After ranking the top 100 NHL prospects for 2015-16 and ranking each team by organizational depth, ESPN Insider Corey Pronman ranks the top 10 prospects for each NHL team. Here is his entry for the New York Islanders. Extended write-ups on prospects ranked in the top 100 can be read here.
The Islanders' system has graduated a lot of players recently, but the team got a big shot in the arm at the 2015 NHL Draft (three of the Isles' top six prospects are from that class), which has elevated them back to being a top-tier system.
Nobody is realistically expecting Adam Pelech to be a major point producer as a pro, but he's solid defensively. Pelech is big, strong, physical, mobile and very smart. He lacks the pure puck skills to be a real threat on a rush, but he makes a lot of stops and is OK on his outlets. He was a very effective top-four defenseman as an AHL rookie.
Sebastian Collberg was up and down this season, but established himself later in the AHL campaign. He's a great skater with good skill and a killer shot, but his body still hasn't developed much the past few years. Until he can put on the bulk, he'll continue to lose too many battles.
Scott Mayfield (11th) won't be a power-play guy in the NHL, but he's very big and strong, he skates well for a big man, and he hits hard. He could be a bottom- or middle-of-the-lineup defenseman who can kill penalties. An honorable mention also goes to goaltender Linus Soderstrom, who got a lot of people talking this season, especially after his stellar performance as an underage player at the IIHF World Junior Championships.
Noteworthy prospect
Alan Quine was a pleasant surprise this season. A former Detroit draft pick who was redrafted by the Islanders, he was one of the best forwards in the AHL, with above-average speed and skill.
2015-16 impact
Both Pelech and Mayfield could be in positions to contribute in defensive roles if called upon, while Ryan Pulock is inching closer to NHL readiness, particularly if the Isles need a power-play guy. One guy who has gotten some discussions going is winger Kirill Petrov, who signed with the Islanders after a long wait. It has been years since he has been considered a top prospect, but he could potentially slide into a bottom-six slot due to his size, work ethic and skill level. I don't expect any of the top three on the list to hit the NHL this season.