Islanders, Simon Holmstrom agree to entry-level contract
Simon Holmstrom skates during the Islanders' final day of prospects camp at the Northwell Health Ice Center on June 29. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
The Islanders have reached agreement with Swedish forward Simon Holmstrom, their first-round pick in last month’s NHL Draft, on a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday.
Holmstrom, 18, was the 23rd overall pick after a season in which he had 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 21 games for the HV 71 team in Sweden’s U20 league.
The 6-1, 194-pound, left-shooting right wing also helped Sweden win the gold medal in the World U18 Championships, scoring in the gold-medal game against Russia and finishing with three goals and six points in seven tournament games.
Holmstrom was considered a surprise pick by some. He was rated as the No. 27 European skating prospect by the NHL’s Central Scouting division entering the draft, and many prognosticators figured he wouldn’t go in the first round.
Holmstrom participated in the Islanders’ summer prospect development camp at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow last month and returned to Sweden after prospect camp for summer training.
The Islanders will bring him to training camp, where he will compete with several other young players, such as 2018 first-round pick Oliver Wahlstrom, for a roster spot. If Holmstrom doesn’t make the parent club, he will be eligible to play for the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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