According to many, the New York Islanders’ farm system ranks among the weakest in the NHL. General Manager Lou Lamoriello’s “all-in” trades, aimed at winning a Stanley Cup, have largely contributed to this issue. Logan Horn, of thehockeywriters.com, ranks the Islanders’ farm system 29th out of 32 NHL teams, while Hannah Stuart of BleacherReport places it at 24th. The consensus is clear: the Islanders lack significant prospects.

However, this lack of depth doesn’t mean a complete absence of talent. The Islanders still have a few skaters with the potential to make an NHL impact soon. Among them, defenseman Calle Odelius stands out as a key player to watch.

Notably, Odelius serves as the final piece of the 2020 Devon Toews trade. To recap, the New York Islanders traded defenseman Toews to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for two second-round picks in 2021 and 2022. The team used the 2022 pick, 65th overall, to select Odelius. Meanwhile, the 2021 pick was sent to Arizona as part of the Andrew Ladd salary dump.

Understandably, Islanders fans continue to regret the Toews trade. Toews has emerged as one of the NHL’s premier defensemen, and Lamoriello prioritized signing Ryan Pulock over keeping him. While the trade remains a sore spot, this frustration should not overshadow Odelius’ potential.

Currently, Odelius plays for the Bridgeport Islanders, New York’s AHL affiliate. At just 20 years old, he sits on the brink of an NHL debut. His development aligns with the typical three- to five-year timeline for defensemen, indicating he remains on track.

Physically, Odelius is slightly undersized compared to NHL standards. Listed at six feet tall, he falls just below the average NHL defenseman height of 6’1”, according to Jokermag.com. Nevertheless, his speed and playmaking ability could compensate for any size disadvantage.

Moreover, Odelius has already earned recognition for his skating and stickhandling. Scouts frequently describe him as a “prototypical NHL puck-moving defenseman.” For example, NHL reporter Ben Kerr compares his style of play to Kris Letang, a high standard for any young defenseman.

Two years after his draft selection, Odelius continues to show promise. His skating remains a standout skill, enabling him to outmaneuver forwards and retrieve loose pucks even at the AHL level. Despite this, his offensive contributions have not yet materialized.

Through 15 AHL games, Odelius has recorded just one point. Head Coach Rick Kowalsky has paired him with multiple partners and assigned him various roles, but Odelius has struggled to find consistency. As reported by X-user @notaburneraccou, he has partnered with Grant Hutton, Christian Krygier, Travis Mitchell, Sam Bolduc, and Aidan Fulp. These frequent changes, likely caused by injuries and call-ups, have made it difficult for him to establish chemistry with a steady partner.

Most recently, he’s settled into the third pairing. But Kowalsky has given Odelius top-pairing and second-pairing minutes this season. Additionally, Kowalsky attempted to jumpstart Odelius’ offense by briefly placing him on the second power-play unit. Unfortunately, this experiment backfired, as Odelius committed several key turnovers that led to dangerous scoring opportunities for opponents.

Even with these challenges, Odelius still has plenty of time to develop. At 20 years old, he fits well within the standard development curve for NHL defensemen. Furthermore, with three-quarters of the season remaining, he has ample time to adjust to the North American game and refine the skillset that made him a second-round pick.

Joey McAuliffe

Joey McAuliffe is a passionate Islander fan pursuing a Masters of Accounting in Buffalo, NY. His favorite player of all time is Jordan Eberle. He has followed the team closely since 2014, but he began regularly attending games during the 2006 season. Outside of hockey, Joey loves music and the Buffalo Bills.