NHL Trades and the New York Islanders
In the realm of NHL trades, the New York Islanders appear to be demonstrating a cautious approach, particularly regarding potential offers for St. Louis Blues forward Jordan Kyrou. Industry insiders suggest that the Islanders are unlikely to part with either of their first-round picks for 2025 as part of any negotiation.
Prospects in the Organization
Moving to the prospects within the organization, Victor Eklund remains a highly regarded player after being picked 16th overall in the recent draft. The 19-year-old forward is having a notable season in Sweden, where he has amassed 19 points, consisting of five goals and 14 assists, in 39 games while playing for Djurgårdens IF in the Swedish Elite League. His expected arrival in North America for the 2026-27 season has many anticipating he could make the jump directly to the NHL or the AHL. Many in the organization are speculating that he has a solid chance of securing a spot on the Islanders’ roster heading into training camp.
Defensive Prospects
On the blue line, another prospect, Kashawn Aitcheson—picked 17th overall—has been making headlines with the Barrie Colts of the OHL. With an impressive tally of 64 points (27 goals and 37 assists) over just 50 games, Aitcheson has been recognized for his outstanding performance and was named the OHL Defenseman of the Month for February, marking the second consecutive month he has earned this designation. This achievement also allowed him to break the franchise record for points scored by a defenseman.
Once the OHL season wraps up, Aitcheson is expected to finalize a three-year entry-level contract to join the Islanders, following in Eklund’s footsteps, who signed his deal in July 2023.
