5 late-round overagers who fit the Islanders identity

The New York Islanders have the first pick and just about everyone’s rightfully talking about it. But they have more than that in the 2025 NHL Draft, including quite a few late-round selections. So, why not speculate on which overaged players who won’t hear their names called until Day 2?

Each of those listed below brings something unique, from an undersized netminder to another whose underrated playmaking ability could make teams pay a few years down the road. But there’s one common denominator between them: They prove that the draft is never short on talent, even for overagers who will go in the later rounds. 

Petteri Rimpinen, G

Becoming a goaltender factory should be every NHL team’s ultimate endgame. Netminders are valuable players, and they make excellent trade bait, especially if they’re developing well. Enter Petteri Rimpinen, who could be available in the fourth or fifth round, and one who did one heck of a job in Liiga. 

Last season, Rimpinen played in 40 games, notching a 0.912 save percentage, two shutouts, and a 2.35 GAA. Not bad for a netminder who turned 19 on April 25th. Yeah, he’s about six feet tall, and weighs 176 pounds, making him undersized for a goaltender. But should it matter?

Kristian Epperson, W

Kristian Epperson, like Petteri Rimpinen, is slightly overaged, with a May 2006 birthday. But wow, he’s become a points producer, with 80 in 58 games last season, and 27 goals. Still, he nearly doubled his assists, which screams playmaker at the next levels. 

Epperson, who ranked 67th on Tankathon’s big board at the time of this writing, should drop to the third round. And if he does, the Islanders shouldn’t hesitate. Oh, and he’s shown an aggressive edge, notching 87 penalty minutes last season. 

Dawson Gerwing, F

Oh yes, he’s got better size than maybe anyone else in the 2025 NHL Draft, clocking in at 6’4, 231 lbs. That alone should put Dawson Gerwing on plenty of draft radars, if only he can translate that size to the pro game. 

He’s not a points producer, as he put up just 18 of them and nine goals with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets in 31 games. Still, a player like Gerwing boasts raw potential, and he’s the kind of player you take with your final pick and turn into a project. 

Jack Brauti, D

Jack Brauti clocks in at just 165 lbs, but don’t let his thin frame fool you. He’s got a hitter’s mentality, and could be one of the draft’s more mobile defensemen. And chances are, he’ll be there in the ultra-late rounds, setting up a chance for a potential steal down the road. 

Brauti came into his own this season with the Niagara IceDogs, scoring eight goals and putting up 46 points in 64 regular season games is an encouraging stat line. Tack on another four assists in five playoff games, and suddenly, Brauti’s looking like he might just handle the NHL one day. 

Francesco Dell’Elce, D

He never played in the USHL, instead opting for the BCHL, where he had 38 points and nine goals in 2023-24. Last season, Francesco Dell’Elce got his first taste of college hockey at the University of Massachusetts, where he ended the year with 24 points and seven goals in 40 games for the Minutemen. 

He’s mobile, and that mobility has helped him break into the two-way defenseman category. Overall, a player like Dell’Elce’s hockey intelligence and ability to help in all three zones could make him just as good if not a better pick than Jack Brauti.

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