Future Islanders? Three Bridgeport Sound Tigers to Keep an Eye on | NYHN+

Names like Oliver Wahlstrom, Kieffer Bellows and Simon Holmstrom are ones that usually capture the imagination of New York Islanders fans when it comes to the prospect pool in AHL Bridgeport. However, there are a few other names that fans will want to keep an eye on whenever the 2020-21 AHL season begins.

The Islanders prospect pool has thinned out a bit in the past few years, but Bridgeport Sound Tigers head coach Brent Thompson believes that there are a few pieces on the upcoming roster that could develop into something special for the Islanders.

He recently spoke with NYI Hockey Now about three Sound Tigers that fit that bill.

Grant Hutton, D

The 25-year-old defenseman was re-signed to a two-year, two-way deal earlier this month and will enter his second full professional hockey season in 2020-21. Hutton appeared in 55 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers last season and had six goals and 15 assists.

The 6’3,” 209 lbs Hutton joined the Sound Tigers at the end of the 2018-19 season after spending four years playing collegiate hockey at Miami (Ohio). Hutton appeared in nine games at the end of the year, as well as five additional games for the Sound Tigers during the postseason.

Hutton first joined the Islanders organization in 2019 after signing a one-year, entry-level contract.

Thompson’s Take: “He’s a defenseman that I think is going to surprise some people. He’s a big, big body. Moves the puck. (Scott) Mayfield type player. Can make that good first pass, is physical, can skate. He’s a little older on the prospect pool, but I think he’s a solid guy that’s flying under the radar.”

Mason Jobst, F

Jobst is coming off a 13 point (five goals, eight assists) season with the Sound Tigers last season. The 25-year-old joined the Islanders organization last year as a college free agent and appeared in 44 games with Bridgeport in his first pro season in 2019-20. He scored his first professional goal on Nov. 23 in a 3-2 win against the Hershey Bears.

At 5’8,” 185 lbs, Jobts is certainly on the smaller side for a hockey player, but looks up to other successful NHLers who are also considered smaller like Cam Atkinson and Johnny Gaudreau. Jobst worked out with Atkinson last summer, he told Newsday last September.

Thompson’s Take: “He brings energy. … His comparable would be a Casey Cizikas is probably the best way to describe him because he’s just a little bit undersized. But I think with his energy, his speed, he’s got some good sense. Leadership qualities, I like the way he plays.”

Mitch Vande Sompel, D

Vande Sompel missed all of last season after suffering an arm injury during training camp last September. There is some intrigue in the 5’11,” 198 lbs defenseman, and what he could bring to the Islanders roster someday. Vande Sompel has 128 AHL games under his belt through his first two pro seasons in Bridgeport, with 17 goals and 43 assists in that span.

Vande Sompel, 23, was a restricted free agent entering this offseason, but our friends at PuckPedia reported that he has signed a two-year, two-way contract extension. The new deal carries a cap hit of $725K.

The London, Ontario native was drafted by the Islanders 82nd overall during the 2015 NHL Draft.

Thompson’s Take: “Vande Sompel might surprise some people after having a year off. Expect him to come in, he was a kid that could skate, he could move the puck. He’s a (Nick) Leddy-like defenseman and he’s physical in his own end. Obviously having that one season off and getting the rust off in game action is going to take some time, but I do expect him to step in at some point in his career as well.”