Islanders at the World Juniors: Four Prospects to Watch in Ottawa
With Christmas just around the corner, one of hockey’s greatest traditions grows closer. On Dec 26, IIHF’s World Junior Championship (WJC) will begin. Ten nations will compete for gold with their best young hockey players. It’s a good time for NHL organizations to view the many prospects around the world go head to head. The Islanders will have four prospects representing their country at this year’s WJC in Ottawa. What (or who) should Islanders fans know as puck drop approaches?
- Forward Cole Eiserman
What can be said about Eiserman that hasn’t been said already? The Islanders selected the Boston University product with the 20th overall pick of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Pre-draft, Some considered Eiserman the second-best prospect in the draft. He has lived up to those rankings in his first collegiate season. Through 16 games in the Hockey East, Eiserman has scored nine goals and added six assists for 15 points. The Hockey East named him their Rookie of the Month for October. He ranks fifth in the Hockey East in points and second in goals. Eiserman’s strong play has many pundits ranking him as the best prospect in the Islanders’ systems.
Now, he’ll compete for his country in the WJC. Currently, Eiserman projects to play on Team USA’s second line alongside fellow Islanders prospect Danny Nelson. This will be Eiserman’s first time competing in the U-20 tournament, but he has competed in the U-18 games for the past two years. Across those 14 games, he scored 18 goals! Seeing how Eiserman plays in his first tournament with the big kids will be interesting.
- Forward Danny Nelson
As mentioned above, center Danny Nelson will also suit up for Team USA this season. He will play alongside Eiserman on the nation’s second line. Unlike Eiserman, Nelson represented the USA at last year’s WJC. He won gold with Team USA in Sweden last year. Drive4Five recently did a review on Nelson’s performance, you can read more here. In short, The Islanders selected Nelson in the second round two years ago. He currently plays at Notre Dame.
Nelson stands at 6’3″, and plays like it, too. He welcomes contact and remains unafraid to go to the greasy areas to score goals. Last year, team USA relied on him heavily as a defensive-forward to close out games. Even though there are concerns about Nelson’s skating, he remains a solid NHL prospect.
Nelson’s skill set complements Eiserman well. Eiserman has a knack for getting pucks to the net, and Nelson has a knack for getting to the net. In a few years, Nelson and Eiserman may find themselves playing together on the Islanders in the NHL, so this small sample size of games will make an interesting preview.
- Forward Jesse Nurmi
Like Eiserman, 2023 fourth-round pick Jesse Nurmi will lace up for his first WJC in the coming weeks. Nurmi will represent his native Finland. Nurmi is no stranger to international play. Since 2021, Nurmi has played in over 50 international games for Finland. He notched 37 points across those games, but he’ll face a new challenge in the WJC.
Nurmi has spent 2024-25 with the London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League. He’s been an afterthought on a London roster that features top prospects like Oliver Bonk, Sam Dickinson, and Easton Cowan. With a 26-6-0-0 record, London has the best record in the OHL. Nurmi’s role with the team has shifted throughout the season. Sometimes, he plays on the first line. Other times, he falls as far as the team’s third line. Despite that, he’s still managed 16 points through 28 games. Simply put, he’s getting buried behind bigger names right now so he needs to have a good tournament.
Team Finland has made no formal announcement regarding their line combinations, but some project Nurmi to play on the team’s third line. Finally free from the gobs of talent in front of him, Nurmi will have a chance to shine in Ottawa. Islanders fans should pay close attention to Finland’s games this tournament. Unlike Eiserman, Nurmi will probably not play in this tournament again. This will be the best chance to see Nurmi against elite competition for some time, unsullied by noise generated by elite teammates. Regardless, Islanders fans are about to learn a lot about Nurmi.
- Marcus Gidlof
Goaltender Marcus Gidlof, like Eiserman, joined the Islanders in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Gidlof, however, was selected in the fifth round (147th overall). Gidlof will also represent his native Sweden in the upcoming WJC. He remained in Sweden after getting drafted and is having much success with Leksands IF of the SHL.
Gidlof, 19, has split time between the team’s junior & major league clubs. In junior, Gidlof has been phenomenal. Over 7 games, he boasts a perfect 7-0 record, a 1.43 GAA, and a .935 SV%. Gidlof’s numbers decline at the professional level, although only slightly. With the pro club, Gidlof holds a 5-3 record, 2.07 GAA, and a .917 SV%.
It’s not yet known which of the three goalies Sweden selected will be the starter, but Gidlof’s numbers are just as good as the other two nominated goalies. Melvin Strahl currently holds a 2.36 GAA & a .902 SV% in the USHL, while Melker Thelin has a 2.43 GAA & a .907 SV% in Swe-1. The weight of these statistics and their respective leagues is subjective, and only the opinions of the coaches matter, but Gidlof certainly has a strong case.
The 2025 World Junior Championship promises to be an exciting showcase of hockey’s next generation. For Islanders fans, the tournament offers a unique chance to see four of the team’s prospects compete on the international stage. From Cole Eiserman’s offensive brilliance to Marcus Gidlof’s steady presence in net, there’s much to be excited about. Watching these young players perform against elite competition provides a valuable glimpse into the Islanders’ future.
featured image courtesy of Matt Zambonin/IIHF
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.
