Getting to know NY Islanders unsigned prospect Alexander Ljungkrantz

There's no question that the NY Islanders prospect pool is bleak, without a first-round pick for the last four years. The prospects the Islanders currently have under contract are no guarantees, teetering on the fence of being NHL caliber.

One prospect whom the Islanders own the rights to had a break-out season this year while playing in Sweden in Alexander Ljungkrantz. The third-round pick of the Islanders in 2020 scored a career-high 20 goals in 40 games, adding 12 assists while spending most of the season with Almtuna IS of the HockeyAllsvenskan (second tier of Swedish hockey).

Ljungkrantz has been an unknown prospect in the Islanders' prospect pool and was a questionable pick when Lou Lamoriello selected him 90th overall, despite being ranked as a late-round pick.

Ljungkrantz was the Islanders first pick in 2020 draft, selected 90th overall

As we get closer to June 1st, the Islanders have a decision to make regarding Ljunktantz. Being that it's four years since he was drafted, Lamoriello and company only have a few days to decide if he'll be part of the organization's future plans. The Islanders have until the beginning of the month to sign the Swedish winger or they'll lose his rights for good. With so few quality prospects within the system, it would be assumed the Islanders would do all they could to retain their draft picks.

To learn more about Ljungkrantz, we spoke with Chapin Landvogt, the Central European scout and writer for McKeen's Hockey.

Ljungkrantz led Almtuna in goals this season with 20, eight of those coming on the man-advantage. As a left-handed shot, he became comfortable perched on the right side of the ice, shooting from an inside angle.

"It was astounding how potent he was as a lefty shot on Almtuna’s power play, where he scored a number of his 20 goals this season from the right face-off circle," Landvogt said. "Be it via powerful one-timers or well-placed wrist and snap shots, Ljungkrantz was often able to handily get pucks past opposition goaltenders."