New York Islanders sign forwards Kyle MacLean and Daylan Kuefler

New York Islanders president of hockey operations and general manager Lou Lamorrielo announced Friday that the Islanders have signed Bridgeport Islanders forward Kyle MacLean and Kamloops Blazers forward Daylan Kuefler to contracts. MacLean’s contract will be a one-year two-way deal, while Kuefler will sign a three-year entry-level contract.

MacLean, 24, played in the American Hockey League last season with the Bridgeport Islanders and registered a career-high 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 67 games. He led the team with five shorthanded points. He has been with the Islanders organization for the last three seasons; throughout his time in Bridgeport, he has registered 59 points (23 goals, 36 assists) and a +5 rating in 157 AHL games. Before going pro, he played for the Oshawa Generals in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) and tallied 156 points (51 goals, 105 assists) in 278 games; he was team captain from 2018-2020.

The Islanders also signed Blazers forward Daylan Kuefler to an entry-level contract. Kuefler was selected in the sixth round (No. 174) of the 2022 NHL Draft. He has spent his entire Western Hockey League career with the Blazers. He set a career-high 61 points and 30 assists during the 2022-23 season. He would also tally 31 goals and a +32 rating in 54 games. Kuefler is a bit of an old-school player; during the 2021-22 season, he scored 38 goals and had seven fighting majors.

The Red Deer, Alberta product will be playing in the upcoming 2023 KIA Memorial Cup, which is held in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. The Blazers were recently taken out of the WHL Playoffs after losing to the loaded Seattle Thunderbirds in six games. In 13 playoff games, Kuefler registered three goals and four assists for seven points and 21 penalty minutes. Kuefler and the Blazers will have the chance to compete for the Memorial Cup as the tournament kicks off on May 26.