Now and Later
The future is present; Islanders visit Oilers
Good Morning, Islanders Country.
There’s a special kind of electricity around a franchise when the future doesn’t feel theoretical anymore — when it’s not locked away in scouting reports and hopeful timelines, but skating right in front of you while more help is already on the way. That’s where the New York Islanders find themselves right now, and it’s a place they haven’t lived in for a long time.
On any given night, you’re watching Matthew Schaefer, 18 years old and already playing like the moment belongs to him. You’re watching Cal Ritchie, just 20, looking increasingly comfortable in the kind of role teams usually wait years to trust. The future isn’t knocking anymore — it’s already inside, shoes off, rearranging the furniture.
And here’s the part that really changes the mood: they’re not alone.
This week, The Athletic released its list of top NHL prospects under 23. Not long ago — say, 2024 — you would’ve scrolled past that list like it was fine print, hoping maybe one Islanders name would pop up before your thumb got tired. Now? Seven names. Seven.
4: Matthew Schaefer
36: Kashawn Aitcheson
47: Calum Ritchie
49: Victor Eklund
99: Danny Nelson
109: Daniil Prokhorov
137: Marcus Gidlof
Not one of them named Cole Eiserman — a reminder of how quickly the narrative, and the depth chart, can change. Isaiah George? The smooth-skating 21-year-old defenseman who has played over 30 NHL games? Also, not on the list.
Will all of them make an NHL impact? Of course not. That’s not how this works. Prospects are probabilities, not promises. But there’s power in numbers, and there’s comfort in volume. For the first time in years, the Islanders’ pipeline isn’t shallow — it’s legitimately deep.
