Top prospects
Alex Jefferies, forward, 22 years old: The Islanders aren’t currently known for their deep backcourt. That said, Jefferies is one of the prospects who is close to making his debut with the Islanders after a solid stint in the NCAA college league.
William Dufour, forward, 22 years old: After two full seasons in the AHL, Dufour could return to the NHL sooner rather than later, after playing just one game in the 2022-23 season.
Justin Gill, forward, 21 years old: While Gill appears to have the potential to join the Islanders in the near future, this will be his first season in the AHL, so the club may want to see him shine there before considering his promotion. Either way, the center is one worth monitoring for fans of the club.
They will make the playoffs if…
If this team can become more effective on offense and Ilya Sorokin returns to his best form in goal, New York might not have any trouble making the playoffs for a third straight year. With the aforementioned acquisitions, plus a full year of Roy as coach, Islanders fans can feel optimistic about their team’s chances. Now, advancing in the postseason would be a different story. For now, New York must focus on qualifying.
