NY Islanders Prospect Report: Week of 12/26-1/1

After a bit of time off for the holiday season, the top prospects for the NY Islanders are back in action, with many storming out of the gate.

The Bridgeport Islanders have dropped to fourth place in the AHL’s Atlantic division, adding only two points in the past seven games, with many of their top players currently on NHL assignment.

Calle Odelius and Aleksi Malinen were the only two Islanders prospects to participate in the World Junior Championship, with their respective nations matching up in the quarterfinals.

Odelius and Sweden got the best of their Nordic rivals in Finland, on a late surge from the Swedish offense.

Odelius and Malinen have tallied just one point in this year's tournament, with Odelius' hopes of a gold medal still alive.

Let’s check out the week that was for the Islanders top prospects:

Matthew Maggio, Windsor Spitfires, OHL (5th Round, 2022)

Matthew Maggio, one of the hottest players in the CHL, has been on an absolute tear the past ten games for the Windsor Spitfires with 13 goals and adding six assists.

His seven-game goal streak was snapped on New Year's Eve against the Kitchener Rangers but managed to add an assist bringing his point streak to 11 games.

Maggio's hot streak has brought him to the top of the OHL's leaderboards, leading the league in goals (26) and fourth in points (48).

Daylan Kuefler, Kamloops Blazers, WHL (6th Round, 2022)

Since Logan Stankoven, the Kamloops Blazers' leading scorer, departed for team Canada duty at the World Junior Championship, Daylan Kuefler has been picking up the slack.

Since returning from the CHL's holiday break, Kuefler has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in four games. Over his last six games, he's averaged a goal per game and is ahead of a point-per-game pace for the season with 37 (17 goals, 20 assists) in 30 games.

Isaiah George, London Knights, OHL (4th Round, 2022)

Like the rest of the 2022 Islanders draftees playing in the CHL, Isaiah George has been putting up some of his best numbers of the season of late.

George has chalked up five points in his final four games of 2022 as the white-hot London Knights continue to climb the standings in the OHL's Western Conference only one point out of the top spot.

Since George made his season debut on October 16th, the Knights have won 19 of 22 games. In that time, George has racked up 12 points, including four goals.

Alex Jefferies, Merrimack College, NCAA (4th Round, 2020)

Alex Jefferies picked up right where he left off following a two-week layoff for the Merrimack Warriors.

In the two games since play resumed, Jefferies has added three more points to his season total (24) with three assists.

Jefferies has already surpassed his season points total for the 2021-22 season where he finished with 23.

Samuel Bolduc, Bridgeport Islanders, AHL (2nd Round, 2019)

Since being passed up on as the Isles recalled Parker Wotherspoon, Samuel Bolduc has been on a mission.

Posting points in his last three games for Bridgeport, Bolduc has extended his career high in points to 23 (six goals, 17 assists).

What was previously his best asset, the defensive end seems to be holding Bolduc back from the next level. With a -8 rating, Bolduc appears to have swapped defense for offense this season. He will need to put the two together to get a shot at cracking the NHL.

William Dufour, Bridgeport Islanders, AHL (5th Round, 2020)

William Dufour continues to impress in his rookie season, contributing points in his previous three games (one goal, two assists). 

Dufour is currently second in goals for the B-Isles and fifth in AHL rookie goals (11).

With Aatu Räty with the Isles and Simon Hölmstrom possibly out for an extended period, Dufour will be leaned on even more to provide the B-Isles with on the offensive end.