Islanders reassign Kashawn Aitcheson to Barrie Colts after strong camp

The close of training camp is invariably a moment of mixed emotions—part celebration, part reckoning, and part instruction—as it represents the point at which a player learns whether he will remain with the NHL club or return elsewhere to continue his development.  

For defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, Wednesday morning brought such a reckoning, as the New York Islanders announced his reassignment to the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. Yet if there is consolation, it comes in the form of Islanders head coach Patrick Roy’s commendation. Roy spoke glowingly of Aitcheson’s performance, and those familiar with his unvarnished candor know well that when displeased, he seldom withholds criticism from the public record. 

“I’m very pleased with his play—I like his physicality,” Roy said of the 19-year-old via NHL.com. “I was just like him during my first NHL training camp. I went home confident that I could play in the league. I think he’ll feel the same way. He learned a lot, and I’m sure he’ll return to junior with a big smile, encouraged by how things went.” 

Aitcheson sustained a lower-body injury during the Islanders’ 3–2 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday, briefly raising concerns about his availability for the remainder of training camp. Yet he returned to the lineup Tuesday night in a 6–2 loss to the New Jersey Devils, where the 17th overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft logged 17:48 of ice time alongside Calle Odelius and recorded a takeaway. Against Philadelphia, he had earlier registered four shots on goal in 18:09 of ice time before departing after a third-period collision. Now headed back to Barrie for his fourth OHL season, Aitcheson does so on the heels of a career year in which he amassed 59 points (26 goals, 33 assists) in 64 games. 

Regarding the injury, Aitcheson told reporters that it was a knee-on-knee collision. 

"I was just trying to make a play. I saw we had an odd man rush, so I just thought not to cut to the middle, because I kind of always look for that," Aitcheson said. "So, I'm just kind of trying to skate straight. Obviously, he still got a piece of me there. Credit to him, I guess.” 

Now back in the OHL, Aitcheson has the opportunity to test himself against the league’s best and to further demonstrate that he merits a place in hockey’s most exalted arena, the NHL.