Islanders top prospects has arrived in North America

Look, the New York Islanders prospect pool isn't good relative to the rest of the NHL. There are two big reasons for that. One, most of the Isles top prospects are no longer in the pool but playing at the NHL level. Two, the success of the last few years meant the Isles were drafting later.

But that doesn't mean they don't have any good prospects they just don't have as many as other teams. At the top of the Isles prospect pool is 2021 second-round pick Aatu Räty. A player that absolutely fell to the Islanders.

New York Islanders: Aatu Räty lands in North America

Räty had a hell of a 2021-22 season. And it started immediately. While the draft was happening, Räty was at the World Junior Summer Showcase where he dominated with 14 points in six games. Making every team that passed on him, regret it.

Islanders fans were immediately excited to see what this kid could do in North America. But they'd have to wait. While Räty was signed to an ELC with the Islanders he still had a year left on his contract with Kärpät that had to be honored. But with Räty's season ending early in April the thought was, can he come over now?

It took a bit, due to visa issues, but Aatu Räty is in North America:

Räty was once seen as having the potential to go first overall, but a really tough draft year saw his stock fall. A fall that saw him drop all the way to the second round. But as we know, he changed that around this year. And he's here now.

Expectations should remain steady for Räty. Promising young center who's already playing a North American game who benefinted from the tuitilage of head coach Olli Jokinen. Can Räty make the NHL? We'll get a chance to see that soon.