The New York Islanders have drafted countless players that have developed in college pipelines— captain Anders Lee played at Notre Dame, former first-round prospect Brock Nelson played at the University of North Dakota, Scott Mayfield at Denver, and Kieffer Bellows and Oliver Wahlstrom attended crosstown rivals Boston University and Boston College. The Islanders’ prospect pool has seen some development during the 2021-22 season, especially from some of their college prospects. Going in chronological order of draft year, let’s look at the Islanders prospects who have played NCAA hockey this year.

Ben Mirageas was drafted in the third round of the 2017 NHL Draft. A fifth-year defenseman with the Providence College Friars, Mirageas left the team in early January, per Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal. The reason why has not been officially released yet. Prior to his departure from the team, Mirageas scored three goals and added an assist in 16 games. It is unknown if the 22-year old is interested in continuing his hockey career after departing the program. If so, his signing rights with the New York Islanders expire on Aug. 15, 2022.

Boston University Captain Logan Cockerill was drafted by the Islanders in the seventh round of the 2017 NHL Draft. The fifth-year forward has become a presence in the BU lineup, not having been an elite scoring option. In 25 games this year, he has five goals and nine points, tying his career-high in goals, while being two points shy of his career-high in 12 less games. He, along with the Terriers, recently celebrated a victory in the 2022 Beanpot, defeating Northeastern University in the finals. Cockerill could play anywhere in the lineup and play his game, something that the Islanders seem to like out of their players. Like Mirageas, his signing rights with the New York Islanders expire on Aug. 15, 2022.

Moving onto the 2018 NHL Draft, the Islanders drafted Jacob Pivonka, the son of former Washington Capitals forward Michal Pivonka, in the fourth round. The senior co-captain of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish made his season debut on Dec. 10, 2021 after missing the first part of the season after suffering an achilles injury in July. Pivonka, like Cockerill is not traditionally the highest-scoring forward, but plays a strong two-way game. In 17 games this year, he has tallied six assists and has won just shy of 58% of his faceoffs. Out of the four Islanders college prospects that have expiring rights on Aug. 15, 2022, I believe that Pivonka has the highest upside as centers are always valuable for teams to have in their system. I would not be surprised if the Islanders sign him to a contract this offseason.

Besides Mirageas, the only other college defensive prospect that the Islanders have is Michigan State senior Christian Krygier. Krygier was drafted by the Islanders in the seventh round in 2018. He is primarily a defensive defenseman, and has played on a Spartans team that has had some tough times during his four years in the program. In 32 games this year, he has scored a career-high two goals while tallying seven points, also a career-high. Similar to the three previously-mentioned players, the Islanders rights expire on Aug, 15, 2022, but both Pivonka and Krygier have the opportunity to return to play college hockey for one more season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in which any athlete who had their time impacted by coronavirus could return to play an additional season. This could result in the extension of the signing rights deadline to after next season.

Alex Jefferies, the Islanders fourth-round selection in the 2020 Draft is in his second year at Merrimack College. Jefferies played in 12 games during his freshman campaign, being named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team after scoring four goals and 10 points. Despite only getting in for 12 games, he lead Merrimack College in shots on goal with 53. This year, he is having as strong of a season, scoring nine goals and adding 11 assists in 28 games, setting career-highs in all categories. Jefferies is still a few years away from his likely signing date, as the Islanders have his rights until his fourth season with the Warriors is completed—they expire on Aug. 15, 2024.

Cameron Berg is the most recent Islanders NCAA selection. After being passed over in his draft year, the Islanders drafted Berg in his “draft-plus-one” year in the fourth round of the 2021 Draft, Berg is having a spectacular season at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He is leading all Mavericks freshmen with 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 31 games, only missing one of Omaha’s games this season. He has definitely impressed many during this campaign, including Scouching’s Will Scouch, who spoke about him during the “Digging Into the Islanders’ 2021 NHL Draft Class” series. Berg also has the most time to continue his development, as since he is in his freshman season, his rights do not expire until Aug. 15, 2025.

Keep an eye on the college prospects that the Islanders have in the system as some of them have a signing deadline as early as this summer.

SEF