The Islanders have reached agreement with forward Simon Holmstrom, their first round pick in the 2019 NHL draft, on a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced Monday.
Holmstrom, 18, was the 23rd overall pick after a season in which he scored 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) in 21 games for the HV 71 team in Sweden’s U20 league. The 6-1, 183-pound, left-shooting right wing also helped Sweden win the gold medal in the World U18 Championships, scoring in the gold-medal game against Russia and finishing with three goals and six points in seven tournament games overall.
Holmstrom was considered a surprise pick by some.