The NY Islanders prospect pipeline has Ontario Hockey League roots

The New York Islanders' prospect pipeline is improving, as is their ranking when measured against the young and upcoming talent of other teams around the league.

The recent 2024 draft class, headlined by Cole Eiserman, Jesse Pulkkinen and Kamil Bednarik has a lot to do with that, but so does the talent that has developed in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) over recent seasons. As part of a 32-part series entitled "OHL In The System," Joelle Wood wrote about some of the organization's top prospects that have OHL roots.

The list features four Islanders prospects, including 2023 draft selection Jesse Nurmi, who recently was selected by the London Knights along with impressive defenseman Isaiah George who just wrapped up his OHL career with the Knights this past summer. Also on the list is 2022-23 Red Tilson Trophy recipient Matthew Maggio and goaltender Tristan Lennox, both of whom played their first full professional seasons last year.

Maggio was the OHL's most outstanding player during the 2023-23 season, playing for the Windsor Spitfires, where he scored 54 goals and 57 assists in 66 games in his last OHL season. The 2022 5th-round pick tallied 27 points (16G, 11A) in 61 games for Bridgeport and is looking to build upon that this year as he adapts to a more physical game with less space. Meanwhile, Lennox had a 2.94 GAA and .909 save percentage for the Worcester Railers of the ECHL last season.

The 20-year-old George became an intriguing prospect for fans to follow after an impressive training camp last September. The 2022 4th-round selection finished his career with the London Knights by hoisting the J. Ross Robertson Cup as 2023-24 OHL champions. A gifted skater, George registered 30 points in 68 games during the regular season and added 12 more points in 18 playoff games. Like Maggio last season, he'll be turning pro for the 2024-25 season.

Nurmi just signed a scholarship and developmental contract with the Knights after being taken with the team's first selection in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL) import draft.