Islanders Draft Artyom Matyuk in Sixth Round With Pick No. 173

New York selected Belarus-born center Artyom Matyuk, a left-shot playmaker from Chaika Nizhny Novgorod in the MHL, adding size and depth to its prospect pipeline late in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

By The Apex Times Newsroom2 min readAI-assisted Apex article

The New York Islanders used pick No. 173 in the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft to select center Artyom Matyuk, a left-shot skater from Chaika Nizhny Novgorod of the MHL. The pick reflects a typical late-draft approach, prioritizing upside and development runway as the organization tries to broaden its pool of future options.

Yahoo Sports reported that the Islanders viewed Matyuk as more than a pure talent swing. The team’s selection was framed as an attempt to add size and depth, with a focus on a two-way style described in the coverage as part of why New York targeted his skill set.

Matyuk’s path is tied to the MHL, Russia’s junior league that often serves as a feeder system for higher levels of pro hockey. For NHL clubs, drafting players from leagues like the MHL tends to mean planning for time, patience, and monitoring how a prospect adjusts to changing responsibilities as they move up through competition.

In practical terms, a sixth-round pick is rarely expected to provide immediate impact. Still, it can be meaningful for organizations that want organizational depth at key positions, especially centers who can eventually fill roles beyond just scoring. The Islanders’ selection of a center with the reported two-way focus fits that development profile, since teams look for forwards who can contribute both offensively and defensively.

If Matyuk develops in the way the organization is hoping, the selection could strengthen New York’s long-term depth chart in a way that shows up later rather than right away. The more important near-term question is how quickly he can translate the traits described in draft coverage into consistent production and responsibility as he faces older opponents.

For Islanders fans, the next steps are straightforward to track: how Matyuk progresses in his junior environment, how his role evolves with maturity, and whether his two-way approach holds when competition intensifies. With the NHL season still in motion across the junior and pro landscape, those updates will shape how quickly this pick moves from prospect to potential factor in New York’s broader planning.

Why It Matters

Late-round NHL picks often matter most through long-term roster depth, and New York’s selection adds another center prospect to its pipeline.
The Islanders’ reported focus on a two-way profile suggests they value forwards who can contribute beyond scoring as development continues.
Drafting from the MHL indicates the organization’s continued scouting reach into European and junior systems.
Matyuk’s progression will be a key checkpoint for whether this selection translates into a future organizational option.

Sources

Key Facts

The New York Islanders selected center Artyom Matyuk with pick No. 173 in the sixth round of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.
Matyuk is a left-shot center, according to draft coverage from Yahoo Sports.
He was selected from Chaika Nizhny Novgorod of the MHL.
The selection was described as an effort by New York to add size and depth and to emphasize a two-way style in its prospect pool.