NY Islanders prospect Cole Eiserman feels his NHL dream getting closer by the day

It’s hard to miss the energy in Cole Eiserman’s game—and now, it’s clear he feels the NHL spotlight is getting closer than ever. The 18-year-old sniper, selected by the New York Islanders in the first round (20th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, is back on Long Island for his second development camp, and this time, the buzz around him is different.

More confident. More focused. More ready.

"Just to have that year under your belt, I feel a lot less pressure," said Eiserman after Monday's developmental camp session. "I feel a lot more comfortable being around here. It's kind of starting to feel like a little bit more of a reality coming soon, very cool to see the logo and have the colors on."

After putting up massive numbers for the U.S. National Team Development Program last year, Eiserman followed that up with a stellar freshman season at Boston University. He showcased his elite shot, quick release, and improved decision-making on a team loaded with NHL-caliber talent. He scored 25 goals in 39 games and started to round out his two-way game.

What’s standing out to coaches and fans alike is Eiserman’s refined 200-foot game. Once viewed as a pure goal-scorer, he’s putting more emphasis on backchecking, board play, and making smart reads in transition. "It's a much more pro-style game, a lot more mature, can play both sides of the puck," Eiserman explained. "I can do a lot of different things that maybe I wasn't able to do last year."

For a franchise that’s retooling with youth and speed, Eiserman’s presence on the horizon is exciting. With the departures of veteran forwards and the team’s push to get younger, the door is open—and Eiserman is expected to walk through it at some point. "It's surreal, having the logo, being treated like an NHLer, having the gear on," said Eiserman. "You're not allowed to wear this stuff around BU, so being able to wear it and be normal is pretty weird, but it's cool."

Eiserman's not just dreaming about the NHL anymore. He’s preparing for it.