of hope for some of these prospects going forward.

Prospect in action yesterday (5/5/21)

• Reece Newkirk (Winterhawks)
  • Stats: 3SOG, 3/4 FOW

You’d think in a blowout 7-2 win that Reece Newkirk would have a few points to his name. That isn’t the case, the Islanders prospect who’s missing his front tooth didn’t register a point as he played wing on the team’s third line.

The Winterhawks did well as they pumped five goals through the Tri-City American’s goalie in the opening frame.

There are three games remaining in the Winterhawks schedule. There won’t be a playoff for the WHL this year. So after those three games, that’s it. The Winterhawk’s final game is on May 11.