Kashawn Aitcheson made strong first impression at NY Islanders training camp

Kayshawn Aitcheson will not begin the season with the New York Islanders, but his first NHL training camp still has to be viewed as a success.

The Islanders reassigned Aitcheson to Hamilton on Sunday morning, ending the 20-year-old defenseman's push for an opening-night roster spot. But the fact that Aitcheson remained with the NHL group until the final stages of camp and earned public praise from general manager Mathieu Darche along the way showed how much ground he gained over the past few weeks.

Aitcheson, selected 17th overall by the Islanders in the 2025 NHL Draft, stood out with the physical style that helped make him a first-round pick.

Darche highlighted that part of his game during an intermission interview with Shannon Hogan on Saturday night.

“He's not afraid to mix it up,” Darche said, while noting the adjustment Aitcheson was making from junior hockey to facing NHL competition.

Last season, Aitcheson was playing against teenagers in the OHL. This fall, he was trying to handle NHL forwards, increased pace and the demands of the professional game.

Darche said Aitcheson did more than simply survive the experience.

“He's done well so far at camp, and he's put himself in the conversation,” Darche said. “The physicality, he had a few shots tonight, but all camp, he made his presence felt.”

That may be the biggest takeaway from Aitcheson's first camp.

He was never expected to have an easy path to an NHL job, especially with established defensemen already on the roster. His reassignment gives him an opportunity to continue developing while playing significant minutes.

But Aitcheson entered camp as a prospect trying to show he belonged in the discussion.

He leaves it having done exactly that.

For a first training camp, putting himself into the Islanders' roster conversation and making management think twice before sending him down qualifies as a resounding success.

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