Here are the bios on all the Islanders’ draft picks they made on the second day of the 2023 NHL Draft at Bridgeport Arena in Nashville, Tenn:
Danny Nelson
Drafted: Second round (49th overall)
Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 203 pounds
Position: Center | Shoots: Left
Born: Aug. 3, 2005
Country: United States
— According to the NHL Network, Nelson wore No. 11 growing up because Zach Parise, a fellow Minnesota native, was his favorite player.
— Nelson played defenseman for a year in high school before converting back to forward with the U.S. National Team Development Program
— A Notre Dame commit, he joins Anders Lee and Kyle Palmieri as Islanders who attended school in South Bend
Jesse Nurmi
Drafted: Fourth round (113th overall)
Height: 5-foot-11 | Weight: 165 pounds
Position: Left wing | Shoots: Left
Born: March 7, 2005
Country: Finland
— Finished with 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists) in Finland’s U20 league last season, ranking sixth among all skaters
— Made his pro debut with KooKoo’s senior team, recording one assist in nine games
— Ranked 28th among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting, said to have good foot speed and playmaking ability, though he is undersized
Justin Gill
Drafted: Fifth round (145th overall)
Height: 6-foot-1 | Weight: 190 pounds
Position: Center | Shoots: Left
Born: Jan. 27, 2003
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Country: Canada
— Gill is the third overage prospect the Islanders have taken in the last four fifth rounds. The other two, Matt Maggio (2022) and William Dufour (2020) both signed entry-level deals
— He more than doubled his point production in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22, scoring 93 points (44 goals, 49 assists) with the QMJHL’s Sherbrooke Phoenix
— Attended Vancouver’s prospect camp last summer, but went unsigned
Zachary Schulz
Drafted: Sixth round (177th overall)
Height: 6-foot | Weight: 197 pounds
Position: Left defense | Shoots: Left
Born: June 14, 2005
Country: United States
— Captained Team USA to the gold medal at the Under-18 World Championships last season
— Committed to attend Wisconsin starting this fall
— A defensive defenseman with some ability in his transition game
Dennis Good Bogg
Drafted: Seventh round (209th overall)
Height: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 201 pounds
Position: Left defense | Shoots: Left
Born: March 2, 2004
Country: Sweden
— His father, Mikael Good, had a two-decade long playing career as a defenseman in Sweden and coached in the country from 2004-10
— Played just five games with AIK’s senior team last season, but scored 28 points in 39 games on the Under-20 squad
— Played for the Swedish national team at World Juniors last summer, recording one assist in six games
