NY Islanders prospect is a surprise omission on the top NHL players and prospects under 23 list

After years of having a depleted prospect pool, the NY Islanders have spectacularly rebuilt their farm system, as the organization’s prospects are now considered some of the best in the NHL.

Corey Pronman of The Athletic has released his top 137 NHL players and prospects under 23 years old, and the list is littered with Islanders and future Islanders.

No. 4 - Matthew Schaefer
No. 36 - Kashawn Aitcheson
No. 47 - Calum Ritchie
No. 49 - Victor Eklund
No. 99 - Danny Nelson
No. 106 - Daniil Prokhorov 
No. 137 - Marcus Gidlof

Despite having seven players named to the list, there is one glaring omission. Cole Eiserman.

Eiserman left off top players and prospects list

Once considered to be in contention for the first overall pick with Connor Bedard at the 2023 NHL Draft, Eiserman fell to the Islanders at No. 20.

After a phenomenal freshman campaign at Boston University, scoring 25 goals and adding 11 assists, along with a Gold Medal at the 2025 World Junior Championship, Eiserman was expected to take a big step in his development in his sophomore season.

Heading into this year's WJC, Eiserman was explected to take on a bigger role for the Americans, but scored just twice while adding an assist, as the Americans finished in fifth place.

Eiserman was off to a hot start this season, but suffered a lower-body injury in late November. Since his return, he hasn’t had near the same production. 

A pure goal scorer with an elite shot, questions remain as to how effective Eiserman can be when not set up for a shot.

The Isles have been burned in the past after drafting players they believed would become a goal scorer in the NHL, in Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom. 

There were hopes before the season that Eiserman could have made the jump to the NHL next season, but another NCAA season may be what’s best.

There’s still time for Eiserman to become that elite goal scorer in the NHL, but his omission from this list is a bit concerning.