Islanders get major update on Kashawn Aitcheson’s future originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Kashawn Aitcheson has done what he can to prepare himself.
Soon, the New York Islanders will get to decide if he’s ready for the NHL roster or if he still needs some more work at the AHL level.
But either way, Aitcheson is heading toward the next step in his hockey career. His time in the OHL has come to an end.
Aitcheson had 70 points in the OHL regular season this year — 28 goals and 42 assists — and then went for 27 points (8 goals, 19 assists) in 19 playoff games.
And for the uninitiated: Aitcheson is a defenseman. Those are ridiculous scoring totals.
He was playing for the Barrie Colts in the OHL, and the Islanders took him with the No. 17 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
They left him in the OHL for one more season, which Aitcheson played at 19 years old.
Kashawn Aitcheson’s dominant final OHL season has come to an end.
After a 70-point regular season (28G, 42A), the 2025 17th overall pick recorded 27 points (8G, 19A) in 19 playoff games.
He now turns pro.#Isles
— Stefen Rosner (@stefen_rosner) May 13, 2026
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Aitcheson has represented Canada at the World U-18 Championships in 2024 (gold) and the World Junior Championships in 2026 (bronze).
He has increased his scoring total in each of his four seasons in the OHL, proving that he got all he could out of that level.
The step up is always a challenge, but Aitcheson appears to have done what he could to be ready.
