Islanders Select Holmstrom, Four Others at 2019 NHL Draft
Jun 23, 2019
The New York Islanders selected four forwards and one defenseman during the 2019 National Hockey League Draft at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Forward Simon Holmstrom (pictured - 23rd overall), defenseman Samuel Bolduc (57th overall), forward Reece Newkirk (147th overall), forward Felix Bibeau (178th overall) and forward Cole Coskey (209th overall) became the newest prospects of the blue and orange.
Holmstrom, 18, scored 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 21 games with HV71 J20 team of the SuperElit League (Sweden). He also appeared in games for HV71's J18 team and their Swedish Hockey League team during his 2018-19 campaign. He added three points (one goal, two assists) in three SuperEilt playoff games.
A native of Tranas, Sweden, Holmstrom has averaged more than a point-per-game (50 points in 49 games) over two seasons in the SuperEilt League.
On the international stage, Holmstrom won a gold medal with Team Sweden at the 2018 Under-18 World Junior Championships in his native country. He scored six points (three goals, three assists) in seven games, including a goal in the Gold Medal game vs Russia.
This marked the third time in franchise history that the Islanders picked 23rd overall (1993, Todd Bertuzzi & 1989, Travis Green).
Bolduc, 18, led all Blainville-Boisbriand Armada defensemen in goals (9), assists (28) and points (37) in 65 games last season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. The Laval, QC native added two points (one goal, one assist) in five QMJHL playoff games. Bolduc has totaled 51 points (11 goals, 40 assists) in 128 QMJHL games over three seasons.
Newkirk, 18, recorded a career-high 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) in 68 games during his second season with the Portland Winterhawks of the Western Hockey League. The Moose Jaw, SK native led the Winterhawks with 88 penalty minutes and tied for second on the team with five game-winning goals last season. Newkirk added two assists in five WHL playoff games.
Bibeau, 20, recorded a career-high 69 points (28 goals, 41assists) in 63 games while serving as an alternate captain of the 2019 Memorial Cup Champion, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL. The Mercier, QC native co-led the Huskies with 14 goals in 20 QMJHL and Memorial Cup playoff games en route to winning a QMJHL and Memorial Cup championships. Bibeau led the QMJHL in post-season game-winning goals (5) and power-play goals (6) and was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star team.
Coskey, 20, recorded career-highs in goals (31), assists (32) and points (63) in 52 games during his fourth season with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League. The Zion, IL native added eight points (three goals, five assists) in 13 OHL playoff games. Coskey totaled 155 points (72 games, 83 assists) in 240 career OHL games, all with the Spirit.