Kashawn Aitcheson & Victor Eklund Address Media After Being Picked in Round 1 In The 2025 NHL Draft!

uh for both of you congrats uh just general reaction did you see the Islanders on the uh you know on on the radar for you guys and uh you know what are what are your next steps here yeah um yeah obviously it was a super surreal moment um you know it was just it was it was unbelievable i can’t believe it happened obviously picked by such a great organization i’m just so excited
yeah me too yeah me too of course yeah pretty pretty pumped and uh yeah New York uh it’s going to be a lot of fun and uh yeah to be in the same organization as as Caladillis as well so I know him pretty good so it’s pretty fun
left side second row
you’re you’re the second to go in this draft behind a very good friend of yours in Fondelle there were none last year that that went this early can you talk a little bit about what that means to you personally to be part of that and also to make this journey with Fondelle yeah you know uh yeah of course it’s pretty nice to get drafted and especially in the first round uh but yeah didn’t really care about uh what pick like uh the biggest thing is uh the team and the organization and I’m I’m pretty happy this this was this was the case because uh feel like New York Islanders is a very very good organization left side front row um I get just for both of you um can you describe your games and what you’re going to bring and also just any familiarity you might have with um with New York or with the Islanders organization uh yeah I think I’m a hard two-way uh defenseman that will go against the other team’s top lines and um you know be be in their face get under people’s skin and uh mix it up
stay in that same role just for you Ekling just is your plan to go back back home
uh yeah after dev camp I think so yeah yep
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uh Victor what did uh having your brother William go through this experience what did it mean having him kind of there in your back pocket
yeah uh I mean yeah it meant everything and uh also for him to to be through this cuz he he didn’t get to do it he did it online so it was pretty special for him too I think yeah and uh yeah he’s he’s my best supporter he went seventh and you went 15th is he going to hold that against you
no I don’t think so not at all but I don’t I mean I I would have but I don’t know he’s too nice
left side second row uh Kan I know you have some familiarity with Matthew Schaefer both as an opponent as a teammate U8s um what’s he like and just what’s your excitement to uh work with him and and uh meet him really soon and get to know him better yeah um getting to know him at uh U8s was obviously a great experience uh great kid wonderful wonderful personality um you know obviously an amazing hockey player too and uh yeah excited to get going with him
left side third row victor when you when you think about the last several months the success you had in your garden then the team success you had with your garden and then coming here and getting drafted just what has that been like for you to to see your brother do it and now just have such success the last few months yeah I mean uh yeah I was pretty excited uh been excited for the last uh for the last year to be honest and uh ever since William drafted her I just knew one day I I I want to get drafted so so yeah here I am
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hey Sean you had a great year in Barry this year what did that organization mean for you and and your development in your game yeah um obviously since my first year they’ve uh kind of welcomed me with open arms you know made sure um you know I was taken care of paid attention to just you know really focusing on my development and uh yeah this is big credits to them and uh always believing in me left side third row uh
for both of you but maybe starting with Victor what was the initial emotions and feelings for you guys like when you heard your name
no it was pretty emotional uh feel like this has been a dream ever since I was young so So definitely emotional and exciting
yeah same thing i It was kind of like an out-of- body experience it’s everything you dream of and yeah I don’t think words can explain that
left side second row victor just uh when when Anton came up here a he said he couldn’t wait to see where you get drafted because you guys are best friends but he also talked a lot about Marcus Krueger and the conversations that he had with him about the NHL and about Chicago where he ended up going but I’m wondering how much of an impact Marcus was on you and how many conversations you had with him about the NHL about the Stanley Cup and all of those things that are now going to be part of your journey yeah uh you know I asked him a lot he probably got sick on me ask him too much but yeah I don’t know uh he’s a great role model he’s a great captain and yeah you know he’s a tremendous guy so yeah right side second row
what’s a wonder under underrated aspect of both of your games
uh I think probably my shot to be honest yep
yeah i think obviously my bread and butter is my defensive and physicality but I also think my offense left side second row uh just for both of you if you can tell us about the family that came out to support you today and what that meant to you um just to have them here in person yeah um it was it was such a great feeling uh you know a lot of family out uh out here and um you know all the sacrifices they’ve made for me um you know long drives and traffic and all that uh you know it really feels like it’s it’s worth it and it’s paying back so it’s it was great feeling
anything else oh sorry go ahead yeah explain it pretty good uh it was a huge honor for for me and my family to be here and even my grandma uh managed to get here so yeah it was pretty

Fresh off hearing their names called just minutes apart, Victor Eklund & Victor Eklund sat side-by-side at the podium, both proudly sporting Islanders jerseys and caps. The energy was high, and the emotion was visible — the moment had just started to sink in.

With pick 16, the Islanders chose Swedish winger Victor Eklund.

With pick 17, they selected OHL defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson.

Eklund, a creative Swedish winger, beamed with excitement. He spoke with quiet confidence, describing himself as a “high-IQ player who can create space and make plays happen.” When asked how he felt about being drafted by the Islanders, “It’s a dream. I’ve watched this team for a while, and I love the way they play — fast and disciplined. I think I can add something to that.”

Aitcheson, a rangy, physical defenseman from the Oshawa Generals (OHL), spoke with intensity and gratitude. “This is what I’ve dreamed of since I was five — I want to bring grit, shutdown ability, and leadership to Long Island.” He thanked his family, teammates, and minor coaches for helping him stay grounded.

When asked about joining a young defense group that includes No. 1 pick Matthew Schaefer, Aitcheson smiled and said, “I know Matthew’s game. We could be a deadly pair someday.” He emphasized his commitment to working hard in training camp and said he wants to be the kind of player “who makes the hard minutes easier for his teammates.”

With these two picks, the Islanders added both toughness and creativity, and based on their composed, confident presence at the mic, it’s clear both players are eager to make an impact at the next level.

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