Cole Eiserman can have a Matthew Schaefer-like impact on the Islanders

The New York Islanders are going through an exciting period in the organization’s development. The team has an opportunity to gradually turn over the roster, infusing youth without going the traditional rebuild route. That much was evident last season with the performances of Matthew Schafer and Calum Ritchie.

As such, the question is who could be the next Islanders prospect to impact the NHL? The answer to that question seems to have one answer: Cole Eiserman.

Eiserman was the Islanders’ first-round pick in 2024. He was a solid selection during a period in which the organization didn’t have many first-round picks or high-end prospects. The 19-year-old promised to change all of that.

The Islanders not only had a highly talented forward in the pipeline, but they also had a potential star in the making.

Last season, Eiserman scored 18 goals and 28 points in 32 games at Boston University. He followed that up with two goals and nine points in 12 AHL games with the Bridgeport Islanders.

That sort of production sounds like it could be the precursor to a solid NHL debut. And if it does, Eiserman could have a Matthew Schaefer-like impact on the NHL. In particular, we’re talking about taking on a significant role right away.

Instead of playing sheltered minutes against seemingly lesser opponents, Eiserman could quickly gain Peter DeBoer’s trust. In that event, his ice time could jump gradually, until fans see Eiserman out there at crucial junctures of games.

But that situation depends on a key approach.

Islanders need to give Eiserman playing time

Perhaps the most evident secret to Matthew Schaefer’s development was ice time. The team was not afraid to deploy the 18-year-old, especially in late-game situations. He eventually became the team’s top-pairing blueliner, earning trust in just about every situation.

Now, we're not saying Eiserman should immediately get top-line minutes. But if the Islanders plan to deploy him for under 10 minutes a night in a fourth-line role, Eiserman would be better served playing regular top-six minutes in the AHL.

Teams often make this mistake. They bring up talented rookies only to bury them deep in the lineup. Placing Eiserman in a middle-six role, say, on a third line with JG Pageau and Simon Holmstrom, would do well to help Eiserman gain confidence in his game.

Gradually, DeBoer could move Eiserman as needed. It wouldn’t be the craziest thing in the world to see Eiserman play on a second line with Mathew Barzal and Calum Ritchie. The overall talent and speed on such a line could make such a line a dangerous one.

There will be playing time up for grabs. As it stands, veterans like Ondrej Palat and Anthony Duclair could be seeing their playing time dwindling significantly. While Eiserman may not make the team out of camp, the team is just one injury away from bringing him in to see what he can do.

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