Daniil Prokhorov was confident the NY Islanders would take him before the Rangers

New York Islanders fans, if you weren’t already fired up about this year’s draft class, Daniil Prokhorov just gave you another reason to get excited and maybe even a little smug.

With the 42nd overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, the Isles landed towering Russian winger Daniil Prokhorov, a 6’6” freight train who plays with snarl, touch, and attitude. But it wasn’t just his size or his 20 goals in the MHL last season that stole headlines—it was his post-draft quote. “The Rangers wanted to choose me at No. 43,” Prokhorov said. “But I said they won’t succeed, because the Islanders will choose me at 42.”

That’s right. Our newest Islander basically told the Rangers, “Thanks, but no thanks,” because he knew he was bound for Long Island. That kind of confidence, swagger, and commitment to the crest before he’s even skated a shift? You love to see it.

And it wasn’t just about dunking on the Blueshirts (though let’s admit, that feels great). Prokhorov went on to say his draft interview with the Islanders felt like he “knew them for 20 years.” That level of connection says something about the culture GM Mathieu Darche is building, and it’s attracting the right kind of players.

Prokhorov fits the mold of this new Islanders core: big, competitive, physical, and with just the right amount of fire. He stood out during the Blue and White scrimmage last week, displaying some impressive size and skill, including a beautiful no-look pass to Quinn Finley for an early goal. “I was talking to him on the bench, sometimes he’s hard to understand, but he was unbelievable tonight and really fun to play with,” said Finley after the game.

The Russian will likely stay overseas for now, but one thing’s for sure: this kid already knows what it means to wear blue and orange. Sorry, Ranger fans, he’s ours. Better luck next time.