The New York Islanders selected one forward, two defensemen and two goalies on Day 2 of the 2024 National Hockey League Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas.
Jesse Pulkkinen (54th overall), Kamil Bednarik (61st overall), Dmitry Gamzin (115th overall), Marcus Gidlov (147th overall) and Xavier Weill (179th overall) were selected in rounds two through six.
Pulkkinen, 19, played for JYP's U-20 team in Finland last season, recording 28 points (11 goals, 17 assists) in 18 games to lead JYP's defensemen in goals and adding 10 points (4 goals, 6 assists) in seven playoff games. He recorded eight points (2 goals, 6 assists) in 29 games for JYP's Liiga club. The Lauka, Finland native represented his country at the 2024 World Junior Championship in Gothenburg, Sweden, recording one goal and two assists in seven games to help Finland finish fourth in the tournament.
Bednarik, 18, appeared in 61 games with the U.S. National Team Development Program (NTDP) last season, recording 65 points (26 goals, 39 assists) and had 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists) in 27 games against United States Hockey League (USHL) opponents. The Elmhurst, Illinois native represented the United States at the 2024 Men's Under-18 World Championship in Finland this spring, recording six points (two goals, four assists) in seven games and helping the U.S. win a silver medal. He will play Division I college hockey at Boston University in the fall.
The 21-year-old Gamzin appeared in 13 games with CSKA Moscow of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season with a record of 7 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw, a goals against average of 1.98, a save percentage of .937 and one shutout win. In his two seasons in the KHL, he has appeared in 15 games with a record of 9 wins, 4 losses and 1 draw. A native of Moscow, Russia, Gamzin appeared in 23 games with Zvezda Moscow of the All-Russian Hockey League (VHL) last season with a record of 10 wins, 9 losses and 2 draws, a save percentage of .922, a goals against average of 2.42 and 10 wins, leading all Zvezda goalies.
Gidloff, 18, appeared in 26 games last season with the Leksands U-20 team in the Swedish junior league. He led Leksands goalies with a 14-12 record, .923 save percentage and 2.22 goals against average and was tops among U-20 goalies in the Swedish junior league in save percentage and goals against average. The Falun, Sweden native went 3-2 with a .895 save percentage and 3.14 goals against average in five postseason games with the Leksands.
Weill, 18, recorded 32 points (three goals, 29 assists) last season with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Weill led Muskegon defensemen in points (32) and assists (29) and was tied for first in goals (3). He led USHL rookie defensemen in points and was selected to the 2024 USHL All-Rookie Team. The L'Ancienne-Lorette, Quebec native added five points (one goal, four assists) in seven playoff games, helping Muskegon reach the Eastern Conference Finals of the Clark Cup Playoffs. He has committed to play Division I hockey at Harvard University.
