NY Islanders prospect pool ranked dead last in the NHL

6-10

6. Alex Jefferies
7. Jesse Nurmi
8. Quinn Finley
9. Justin Gill
10. Zachary Schulz

Jefferies has been one of the NCAA’s leading scorers the last two seasons, averaging more than a point per game. He missed the early part of this season due to injury but has recorded 19 points in 16 games since returning. In his fourth season at Merrimack College, the 22-year-old is still unsigned. If the Islanders can get him under contract, there’s hope he can become a solid third-line winger. 

Nurmi underwent surgery in October and is scheduled to return in mid-February. A fourth-round pick of the Islanders this past summer, Nurmi had just one point in Liiga before going down to injury. He’d likely have been part of the Finnish WJC team if healthy. Speed is Nurmi's greatest asset, as he recorded the fourth-highest top speed in Liiga this season at 37.62 mph (23.38 mph). 

A name not many considered for the USA WJC squad this season, Finley’s great start at the University of Wisconsin played a significant role in making the American's final cut. His nine goals as a freshman are fifth for the Badgers this season as he begins to round out his game and work his way up the Islanders' prospect rankings.

Another overager taken in the fifth round, Justin Gill, is currently third in QMJHL scoring, with 67 points in 44 games. However, there is one caveat. He's 21 years old. The Isles have taken low-risk, high-reward chances with Dufour and Maggio in the past, and Gill is a similar player in that aspect. He'll likely join the team in Bridgeport next season.

Captaining the USA U18 team to gold last year, Schulz is playing alongside Finley at Wisconsin this season. He's not one known to light up the score sheet with only four points in 20 games, but he could potentially become a bottom-pairing defenseman with leadership attributes.