The Islanders selected talented goal scorer Cole Yzerman with the 20th overall pick in the first round on Friday night. Here are their other picks made on Saturday, Day 2 of the 2024 NHL Draft:
Jesse Pulkkinen
drafting: Round 2 (54th overall)
height: 6ft 6in | weight: 220 pounds
position: Defenceman | photograph: left
to be born: December 27, 2004
Country: Finland
He describes himself as an aggressive defenseman and said he models his playing style after Victor Hedman.
He made his JYP debut in the Finnish Liiga last season, appearing in 29 games and earning eight points.
Pulkkinen was unclear as to when he would move to North America or if he would remain in Finland this season.
Kamil Bednarik
drafting: Round 2 (61st overall)
height: 6ft | weight: 185 pounds
position: Center | photograph: left
to be born: May 26, 2004
Country: America
Like first-round draft pick Cole Yzerman, Bednarik is a product of the U.S. National Team Development Program and plans to attend Boston University next season.
Yzerman, Bednarik’s linemate on the NTDP last season, was the first person Bednarik called after his media availability on Saturday.
Bednarik, a 200-foot center who models his game after Patrice Bergeron, played in 61 games for the NTDP last season and recorded 65 points.
Dmitry Gamzin
drafting: Round 4 (115th overall)
height: 6’3″ | weight: 174 pounds
position: Goaltender | catch: left
to be born: April 8, 2003
Country: Russia
Gamzin is the first goaltender the Islanders have drafted since 2021, when they selected Tristan Lennox in the third round.
He played for CSKA Moscow, the same club that produced Ilya Sorokin, and worked with current AHL goaltending coach Sergei Naumovs last season.
Gamzin split his time between the KHL and the lower-tier VHL last season, starting 13 games for CSKA Moscow and posting a .937 save percentage.
Marcus Gidlof
drafting: Round 5 (147th overall)
height: 6ft 6in | weight: 212 pounds
position: Goaltender | catch: left
to be born: September 28, 2005
Country: Sweden
This marks the first time the Islanders have selected two goalies in a draft since 2014, when they selected Sorokin and Rinus Soderstrom in the third and fourth rounds.
Gidloff played for Swedish club Leksands IF’s junior team last season, appearing in 26 games and posting a .923 save percentage.
He made his SHL debut with the senior Lexans team last season, appearing in one game.
Xavier Weil
drafting: Round 6 (179th overall)
height: 6ft | weight: 190 pounds
position: Defenceman | photograph: left
to be born: May 23, 2006
Country: Canada
Weill said he models his playing style on Ottawa defenceman Thomas Chabot and described himself as a two-way defenceman.
He has committed to Harvard University but will remain with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL next season.
Weill had three goals and 29 assists last season, his first full season in the USHL.
