Islanders rank 6 in The Athletic’s top 145  Players Under 23

Kevin Sweeney
Jun 26, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Malte Gustafsson reacts beside NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and New York Islanders player Matthew Schaefer after being selected with the thirteenth pick in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft by the Islanders at KeyBank Center.

The Islanders have a bright future. The team ranked 6 prospects in “The Athletic’s” top 145 players under the age of 23. That is much more than we would expect for a team. The prospect list for the Islanders is vaunted, and the team got some confirmation of that from one of the leading authorities on the National Hockey League, “The Athletic.” The team ranked Vic among the sports agency’s top 145 players under 23. Do you believe the future for the Islanders is bright?

Islanders Rank 6 in “The Athletic’s” Top 145 Players Under 23

New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) dives for the puck against Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) during the third period at UBS Arena.
Jan 24, 2026; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders defenseman Matthew Schaefer (48) dives for the puck against Buffalo Sabres center Tage Thompson (72) during the third period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

They may struggle even to make the playoffs this season. However, the team’s future looks rosy. Who were the 6 Islanders players ranked by “The Athletic”? Let’s take a look at each one by tier.

Matthew Schafer 

Schafer was ranked in tier 1B by “The Athletic.” That tier fits as the Most Valuable Player and a top-ten player in the League. They say that Schafer has the potential to be the best player on his team and a contender for League-Wide trophies for years to come. He already won the Calder Trophy (internal link) as the top rookie. That season, he set several records and did things we had never seen before.

Malte Gustafsson

Schaefer ranked far and away as the best young player on the Islanders, but one they just drafted. Malte Gustafsson (external link) ranked in Tier 4B. That tier projects as a star. The big Swedish defenseman certainly ranks as that. Expect him to report to the Islanders’ American Hockey League affiliate, Hamilton, when his season in Sweden ends (before the North American season). He has an outside chance to play in the National Hockey League next season, though the 2027-8 season is a safer bet.

Kashawn Aitcheson

Aitcheson ranks in the Fifth tier. That gives the Islanders a third young left-shot defenseman in the top 145 players under 23. He has the potential to move up from Tier 5. Talent evaluators think he might be better than Gustafsson, though they worry about his skating and his hockey IQ.

Callum Ritchie

Ritchie also ranks in Tier 5 and is a forward who played well in the NHL last season. This tier is listed as support on a championship-contending team. A versatile player who can play center or wing. He did a lot to improve the Islanders’ power play, and though he played for the team for basically the entire season, he still has room to grow.

Victor Eklund

Eklund is also in tier 5. His comparison is Travis Konecny. Evaluators have no doubt he will be a gritty contributor. One who sets his teammates up, but they would like to see him score more. Because he played for the team at the end of last season, he is expected to spend this entire season in the league.

Cole Eiserman 

Eiserman is said to be a pure sniper, and he ranks in Tier 5B in this ranking. He gives the Islanders a sixth top prospect. People worry his game is one-dimensional, and he struggles on defense. Though, they point out he might score his ranking. One thing is for sure, the Islanders need goal-scoring, and he gives the team just the kind of sniper it needs.

Conclusion

Beyond these six players, the Islanders have several other good prospects who add franchise depth. Names listed include Danny Nelson, Daniel Prokorov, Luca Romano, Jacob Kanvanishka, and the goaltender Dimitri Gamzin.

Kevin Sweeney is a published author. He is the author of 8 books. He has written an autobiography, a book on stroke recovery, one on presidential politics, and four on sports. Kevin has a Ph.D. in political science; he has published 12 scholarly articles. He lives in Purcellville, VA, with his 3 sons and wife, Kelly. They were married in 2000.

You can get his books here:
https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/bookshelf