Hearing the name Simon Holmstrom get called in the first round from the New York Islanders came as a surprise. There were centers on the board who were mocked to the Isles, and Holmstrom had second-round pick written all over him.
Due to injuries, Holmstrom only played 21 games last year. In those 21 games, he was nearly a point per game player, putting up 20 points (7 goals, 13 assists). There’s talent there, it’s just a matter of how healthy he can be.
According to NHL.com his thumb and hip are fully healed and he has a clean bill of health heading into the 2019-2020 season.