NY Islanders make strong showing in prospect rankings despite none in top 30

The New York Islanders may not have landed a prospect inside Scott Wheeler's Top 30, but they aren't far off.

In The Athletic's annual Top 100 NHL prospects rankings (skaters only; goalies have a different list), Wheeler identified 2026 first-round pick Malte Gustafsson as the top prospect in the Islanders' organization, slotting the Swedish defenseman at No. 34 overall. It marks another vote of confidence in a player the Islanders selected 13th overall in June and believe can become a foundational piece on their blue line.

Wheeler sees Gustafsson as exactly the type of defenseman NHL teams covet.

"He projects as a solid two-way D, and his profile is the coveted one in the NHL these days," Wheeler wrote. "He's also a summer birthday and has developed quickly when healthy, becoming more consistent at both ends and learning in real time how to use his tools to kill plays, transition pucks, and manufacture offense regularly, even if he's not going to be a PP guy in the NHL."

Gustafsson headlines a much-improved Islanders prospect pool that features five players in Wheeler's Top 100. Calum Ritchie, acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Brock Nelson trade, ranks just behind Gustafsson at No. 36. Because Ritchie spent time in the AHL last season, he remains eligible for Wheeler's rankings for one final year.

Victor Eklund, who impressed during his professional season in Sweden before making his NHL debut late last season, checks in at No. 43. Physical defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, the Islanders' second first-round selection in 2025, rounds out the organization's top four prospects at No. 50 after a dominant OHL campaign.

Cole Eiserman completes the Islanders' representation at No. 72.

The Boston University product remains one of hockey's most intriguing prospects thanks to his elite goal-scoring ability, but Wheeler believes this season will be critical to his development. As Eiserman prepares to make the jump to professional hockey, the focus will be on proving he can become more than just a shooter by developing into a reliable two-way player capable of earning an NHL role.

While the Islanders may not yet possess an elite, consensus top-30 prospect with soon-to-be 19 year old Matthew Schaefer already approaching superstar potential in the NHL, Wheeler's rankings reinforce just how dramatically the organization's pipeline has improved. With five prospects in the Top 100, the future on Long Island suddenly looks much deeper than it did just a year ago.

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