It’s solely midway via his first faculty season, however already Cole Eiserman appears to be like on his method to being the participant the Islanders envisioned upon drafting him twentieth general final summer season.
Eiserman was one of many extra polarizing prospects within the draft — a born scorer with questions on the remainder of his recreation — and the Islanders took a leap in spending their first first-round decide since 2019 on him. It was a vote of confidence in each Eiserman’s sheer capability and Boston College coach Jay Pandolfo, a Lou Lamoriello acolyte. However principally the previous.
For an excellent endorsement, look no additional than Macklin Celebrini, Eiserman’s roommate at Shattuck St. Mary’s Prep and one among his closest mates.
“He’s an unbelievable goal scorer,” Celebrini mentioned final week. “I had a lot of fun playing with him ’cause I knew if I got him the puck, he’d score.”
That has saved up at BU. By means of his first 18 faculty video games, Eiserman has 19 factors, together with a hat trick final weekend towards Vermont.
He additionally averaged some extent per recreation with Staff USA whereas successful gold at World Juniors, embracing a job because the thirteenth ahead throughout the knockout spherical.
“I think my mindset never changes with the goal scoring,” Eiserman informed The Put up over the cellphone Wednesday. “I believe it’s at all times on my thoughts. I at all times wish to do it each shift I’m on the market. For me within the faculty recreation, as you go up in ranges, your alternative to attain each recreation is restricted. For me, it’s being as sharp as I can mentally.
“I prepare every single week to be ready for my shot. I know my shot is ready for the game, but it’s mentally being ready to put it in the back of the net when you get the opportunity. It comes every once in a while and in some games, it doesn’t happen as much as you want. When that one time happens, you better be ready to put it in the net.”
Eiserman spoke on the draft about wanting so as to add extra physicality to his recreation, and that’s been a part of the adjustment to school.
His shot is among the many better of any prospect drafted final summer season, however at 6-foot, 200 kilos, the 18-year-old Eiserman may spherical out his recreation extra.
“I think a lot of it is battles in front of the net,” he mentioned. “Not letting defenders push you around, separating guys from pucks in the corners, getting a bump whenever you have a chance. That split, separation, really matters, especially when guys are so strong and fast now.”
Regardless of the manufacturing, Eiserman continues to be adjusting to the school degree. With an August birthday, he’s one of many youngest prospects in his class, and certain has no less than one other 12 months at BU — if not two — earlier than signing his entry-level take care of the Islanders.
Eiserman mentioned he’s heard from time to time from the group’s participant improvement coaches, however the Islanders have largely let him be. The Terriers, 11-7-1 getting into a weekend home-and-home towards New Hampshire, are within the thick of the struggle for a Hockey East title and, as of now, are wanting good for an NCAA Event berth.
For Eiserman, who spent the final two years within the Nationwide Staff Growth Program, the place the video games are nearly all exhibitions, there’s some adjustment in being in a league the place each recreation is aggressive.
“Every team wants to win, all those points matter in every game,” he mentioned. “You get the older guys, the one thing they want to do is just win, win, win. So it makes every single game really hard. You can never go into any game comfortable.”
