NY Islanders prospect pool ranked dead last in the NHL

It’s no surprise the NY Islanders lack in their prospect pool, as they’ve traded their first-round pick each of the last four years. But now, according to Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, the Islanders have the worst prospect pool in the NHL. 

Ranked 27th by Wheeler last season, the Isles have fallen five places to the bottom, mainly due to Samuel Bolduc and Ruslan Iskhakov no longer being eligible, as they’ve passed the 23-year-old age limit. 

As things currently stand, it doesn’t appear that Isles will see themselves moving up the rankings anytime soon. Sitting in that middle area similar to last season, Lou Lamoriello has proven that he’s willing to make a push as long as his team is still in playoff contention. Last season, he moved a first-round pick and the team's top prospect, Aatu Raty, for Bo Horvat, which appears to have been a win for both organizations. 

With this year's first-round pick still in his holster, it’s not inconceivable that Lamoriello moves another pick for an asset that helps the team now. 

In the meantime, the Isles are limited in what they can work with in terms of prospects. Let’s take a look at how some of these prospects are ranked.