CHICAGO -- Ask those who have worked with Cole Eiserman what his best asset is, and the answer is the same: his shot.
Jay Pandolfo, who coached the New York Islanders forward prospect at Boston University, called him"a sniper." Rocky Thompson, who coached Eiserman last season in Bridgeport of the American Hockey League, said it's"an NHL-level shot, for sure."
It's a shot that could soon help the Islanders. Eiserman, who turned 20 on Aug.
29, is one of several prospects who could be part of the next youth wave for the Islanders with Peter DeBoer, who was hired as coach April 5. Those include four players from their 2025 NHL Draft class: defenseman Matthew Schaefer, the 19-year-old who was the No. 1 pick and won the Calder Trophy voted as the League's top rookie last season, as well as forwards Victor Eklund (No. 16 pick) and Daniil Prokhorov (No. 42), and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson (No. 17), all of whom are 19.
"There's a new coach and it seems like there's a lot of buzz around the Islanders, which is pretty cool especially with'Schaef,' Eklund and Aitcheson, (Malte) Gustafsson, all these young guys," Eiserman said at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase in Chicago in July. "It's cool everyone's coming at the same time-ish, which is important for all of us.
We all feel very comfortable and excited, mostly because we're all in it together.
The No. 20 pick by the Islanders in the 2024 NHL Draft, Eiserman had 28 points (18 goals, 10 assists) in 32 games at BU and nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 12 games with Bridgeport after signing his entry-level contract March 18. He also played two Calder Cup Playoff games.
"It was a big jump," Eiserman said. "Obviously different, especially where (Bridgeport was), going to try and make the playoffs and a lot in the conference were trying to make the playoffs, too.
Every game mattered. I got to learn in those games right away.
It was a big jump and I'm excited and happy I was able to get those games.
