Get To Know Isaiah George, Matthew Maggio & Daylan Kuefler

MONTREAL, QC– Earlier in the day you had a chance to meet a pair of New York Islanders second-round picks in Calle Odelius and Quinn Finley. The Islanders then drafted three more players. Time to meet defenseman Isaiah George (98th), right-winger Matthew Maggio (142nd), and left-winger Daylan Kuelfer (174th).

Isaiah George

Position: LHD

Age: 17

Height/Weight: 5’11, 187 lbs

Team: London Knights (OHL)

Regular Season stats: 6 goals, 17 assists, 23 points,  67 GP

Speaking to Isaiah George and learning about his game, this is a player that may be a diamond in the rough pick. He is an impressive skater which allows him to do a lot on the ice.

“I think it just allows myself to create more time and space, be able to place quicker and then when you’re in those types of situations, be able to get out a little bit easier,” George said.

Elite Prospects scout Cam Robinson praised the now New York Islanders young defenseman.

The best player left on my board:

Isaiah George – 6'1 195lbs LHD with immaculate four-way skating ability.

Still a bit raw, but a very real upside to be a stopper at the NHL level.

— /Cam Robinson/ (@Hockey_Robinson) July 8, 2022

Isaiah George said he models his game after Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, as well as Florida Panthers Gustav Forsling and Washington Capitals Dmitry Orlov. 

Like Robinson said, there is room for improvement and one area of his game he wants to take to the next step is his offense.

“I think I really wanted to be to become a two-way defenseman,” George said. “I think my defensive game is definitely my strong point at this stage in my hockey career. I think the offense is continuing to grow and I think it’s gotten better even this season.”

George said he is going to focus on creating more, shooting more puck from the blue line and jump in on the rush.

Matthew Maggio

Position: RW

Age: 20

Height/Weight: 5’11, 187 lbs

Team: Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

Regular Season stats: 38 goals, 47 assists, 85 points, 66 GP

Postseason stats: 7 goals, 10 assists, 17 points, 25 GP

Matthew Maggio is an example of a player that might have just needed a few years to develop. After a stint with the Spitfires in 2019-20, his age 18 season, he had three goals and 11 assists in 45 games. Then for the 2020-21 season, the pandemic, Maggio was loaned to SK Lejon of the HockeyEttan, the third-tier league in Sweden.

In 19 games, there was not much of an improvement to the stat line, with just three goals and 11 assists.

But then he exploded in his second stint with Windsor this past season, with 38 goals and 47 assists in 66 regular-season games. Now, one can say that he was older and he was playing against younger players, as many said about William Dufour.

New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was asked about his pick of Matthew Maggio following the 2022 NHL Draft.

“He went over to Sweden, and that was the year when, you know, everybody went through the problems,” Lamoriello said.  “And he came back here and you know, he was one of the top scorers in Windsor, and our scouts had watch him and sometimes players like that, because of the age and it’s only a six-month gap sometimes, you know…so you go that route.”

Daylan Kuefler

Position: LW

Age: 20

Height/Weight: 6’2, 192 lbs

Team: Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Regular Season stats: 38 goals, 21 assists, 65 GP

Postseason stats: 10 goals, 7 assists, 17 GP

Another player that took a bit to perform but slowly but surely figured it out is Dylan Kuefler started his career with the Kamloops Blazers back in 2019-20 and through his first two seasons struggled to produce with just eight goals and 16 assists in 65 games.

He was eligible for the 2021 NHL Draft, but was passed by every team.

But in 2021-22, his age 20 season, he lit it up with 38 goals and 21 assists. And when a big man like that is finding ways to perform to a significantly high level, you take notice.

“Well, when somebody puts in front of you, you know, a player that went through the draft and he’s 6’3 and he’s 210 pounds and he’s got 38 goals in junior hockey. I think you got to look at it and you know, think twice,” Lamoriello said.