The NY Islanders continue to add goaltending depth, selecting Burke Hood in the sixth round of the NHL Draft

With very little to work with in terms of goaltending prospects before the 2024 NHL Draft, the Islanders selected Dmitry Gamzin and Marcus Gidlof, and now, a year later, they add Burke Hood.

Hood plays for the Vancouver Giants of the WHL, registering a 3.13 GAA and .910 SV% in 42 games, but struggled during the playoffs, allowing over six goals per game as the Giants were bounced in five games.

The NY Islanders add Burke Hood in round six

At 6'4", Hood follows the trend of NHL goalies with size and athleticism. He tends to lean on his athleticism a bit too much at times instead of focusing on his positioning.

Hood's vision is perhaps his best asset between the pipes. He has a knack for following the puck through screens and block attempts, and usually gobbles up pucks when he's in position. However, his rebound control has been subpar when facing shots from difficult angles, allowing the puck to land in dangerous areas more often than he'd like.

Hood got better as the season went on, becoming one of FCHockey's biggest risers in their rankings after taking over goaltending duties full-time.

“Hood got full control of the crease in Vancouver after fellow draft-eligible Matthew Hutchison was traded,” FCHockey chief goaltending scout David Phillips said. “He seemed more comfortable in his game and much more confident in his abilities. In turn, his play picked up, and he went from a goalie with no WHL experience in his D-1 to a mid-round prospect all in one year.”

While goaltenders typically take much longer to develop, the Islands have options within their pipeline.