The New York Islanders prospect pool is about to get a little stronger, according to Mike McMahon of College Hockey News. Merrimack College star Alex Jefferies will sign an ELC with the Islanders for the 2024-25 season.
Jefferies was a fourth-round pick by the Islanders in 2020 and has been a standout at Merrick College over his four seasons with the Warriors. Jefferies began his collegiate career in 2020, earning 97 points (41 G, 56 A) in 105 games, enough for 27th on the school’s all-time scoring chart.
Jefferies, a 6’0″ 195 lb winger, got 13 goals during his senior campaign despite missing the first half of the season due to an injury, just one shy of his career-best of 14.
of 14 set the previous season. He finished 27th and 35th in points per game among all NCAA players the previous two seasons, respectively.
Jefferies employs speed in his game to throw his opponents off guard, and he then uses his vision to choose his next move. He is primarily regarded as a puck distributor, but he can still score goals, as proven by five multi-goal games in his career.
Jefferies, 22, will not be the stereotypical AHL rookie, but McMahon thinks the Framingham, MA native is “the most NHL-ready player I’ve covered in 17 years of covering Merrimack.” Jefferies possesses size, technique, is an excellent skater, and is physically powerful.
