Islanders 2025 Draft Day 2: Prokhorov, Romano, Poletin, Laurila, Hood, Kvasnicka

The Isles generally got good “value” with their picks, though that’s often the story with the range of projections on Day 2.

The Islanders followed up their big day of three first-round picks with some value plays in the rounds that followed on Day 2.

Their first pick on the second day was 42nd overall, so that’s far from a guaranteed NHLer, but they took an intriguing prospect there who will be happy to be a prospect camp this week knowing Ilya Sorokin, Max Tsyplakov and Alex Romanov are in the fold.

Here’s a wee bit about their picks, in ever-receding level of info and confidence about them:

2nd Round, 42nd overall: Daniil Prokhorov, RW, 6’6”, 219 lbs., Dynamo St. Petersburg (Jr.), Russia

Daniil Prokhorov is a tall, physical beast who likes to chase players down and lay big checks, and has a hard shot to go with his frame. Whether he hones his hockey sense and can develop the rest of his game is of course the question.

Some are pretty high on him, others caution not to be seduced by the big frame like some such Rempe.

Prokhorov was at the draft in person, though alone. He said forget you, brother:

3rd Round, 74th overall: Luca Romano, C, 5’11”/6’0”, 177 lbs., Kitchener (OHL)

Luca Romano is a speedster and great skater who had 25 goals in the OHL last season. Not a big frame, but great skating can get you lots of looks. He was ranked in the 40s and 50s by some lists, so getting him at 74 is not bad investing.

4th Round, 106th overall: Tomas Poletin, LW, 6’1”, 206 lbs., Pelicans (Finland)

Tomas Poletin now plays in Finland but was captain of the Czech’s U18 WJC team. He’s not seen as super skilled but very competitive, physical, drives to the net, etc. — the kind of tools that could maybe project him to be a 4th-line type.

He was scoreless in 15 games in the SM Liiga last season — watch every shift of his debut if you are so inclined — but that is the proverbial “playing against men” at age 17 context.

5th Round, 138th: Sam Laurila, D, 6′1″, 191 lbs., Fargo (USHL)

Sam Laurila went undrafted last summer, which he admits motivated him. The USNTDP alum, NCAA North Dakota-bound, left-shooting defenseman had a more impressive year with Fargo of the USHL. He was projected to go in the mid-rounds Saturday.

6th Round, 170th: Burke Hood, G, 6′4″, 202 lbs., Vancouver (WHL)

In the sixth round the Isles took their latest flyer on a goalie, Burke Hood from Vancouver of the WHL. Goalies, and late-round picks, are always longshot wild cards, so you never know. Hood has size and athleticism, the rest will be up to him.

Some fun highlights here:

Elite Prospects says: “Hood is a big goalie with strong athleticism. He is also a battler around the crease. He’s willing to embrace some contact when players try to take away his eyes, and he does a good job of continuing to track pucks, even when dealing with immense chaos.”

7th Round, 202nd: Jacob Kvasnicka, RW, 6′0″, 170, USNTDP

With their final pick, they grabbed another very good skater in Jacob Kavsnicka, a RW from the US NTDP that is committed to NCAA Minnesota.

It’s a 7th-round pick, so you should never bet on them making it to the NHL. He doesn’t have high-end offensive skills, else he’d be a higher pick, but he’s seen as a good forechecker and “disruptor.” so if there’s one thing this and other picks indicate about the Darche regime, it’s that when all else is equal they’re going to emphasize high-end skating and mobility: When stocking depth, they appear to at least want guys who can play high tempo, vs guys who profile as grinders or checkers first.