Andrew Gross: Islanders' Bridgeport AHL affiliate loaded with forwards, will gain playoff experience
Daniil Prokhorov during Islanders development camp on June 30, 2025, in East Meadow. Credit: Dawn McCormick
The AHL playoffs start this week, so there is valuable postseason experience to be gained for the Islanders’ organization even if the big club missed out on playing for the Stanley Cup.
The Islanders’ Bridgeport affiliate, in its last season based in Connecticut before moving to Hamilton, Ontario, for the 2026-27 season, qualified for the first time since 2022. The extra games are crucial because several extra players have been added to the roster who are expected to eventually compete for NHL roles.
Daniil Prokhorov, a raw 6-5, 209-pound Russian forward prospect selected in the second round in June, became the latest to join Bridgeport when he was assigned from the KHL’s Dynamo Moscow on Friday.
That made 19 forwards on the Bridgeport roster, with only 12 dressing for the games.
“We want to teach them to have success at this level so they can move on to the next level and win a Stanley Cup,” Bridgeport coach Rocky Thompson told Newsday. “That’s our message to our players. And we have such a good culture in our locker room that I don’t have to do too much. I’m demanding, but so are our players that are here.
“I have the ability to choose who I want to play. So if you’ve earned it, you’ll get the opportunity.”
The Islanders sent forward Cal Ritchie to Bridgeport for the playoffs after he recorded 13 goals and 17 assists in 65 games as an NHL rookie.
Cole Eiserman, a sharpshooting wing selected 20th overall in 2024, signed his entry-level deal on March 18 to join Bridgeport after completing his second season at Boston University.
Right wing Victor Eklund pushed to come to North America for the end of this season after completing his Swedish Hockey League season with Djurgardens IF.
Quinn Finley signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin after helping the Badgers reach the NCAA championship game with a team-high 17 goals and 33 points, which was second on the squad. He could join Bridgeport as a 20th forward.
One of the first things Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche spoke about during his introductory news conference in May was the need to strengthen the organization’s minor-league system.
“[Bridgeport] can look at us, ‘Hey, we’re in the playoffs, you’re not,’ ” Darche said. “Which I don’t like. My goal is both teams in the playoffs.
“It’s an awesome experience. Winning anywhere is always good. Hopefully they go on a run. Rocky and the coaches down there have done a phenomenal job of helping these guys. Having a run can only be good.”
Romanov will be ready
Defenseman Alexander Romanov missed the rest of the season after suffering a labrum injury in his right shoulder on a boarding hit by the Stars’ Mikko Rantanen in Dallas on Nov. 18. That hit late in the third period prompted former coach Patrick Roy to curse at Rantanen, his former player with the Avalanche, that he wouldn’t make it through the Stars’ game at UBS Arena on March 26. Rantanen wound up missing that game as he recovered from an injury.
“He did a great job with this team,” Romanov said of Roy. “I like the emotion that he brings to this team. He really cared about the team.”
Romanov confirmed that he will be ready for September’s training camp and that he likely would have been able to return if the Islanders had made the playoffs. But missing most of the season — his first on an eight-year, $50 million deal — was painful.
“It’s terrible,” Romanov said. “It’s really tough to just watch hockey all season long. Just practice and rehabbing. That’s what I was dealing with.”
Sorokin not thinking Vezina
Ilya Sorokin went 29-24-2 with a 2.68 goals-against average and a .906 save percentage, but based on advanced analytics, he is considered a potential candidate for the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goalie (as voted upon by the 32 general managers).
According to MoneyPuck.com, Sorokin was third in the NHL with a goals saved above expected of 25.3 despite his expected goals against of 169.3 being the fifth highest in the league.
Sorokin believes losing nine of his last 14 decisions during the Islanders’ late-season fade will take him out of the running for the Vezina.
“I think it’s not in discussion,” he said. “It’s no chance. I never think about this. I think about making the playoffs.”
Doubts on Duclair
Speedy wing Anthony Duclair had 12 goals and 15 assists in 62 games in the second season of a four-year, $14 million deal and was a healthy scratch in nine of the last 11 games. Still, this season went better than the previous one, when an early groin injury wrecked his ability to skate and he took a leave of absence in April after former coach Patrick Roy criticized his play.
Still, even with the chance for a fresh start under new coach Pete DeBoer, it’s fair to wonder if it would be best for both Duclair and the Islanders for him to move on. Duclair has a 16-team modified no-trade clause for the last two seasons of his deal.
“Haven’t talked about it,” he said when Newsday asked if he’d given thought to where the best spot for him might be next season.
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
