Now that the 2026 NHL Draft is complete, it’s time to reflect on the picks made and to make some way-too-early predictions on how they’ll play out.
Despite only having five picks in total, including no picks in the second or third rounds, the NY Islanders still received a B+ from Elite Prospects, one of the highest draft grades among all 32 teams.
With this draft having several highly ranked defensemen in the top 15, Elite Prospects, one of the most trusted sources among amateur scouts around the league, had Malte Gustafsson ranked higher than some of the blue liners selected before him.
The Islanders receive a B+ draft grade
“Above all else, the New York Islanders win with their structure, and Malte Gustafsson will fit very well inside it, having the range and the skating ability to kill plays and move pucks quickly,” said David St. Louis, Lead Scout at Elite Prospects. “We believe he has more upside than some of the defensive prospects selected ahead, like Keaton Verhoeff and Alberts Šmits, making him a high-value pick at 13th overall.”
Lincoln Kuehne, taken in the fourth round, is a project for the Islanders, but as the second-youngest defenseman in the NCAA last season, he has time to continue developing his game at one of the highest levels. Vladimir Dravecky, drafted in the fifth round, is an offensive defenseman who was coached in the OHL by newly appointed Hamilton Hammers head coach Jay McKee, expected to take a massive step in his development in the upcoming season. Artyom Matyuk is a skilled center out of Russia who will be in attendance at Development Camp, and Bobby Cowan, who went undrafted last season, played his first season in the NCAA this year, scoring five goals and adding 19 assists in 39 games.
Though they didn’t have as many picks as other franchises, the Islanders did the best with what they had, according to the experts.
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