New York Islanders select Jesse Pulkkinen with No. 54 overall pick in 2024 NHL Draft

Credit: Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff

The New York Islanders have selected left-handed defenseman Jesse Pulkkinen with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft.

Pulkkinen, 19, just completed his second year of draft eligibility. The 6’6″, 220-pound defender racked up two goals and eight points while averaging 17:56 of ice time in 29 games with JYP in the top-level Finnish Liiga during the 2023-24 regular season.

The Laukaa, Finland product also collected 11 goals and 28 points in 18 games with JYP’s junior club in the Finnish U-20 league. He added four goals and 10 points in seven playoff games while logging more than 27 minutes per night on three separate occasions.

Pulkkinen starred for Team Finland at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship, collecting one goal and three points in seven games while skating in a top-four role as the Finns finished in fourth place.

Here’s what Daily Faceoff‘s Steven Ellis has to say about Pulkkinen, who slotted in at No. 42 on his final 2024 NHL Draft rankings:

“The top overage player in the draft this year, Pulkkinen played around 18 minutes a night with JYP, which isn’t always easy for a 19-year-old. Against U-20 kids, he played more than 25 minutes most nights, including a whopping 31:29 on March 17. Nothing tops his 38:09 in Mestis play back in November, though. Pulkkinen can handle significant pressure well and has the offensive and physical chops to battle older, stronger competition. Don’t be surprised if a team reaches for him late in the first.”

Pulkkinen skated in 43 games with JYP’s U-20 team during his draft year, collecting four assists while seeing his ice time fluctuate wildly throughout the season. He did not appear in any Liiga games in 2022-23.

On top of his Liiga and U-20 action in 2023-24, Pulkkinen skated in six Mestis games with KeuPa HT, recording two goals and four points at the second-tier pro level.

The Islanders finished with a 39-27-16 record in the 2023-24 season, giving them 94 points — enough to finish No. 15 in the league.