Islanders expected to sign college free agent Gleb Veremyev

The New York Islanders are close to a deal with college free agent forward Gleb Veremyev, reports Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli.

Through 37 games this season with the NCAA’s Colorado College Tigers, Veremyev has recorded nine goals and eight assists for 17 points coupled with 50 penalty minutes and a plus-five rating. In all, through three seasons in the collegiate ranks, the 21-year-old native of Monroe Township, N.J., has totaled 26 goals and 26 assists for 52 points through 88 career contests.

Prior to committing to the Tigers, Veremyev spent part of three seasons in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars highlighted by the 2021-22 campaign where through 56 appearances he registered 16 goals and 12 assists for 28 points alongside a minus-five rating and a team-leading 133 penalty minutes. Collectively, through 100 total appearances with the Stars, Veremyev notched 21 goals and 20 assists for 41 points with 255 penalty minutes.

A sizeable center with noteworthy face-off abilities, Veremyev was a desired free agent among this year’s class with several NHL teams pursuing his services, the Boston Bruins among them, adds Seravalli.

In recent days, several other college free agents have found NHL homes including Union College defenseman John Prokop who on Thursday signed a one-year contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Through 36 games this season with the Union Garnet Chargers, Prokop collected eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points.

For the Islanders, on the season the club sits 32-28-8 and two points back of the Montreal Canadiens for the second wildcard seed in the Eastern Conference. In the midst of a three-game winning streak, the Islanders will try for their fourth consecutive victory when the club returns to the ice Saturday to take on the Calgary Flames. The Islanders have qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in five of the past six seasons.