The top goal scorer in USNTDP history projects to be a top-six left wing.
In a departure from recent years, the New York Islanders made a selection with their first-round pick in 2024, taking 6’0, ~195lbs. left-shooting left wing Cole Eiserman out of the United States National Team Development Program.
He’s set to play at NCAA Boston University in 2024-25, where he’ll be coached by one-time Islander Jay Pandolfo. (Eiserman originally committed to Minnesota, but switched to Boston U. to return closer to family after his father’s cancer diagnosis.)
The Islanders did pretty well here for having the 20th overall pick in a draft that was seen to have a dropoff after around picks 10-12. Eiserman is considered by many to have the best shot in the draft, and he leaves the USNTDP as its all-time top goal scorer, surpassing names like Cole Caulfield, Patrick Kane, Phil Kessel and San Jose’s 2023 4th overall pick, Will Smith.
He’s seen as an average skater — not superb, but not where that skill will hold him back — but his main attribute is his ability to get a shot off from multiple distances and picking spots on the goalie. General question marks focus on his consistency and defense, with some thinking he shoots too much.
He’s young, with a late August birthday, which sometimes is a sign of more room to grow than draft class peers.
If you squinted at this pick a certain way, and with a certain nostalgia, you could see parallels to how Al Arbour viewed Mike Bossy at the draft: “Anybody can learn defense…but that shot I cannot teach.”
That’s admittedly massive hyperbole here, but it’s analogous to what the best-case scenario for this pick would be: a sniper whose shot translates well to the NHL and who is able to grow the rest of his game to be counted on in the top six as well as the power play.
We’ll find out in three to five years.