Islanders GM and EVP Mathieu Darche is “beyond excited” winger Victor Eklund and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson were available

Acquired as part of the Noah Dobson deal with the Canadiens, the Islanders selected Eklund, the 18-year-old Swede, with the No. 16 overall pick. Eklund is ranked as the second-best international prospect by NHL.

LOS ANGELES – The expectation always was for the Islanders to select defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the first pick in the NHL Draft. That became a reality on Friday night at The Peacock Theater.