NY Islanders 2026 draft pick named OHL Defenseman of the Month after dominant October

New York Islanders prospect Vladimir Dravecky has been named the OHL's Defenseman of the Month for October, and the 18-year-old is giving Islanders fans plenty of reasons to believe the organization may have found one of the steals of the 2026 NHL Draft.

Selected in the fifth round, 141st overall, Dravecky wasn't exactly a name generating much excitement on draft day. That's starting to change.

The Czech defenseman has been nothing short of sensational for the Guelph Storm, recording four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in just 13 games, leading all OHL blueliners in scoring during October. He registered six multi-point performances and carries an eight-game point streak into November. His biggest night came Oct. 10 against Owen Sound, when he exploded for two goals and three assists in a 10-5 victory. It was the most points by a Guelph defenseman in a single game since March 2006.

Dravecky finished last season with 28 points in 58 games for the Brantford Bulldogs. He's already nearly matched that production in less than a quarter of the games. That's a pretty remarkable jump.

The 6-foot, 192-pound right-shot defenseman has also posted a plus-12 rating, further strengthening the case that he's developing into something more than a purely offensive prospect.

Of course, junior hockey success doesn't automatically translate to the NHL, and there's still plenty of development ahead.

But considering where the Islanders selected him, it's becoming increasingly difficult not to get excited about his potential.

For a franchise that has placed a renewed emphasis on rebuilding its prospect pipeline, finding legitimate NHL upside in the fifth round would be a significant win.

It's only been one month, but Dravecky is already making his draft position look like a bargain

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