Islanders Prospect Report: Nurmi’s Hat Trick Headlines a Big Week for the Pipeline
The Islanders’ pipeline was buzzing this past week, with several prospects making noise across junior, college, and European leagues. From Jesse Nurmi’s breakout in the OHL to Tomas Poletín lighting it up out west, and Xavier Veilleux showing two-way dominance at Cornell, the future in the system is looking bright. Let’s dive into the latest on some of the organization’s most promising young names.
Nurmi Nets First OHL Hat Trick
Jesse Nurmi is finding his stride in North America-and fast. The 2023 fourth-round pick (113th overall) had a weekend to remember with the London Knights, posting a four-point performance (3G, 1A) on Saturday, including his first career OHL hat trick. That outburst extended his point streak to four games, during which he’s racked up 10 points (5G, 5A).
Nurmi kicked off his weekend with a statement goal in Friday’s 3-2 shootout loss to North Bay. After the Battalion took a 1-0 lead early in the second, Nurmi answered just 40 seconds later, breaking free on a slick breakaway and burying the equalizer.
But it was Saturday where he truly stole the show. In a 6-1 rout of the Erie Otters, Nurmi’s first goal of the night stood as the game-winner, giving London a 2-1 lead midway through the second period. Minutes later, he added a power-play assist before completing the hat trick in the third-capping off a performance that showcased his finishing touch, hockey IQ, and ability to rise in key moments.
Since joining the Knights after starting the season in the ECHL, Nurmi has made an immediate impact, tallying 15 points (8G, 7A) in just 12 games. He’s showing the kind of offensive instincts and confidence that suggest his transition to the North American game is well ahead of schedule.
Poletín’s Scoring Surge Continues in Kelowna
Tomas Poletín is heating up in the WHL, and the scoreboard is feeling it. The 2025 fourth-rounder (106th overall) is riding a three-game point streak with three goals and an assist, bringing his season total to 33 points (19G, 12A) in 33 games for the Kelowna Rockets.
He kicked off his week with an assist in a 5-3 win over Red Deer, setting up an insurance marker to help seal the deal. But things really picked up over the weekend.
On Friday, Poletín opened the scoring with a clean snipe from the slot against Prince George, giving Kelowna a 1-0 lead late in the first period en route to a 4-2 victory. The next night, he turned up the heat against the Vancouver Giants-scoring twice on the power play in a 9-2 blowout. One of those goals came from a sharp-angle bank shot off fellow Islanders prospect Burke Hood, showcasing Poletín’s creativity and touch around the net.
With seven power-play goals on the season, Poletín is emerging as a go-to option with the man advantage. His ability to find space and finish in tight has been a major asset for Kelowna, and his development curve continues to trend upward.
Veilleux Powers Cornell with Three-Point Night
Xavier Veilleux is putting together a strong freshman campaign at Cornell, and Saturday’s game against Brown was a prime example of his growing influence. The 2024 sixth-round pick (179th overall) posted a three-point night (1G, 2A) in a 4-2 win, flashing the offensive upside that’s made him one of the top-producing blueliners in the ECAC.
Veilleux set the tone early, picking up the primary assist on Cornell’s first goal of the night to tie the game 1-1 just over six minutes into the first period. He added another helper on the eventual game-winner late in the second, then capped his night with a laser from the right circle on the power play-his fifth goal of the season, all of which have come with the man advantage.
That tally was Veilleux’s first since Jan. 9, but he’s been consistently productive, especially in January when he racked up 11 points (3G, 8A). He now leads all Cornell defensemen with 18 points (5G, 13A) in 21 games, showing poise, vision, and a knack for quarterbacking the power play.
Quick Hits from Around the System
Here’s a snapshot of how other Islanders prospects are performing across various leagues:
OHL
- Kashawn Aitcheson (Barrie): 48 GP, 22G, 24A - A consistent scoring threat with a physical edge (56 PIM).
- Luca Romano (Kitchener): 46 GP, 12G, 19A - Showing solid two-way play and offensive instincts.
- Jesse Nurmi (London): 12 GP, 8G, 7A - Making a strong impression since joining from the ECHL.
WHL
- Tomas Poletín (Kelowna): 33 GP, 19G, 12A - Continues to shine as a rookie with nine power-play points.
- Jacob Kvasnicka (Penticton): 46 GP, 27G, 37A - One of the more productive forwards in the CHL.
- Burke Hood (Vancouver): 34 GP, 15-14-2, .891 SV% - Battling through a tough stretch in net.
KHL/VHL/MHL
- Dmitry Gamzin (CSKA Moscow): 30 GP, 16-7-0, .934 SV%, 4 SO - Dominating in net with elite-level numbers.
- Daniil Prokhorov (Dynamo system): 40 GP across three leagues, 12G, 12A - Producing steadily across the KHL, VHL, and MHL.
Sweden
- Victor Eklund (Djurgårdens IF): 32 GP, 2G, 12A - A steady contributor on the blue line.
- Marcus Gidlof (Leksands IF): 19 GP, .893 SV%, 3 SO - Flashes of brilliance in net.
- Dennis Good Bogg - Still looking for offensive traction in HockeyEttan.
NCAA
- Xavier Veilleux (Cornell): 21 GP, 5G, 13A - Leading all Big Red defensemen in scoring.
- Quinn Finley (Wisconsin): 24 GP, 10G, 9A - Continues to be a reliable offensive presence.
- Danny Nelson (Notre Dame): 25 GP, 8G, 9A - Showing flashes of top-six potential.
- Cole Eiserman (Boston University): 22 GP, 10G, 6A - A sniper in the making at the college level.
Final Word
From Nurmi’s hat trick to Veilleux’s breakout at Cornell, the Islanders’ prospect pool is delivering strong performances across the board. Whether it’s goal-scoring, playmaking, or steady goaltending, the organization is seeing meaningful progress from its young talent-and that’s exactly what you want to see as the rebuild continues to take shape.
Stay tuned. The kids are just getting started.