Two of the New York Islanders’ most promising young forwards—recent first-round draft picks—are drawing attention as they prepare to make their NHL debuts. The players, selected in consecutive drafts, were among the top forward prospects available, with one taken in the mid-teens and the other slightly later. Their development has been closely watched, as both bring high potential to the team’s forward group. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how they contribute to the roster moving forward.

Eklund and Eiserman are the Islanders’ most recent forward first-round picks. Eklund was drafted 16 th overall in 2025, while Eiserman was selected 20 th in 2024. As two of the top forward prospects ...