The New York Islanders have inked an intriguing prospect, signing forward Matthew Maggio to a three-year, entry-level contract, the team announced Monday. Per CapFriendly, the contract carries a cap hit of $870,000, with a base salary of $775,000, a signing bonus of $95,000, and potential performance bonuses of $80,000 in all three seasons.
The Islanders selected Maggio, 20, in the fifth round, 142nd overall, of the 2022 NHL Draft as an over-age player. The Windsor, Ontario, product spent the 2022-23 season with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires, where he led the league in goals (54) and points (111) in 66 games.
Standing at 5-foot-11 and 183 pounds, Maggio is an extremely tenacious winger who’s somewhat unexpectedly developed elite point-production ability during his latter years in junior hockey. While the delayed increase in offense in his junior career raises questions about his ultimate ceiling in the NHL, he’s shown the tools to become a good depth scoring option.
He’ll need another few seasons in the minors before getting some extended NHL looks, and he’s expected to play next season with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders. Maggio had two assists in three games with Bridgeport to close out the 2022-23 season after signing an amateur tryout contract.
With the Islanders not having much to boast about in their current prospect pool, Maggio could be a potential highlight of their current crop of young players.