Please see below. The most interesting recent activity is the New York Islanders’ signing of 5th-round 2026 pick Vladimir Dravecky to a three-year entry-level contract at a per annum cap hit of & $1.075 million. He is the second 5th round pick (141st overall) from the last draft to be signed, the first being WHL Brandon goaltender Filip Ruzicka (MIN). That is a rarity, as there are not many players outside the first round offered NHL contracts in their draft year. However, with respect to Dravecky this is not a huge surprise, as he was projected to be a 2nd/3rd round pick. His rise in the Isles’ prospect pool suggests even that projection is too low.
Dravecky is an immensely-talented offensive-minded right-shot d-man who currently plays for Guelph in the OHL. With 28 points (9G 19A) in his OHL rookie season (in OHL Hamilton), Dravecky seeks to add to that total for the Storm in 2026-27. He is off to a good start in that department, registering a point-per-game through four contests (1G 3A). Largely attributed to his much-improved skating already, Dravecky’s play at the Isles’ prospect camp wowed the coaching staff, so much so that he earned an invitation to New York’s main camp. Although re-assigned to his junior team, he is definitely on the Isles’ radar, especially since the spot in the Isles’ prospect pool most in need of beefing up is in the right-handed d-man area.
https://thehockeyprospectreport.com/2026/04/19/__trashed-5/
