Islanders prospect Cole Eiserman scores big goals wherever he goes: 'He's got a gift'

BOSTON Cole Eiserman loves scoring goals.

Yeah, OK, we get it, every hockey player loves scoring goals, its the point of the game.

But no, really Eiserman loves scoring goals.

In big games.

Like this one Monday night in the Beanpot Tournament final, for instance.

The goal is nice.

The celebration is ...

exuberant, lets say.

It helped clinch a win for Boston University over rival Boston College in the historic tournament and avenge a couple of losses to BC two weeks prior.

MIH: Cole Eiserman does it all by himself with an interception and backhand finish to up the Terriers' lead to 3-1 with 6:08 to play in the third period.

Watch: https://t.co/LzbErAEWAd @espn | @nesn | @hockey_east #GoBU pic.twitter.com/yCwQpuyTFd BU Game Day (@BUGameDay) February 11, 2025 Or what about this one from the gold medal game of the World Junior tournament six weeks ago.

Another big game, another big goal, this one to basically wrap up the gold for the U.S.

squad, on Canadian soil no less.

The goal was nice.

The celebration was ...

exuberant.

Cole Eiserman puts USA up by two and taunts the Canadian bench pic.twitter.com/RsHXQGTTYw Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) January 1, 2025 Its no surprise whom Eiserman looks up to most in the NHL when you see the goals and the celebrations.

(Alex) Ovechkin has got like (876) goals and celebrates every one of them like its his first ever, Eiserman said.

Its really cool to see that, and thats a guy I try to be like ...

I always put a lot of pressure on myself.

When I score, I get pretty excited and definitely let out the emotion.

Im a pretty competitive guy, I love to score.

And when the moments a little higher, youre going to let out a little extra, whether you want to or not.

Advertisement Eiserman is having lots of those moments in his post-draft year.

After he spent two years at the U.S.

National Team Development Program, where he broke Cole Caufields record for most goals, the New York Islanders took Eiserman with the 20th pick.

The NHL seemed far off for one of the youngest players in the 2024 draft Eiserman turned 18 in late August as he headed to BU with plenty of fanfare, but not the cant-miss label that previous one-and-doners Macklin Celebrini and Jack Eichel had at the school.

Eiserman still isnt likely to jump right into the Islanders 2025-26 lineup, but he hasnt missed a beat with the goal scoring (or the cellies) yet.

That goal in Mondays Beanpot was Eisermans 16th of the season, leading all NCAA freshmen.

That goal from the World Juniors was his third of that tournament despite Eisermans barely getting regular shifts as the 13th forward on the roster.

This kid finds his spots no matter where or how much hes playing.

And he makes them count.

Hes got a gift, BU coach Jay Pandolfo said.

He loves to score and its hard to score.

He gets so excited and you dont want to take that away from him.

It drives him and its fun to see.

Hes such a fun guy, a funny guy, too, and when he does that, it just brings that energy to the whole team, said Danny Nelson, a World Junior teammate and fellow Islanders draft pick.

The tests for Eiserman this year have been on the ice mostly, in building a more complete game to go with his very clear skill of putting the puck in the net, but also off the ice, especially at the World Junior tournament.

He made the team but essentially was used as a power-play specialist, with the odd five-on-five shift here and there.

U.S.

coach David Carle laid that plan out clearly for Eiserman ahead of the tournament.

Advertisement I give him so much credit for the way he handled himself there, Pandolfo said.

For him to be used sparingly, really just on the power play and still be able to perform, not a lot of guys can do that.

That says something about him.

The fact he could still produce (7 points in seven games) is pretty impressive.

For Eiserman, it was easy.

Its just putting the team before yourself, he said.

You know, really thinking about the guys, thinking about your country and youre just going to do whatever you can to help the team win games.

Its kind of a mindset thing.

Youve got to put yourself in the situation where youre thinking about everyone except yourself and thats going to help you.

With BU, its more mundane stuff that every NHL prospect with high-end skill needs to learn.

Play away from the puck.

Not letting frustration creep into other parts of your game when the pucks not going in.

Eiserman is learning those things now and will have to learn them again whenever he makes the jump to the pro ranks, which likely wont even be a discussion until after his sophomore college season.

I think the defensive side of his game has gotten way, way better, said Kamil Bednarik, Eisermans teammate at BU and the USNTDP who is also an Islanders draft pick, taken 61st in June.

Bednarik is one of Pandolfos most reliable defensive forwards even in his freshman year and names Patrice Bergeron as his idol, so he knows about that side of the game.

Just the details in (Eisermans) game are better than they were when we were at the (USNTDP) program, he said.

Its awesome to see.

And were in the same dorm this year, so we have a lot of fun, too.

Eisermans performance this season has gotten plenty of notice from the Islanders.

Player development director Eric Cairns makes regular check-ins, and general manager Lou Lamoriello, who has built a prospect pool that has a handful of promising college players in it now, took notice of Eisermans World Junior tournament.

Advertisement What I liked about him was the way he accepted his role.

He was feisty, and he just loves to play the game, Lamoriello said.

The Islanders have struggled to find consistent offense pretty much since Lamoriello took over in 2018.

Their identity was built on defense, grit and goaltending, with timely offense.

Their power play has been an abomination for a few years now.

Lamoriello prefers his players to avoid distractions and be professional.

Eiserman could help alleviate the offense concerns on the ice and the blandness concerns off it.

Ovechkin might break Wayne Gretzkys goal record before this season is done, and Caps fans have long become accustomed to No.

8s outsized goal celebrations.

Imagine if the Islanders had that kind of pure scorer who let it all hang out every time he scored? Their fans might not have to imagine too much longer.

I keep a pretty good eye on them, Eiserman said of the Islanders.

If theyre on Ill watch their games, I keep tabs on trades, whos hurt, things like that.

Im always kind of watching them.

Its exciting to have a team thats in the (playoff) race, you can pay attention, have a little more pride in them.

Its just exciting to be part of.

(Photo: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images).

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