NY Islanders draftee Cole Eiserman named one of NHL's top prospects

It's been just under three weeks since the 2024 NHL Draft and it's still difficult to fathom that Cole Eiserman dropped to the NY Islanders at No. 20 overall.

Projected at one point to contend with Macklin Cellebrini for the draft top pick, scouts dove into every nook and cranny of Eiserman's game, with the consensus being that he was a one-dimensional player - but a deep inquiry is expected to happen when you're on the league's radar for such a long time.

With the skill set to potentially become an elite goal scorer in the NHL, Eiserman was ranked the league's 16th-best prospect according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic.

Eiserman ranks higher than most of his draft class including fourth overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cayden Lindstrom (18) - Zach Benson (20), who made the Buffalo Sabres roster last season just a few months after being drafted 13th overall, and Shane Wright (28), who was projected to be the top overall pick last year.

Before this year's draft, the Islanders unanimously had the worst prospect pool in the NHL - but with the additions of Eiserman along with Jesse Pulkkinen and Kamil Bednarik in the second round, they've moved up a bit but are still towards the bottom of the league.

Eiserman is set to play at Boston University next season under Jay Pandolfo - former Islander and Devil under Lou Lamoriello.

With Cellebrini signing his entry-level contract and set to join the San Jose Sharks for the 2024-25 season, it opens up a position as the go-to player for the Terriers. Eiserman will be joined by Bednarik, with whom he played on a line for much of last season with the USMNTDP.

The Islanders have struck out in the past when it comes to highly touted goal scorers, but none of them have come with Eiserman's pedigree.