5 Islanders prospects to watch for 2026 and beyond

The Islanders’ Mathieu Darche participated in numerous daily phone calls with his fellow general managers leading up to the NHL trade deadline.

But Darche made it readily known whenever the conversations turned to certain prospects that there were certain untouchables among his stock of young players.

The Islanders’ roster for 2026-27 projects to have 11 veterans with multi-year deals past next season. Nine of those players will be 30 or older.

So Darche well understands the need to eventually inject more skilled youth into the Islanders’ lineup. Plus, one of his stated goals when he was hired in 2025 as the new GM was to rebuild and restock the Islanders’ farm system.

Here are five prospects who have yet to join the organization that other teams currently cannot pry away from Darche:

1. D Kashawn Aitcheson

Darche used the 17th pick in June’s draft on the 6-2, 203-pound bruiser, who has 27 goals, 37 assists and 79 penalty minutes in 51 junior games for Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League. The expectation is Aitcheson, who turns 20 on Sept. 21, will sign his entry-level contract and play in the AHL next season, and may possibly join Bridgeport later this season after his OHL season ends. The left-shooting Aitcheson possesses a mean streak on the ice and is known for his big hits and for protecting his teammates as a shutdown defenseman. His offense has blossomed, too. He projects as a second-pair defenseman in the NHL.

2. LW Cole Eiserman

The 6-foot, 201-pound left-handed sharpshooter stated almost immediately after former president/GM Lou Lamoriello made him the 20th overall pick in 2024 that he was a different type of player. Meaning, he knew his strengths and potential as a scorer and playmaker and the importance he placed on playing up ice. But Eiserman must develop more of a defensive game if he is to make it to the NHL, though his forte will always be offense with his blistering wrist shot and ability to play physically. He has 16 goals and nine assists in 30 games as a Boston University sophomore and it’s unclear whether he’ll sign his ELC with the Islanders or return for a third collegiate season.

3. RW Victor Eklund

Darche nabbed the 5-11, 170-pound Eklund, the younger brother of Sharks forward William Eklund, one spot before drafting Aitcheson after securing the back-to-back picks as part of the trade that sent defenseman Noah Dobson to the Canadiens. Eklund will sign his ELC and come to North America next season after completing his Swedish Hockey League season. He has six goals and 16 assists in 41 games for Djurgardens IF and is well regarded for his hockey IQ, non-stop motor and compete level. He’s strong down low with his forechecking and playmaking and has an effective shot.

4. G Dmitry Gamzin

Lamoriello selected Gamzin in the fourth round in 2024 and with the inclusion of Swedish goalie Marcus Gidlof — selected in the fifth round in 2024 — in Friday’s trade that brought Brayden Schenn from the Blues, the 22-year-old Russian is now unquestionably the top netminder prospect for the Islanders. The 6-foot-3, 174-pound Gamzin is 20-10-5 with a 1.54 goals-against average and a .937 save percentage for CSKA Moscow and recently signed a two-year extension which will keep him in the KHL through the 2027-28 season. Islanders No. 1 goalie Ilya Sorokin will be 33 for the 2028-29 season and that might be a fine time to pair Gamzin, like Sorokin noted for his athleticism and flexibility, with the older Russian.

5. C Danny Nelson

Lamoriello took the 6-3, 203-pound, left-handed Nelson in the second round in 2023 and Darche will make every attempt to sign Nelson to his ELC and have him join the organization for next season. He has 13 goals and 15 assists in 35 games as a Notre Dame junior. The only question is whether family ties will entice Nelson to remain at Notre Dame. He’s already teammates with his brother, Henry, also in his third season, and their younger brother, Sammy, will join the Fighting Irish next season. Danny Nelson is a converted defenseman who has developed into a strong, two-way center with a heavy shot and a strong, net-front presence.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

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.