NY Islanders players who could shine at the World Cup of Hockey in 2028

Sweden

The Swedes struggled at the Olympics, falling to their rivals Finland 4-1 in the opening rounds. Sweden finished seventh after pool play, beating Latvia before falling to the USA in OT of the quarter-finals.

Emil Heineman and Simon Holmstrom were likely close to making the cut for Sweden, but both missed out. Both will be 26-years-old come 2028 and are capable of playing up and down the lineup or on either special teams unit.

Sweden will look to make some changes come the World Cup, as Heineman and Holmstrom can both play their way onto the team.

North America

Perhaps the most entertaining team in 2016, the North American Team was made up of the stars of today, including Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Nathan MacKinnon. It’s unclear whether this team makes its return in 2028, but there are multiple Islanders who could position themselves for a roster spot.

Aside from Schaefer, Cal Ritchie could become an option as a player who could be plugged into almost any role. Kashawn Aitcheson, who has been tearing the OHL as a defenseman, would bring a level of physicality that the North American lacked 10 years ago. Cole Eiserman’s shot is NHL-ready at the moment. If he could round out the rest of his game, he could be a player who becomes a power-play threat, forcing the opposition to key in on him.