The Islanders’ entire 2025 first-round draft class is now under contract.
Defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson inked his three-year entry-level deal on Tuesday, the Isles announced, after Matthew Schaefer and Victor Eklund did so over the summer.
Aitcheson, who has 70 points in 54 games for the OHL’s Barrie Colts, will likely only play in the AHL this season if the timing works out after his season ends in juniors. Next year, though, he’ll be eligible to play in Bridgeport, as he’s played four seasons in the OHL and will turn 20 on Sept. 21.
The best guess right now is that Aitcheson will likely spend most or all of next season with Bridgeport, meaning the first year of his ELC will slide, but circumstances can always change that. The slide provision kicks in if Aitcheson plays nine or fewer NHL games next season.
While Eklund is seen as more likely to make the Islanders’ roster next season and most defensemen need seasoning in the AHL, Schaefer’s astonishing rookie season at age 18 is proof that those rules don’t always apply.
After Aitcheson, general manager Mathieu Darche has a trio of college players he’ll likely try to sign in Danny Nelson (Notre Dame), Cole Eiserman (Boston University) and Quinn Finley (Wisconsin).
Nelson and Eiserman’s seasons are likely over and, though Nelson may want to spend another year in South Bend playing with his siblings, his game appears to be AHL-ready. Eiserman is a polarizing prospect, but after a disappointing year at BU, he may get more from jumping to the AHL than a third season of college hockey.
Wisconsin seems likely to make the NCAA Tournament, giving Finley some meaningful games to close out his junior year, but he’s someone the Islanders could look to bring to Bridgeport as well.
Max Shabanov (lower body) took an optional morning skate on Tuesday but was still described as day-to-day by Patrick Roy.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
