Caleb Malhotra Praises New Islanders AHL Coach Jay McKee’s Impact

In a significant move for their development pipeline, the New York Islanders recently appointed Jay McKee as the first head coach of their new AHL affiliate, the Hamilton Hammers. The announcement, made on May 29, marks a new chapter for the Islanders, who are eager to cultivate their young talent under McKee’s guidance.

McKee, a veteran of 802 NHL games, has spent the last three seasons honing his coaching skills with the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs. His experience and understanding of the game are qualities that top 2025 draft prospect Caleb Malhotra, son of former NHL player and newly appointed Vancouver Canucks head coach Manny Malhotra, appreciates deeply. After playing under McKee, Caleb had high praise for his former coach at the 2026 NHL Combine.

“I learned a lot,” Malhotra shared, reflecting on his time with McKee. “He’s extremely composed as a coach, very intelligent, and very detail-oriented. He expected so much from us, and we had a very good team there. We had to prove it night in and night out that we were detail-oriented. Learning from him how to approach the game and how to apply video work to your game…that was a big thing this year.”

The Islanders’ previous AHL team, the Bridgeport Islanders, showed remarkable improvement under Rocky Thompson, who was known for his player-focused approach while also demanding peak performance. His success in developing prospects led to his elevation to the NHL coaching staff under Pete DeBoer.

With Thompson’s departure, the Islanders recognized the importance of finding a successor who could continue the positive momentum. From all indications, McKee’s recent candidacy as a finalist for the Belleville Senators’ head coaching position highlights his rising stock in coaching circles, making him a promising choice at a pivotal moment for the Islanders’ expanding prospect pool.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.