Cole Eiserman

Cole Eiserman (born August 29, 2006) is an American ice hockey winger for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (USNTDP) of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He was selected in the first round, 20th overall, by the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career
Playing for Shattuck-Saint Mary's in the 2020–21 season, Eiserman scored 97 goals and 57 assists for 154 points in 50 games. Only two players, Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews, recorded more goals for Shattuck's under-18 team at 15 years old. Following his time with Shattuck, Eiserman joined for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program (NTDP), where in the 2022–23 season he recorded 69 goals and 104 points.

Entering the 2023–24 season, Eiserman's shooting talent, physical edge, and work ethic led him to be viewed as one of the top prospects eligible for the 2024 NHL entry draft, and a potential challenger to Macklin Celebrini as the first overall selection. Concerns about his game, described as "one dimensional" and "selfish", specifically his lack of defensive ability and reliance on teammates to generate high-danger chances, led to his draft stock slipping from a top two draft prospect to a projected mid-first round pick. Despite the doubts about his game, he had a very successful second term with the NTDP, breaking Cole Caufield's program scoring record with 127 goals in his 119-game NTDP career.

Eiserman originally committed to playing college ice hockey for the University of Minnesota, but changed his commitment in September 2023 to Boston University in order to play closer to home.

Despite being one of the top goal-scorers available in the first round, Eiserman fell to the New York Islanders at 20th overall in the 2024 NHL Draft.

International play
Eiserman represented the United States at the 2022 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where his 12 goals and 20 points in seven games ranked first and second, respectively. Team USA would finish in first place.

Eiserman represented the United States at the 2023 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded nine goals and two assists in seven games and won a gold medal. He again represented the United States at the 2024 IIHF World U18 Championships, where he recorded a hat trick in the first game of the tournament, a 9–0 victory over Slovakia. He finished the event with nine goals and two assists in seven games and won a silver medal.

Personal life
Eiserman's father, Bill Eiserman, played for UMass Lowell from 1986 to 1987. Eiserman's uncle, Ed Hill, was drafted by the Nashville Predators in 1999. Eiserman has four brothers, including a twin, all of whom play hockey at various levels. One of his brothers, Shane Eiserman, was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the fourth round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.