The New York Islanders already have one blue-line prospect with star billing in Matthew Schaefer. The more interesting question right now is what Malte Gustafsson turns into, and Scott Wheeler’s latest prospect tiers offered a pretty strong hint.
Wheeler slotted Gustafsson as a Tier 4 defenseman, which points toward a future as a high-end, two-way NHL regular. In Wheeler’s view, Gustafsson stands out because of his size, consistency, physicality, tools and overall impact. The one area that still leaves some uncertainty is offense, since Wheeler isn’t sold on how much production Gustafsson will generate at the NHL level.
Gustafsson does quarterback the power play for Sweden’s 2008 age group, but Wheeler does not necessarily project that same responsibility translating to the pro game. He also flagged Gustafsson’s forward skating as something that still needs work. Even with those questions, Wheeler still sees him as an “excellent two-way D,” the kind of player who fits neatly into that Tier 4 range.
The comparison Wheeler used should grab Islanders fans. He pointed to St.
Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg, who is currently in Tier 4B in Wheeler’s rankings, as the type of player Gustafsson should be aiming to become. Broberg has grown into one of St.
Louis’ most important defensemen, and that would count as a major win for the Islanders if Gustafsson reaches that level.
Chris Pronger recently gave Broberg a strong endorsement of his own, saying he has No. 2 defenseman upside rather than true No. 1 potential. “I think he’s a great skater, he’s got great instincts, and defends really, really well,” Pronger said, while also noting that Broberg doesn’t have the same offensive ceiling as players such as Quinn Hughes, Cale Makar or Evan Bouchard.
For Gustafsson, that kind of comparison is no slight at all. The Islanders do not need every defense prospect to become a power-play centerpiece. If Gustafsson develops into a dependable, physical, mobile top-four defenseman who can handle major minutes at both ends, that would be a meaningful addition to a young blue line that already includes Schaefer.
In Other News...
Islanders Face A Real Opening Night Choice With Victor Eklund
Victor Eklund is getting a real look at exactly the kind of opportunity young players talk about all summer but rarely get handed in September. The 20-year-old prospect is in the mix for a roster spot heading toward the Islanders home opener on Oct. 3, and the path to a job runs straight through the bottom six. With the forward group already carrying established salary commitments, the opening-night puzzle is less about finding talent than deciding which players best fit the roles available.
Eklunds case is complicated by the fact that he is still early in his NHL journey, which makes training camp the critical proving ground for where he belongs. The Islanders have veterans lining up for third- and fourth-line minutes, and the decision will come down to how Eklund stacks up once the games and practices start counting for real. For a team looking to balance present-day reliability with a little long-term upside, this is the sort of opening-night choice that can reveal a lot about where the roster is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Fans Already Have A Matthew Schaefer Debate On Their Hands
Matthew Schaefer is already the kind of player Islanders fans can argue about before his second season even really gets going. The rookie defenseman flashed the sort of two-way game that makes people around the league look twice, blending offense and defense in a way that hints at a much bigger ceiling than the usual early-career praise.
A recent projection from Daily Faceoff only added to the buzz, placing Schaefer among the early names to watch for the 2026-27 Norris Trophy race. It is hardly a prediction carved in stone, but it does underline how quickly his profile has risen and why the Islanders may already have a future award conversation on their hands. [Read more 🡒]