Matt Martin was one of eight players to receive qualifying offers from the Islanders. (Photo: Clyde/flickr)

Eight young Islanders players/prospects received qualifying offers from the team this week.

Sean Backman, Justin DiBenedetto, Mark Katic, Mikko Koskinen, Tomas Marcinko, Matt Martin, Rhett Rakhshani and Ty Wishart all received QOs, according to SoundTigers.com. Martin has become a mainstay in the Islanders’ lineup, while Rakhshani, Wishart, Koskinen, Katic and DiBenedetto have all seen ice time on the Island in recent seasons. Of the remaining players, Marcinko and Wishart may be looked at more closely soon, as Wishart was a solid defenseman and Marcinko had a career year offensively (as well as in PIM) with Bridgeport this past season. The latter may serve us well as fourth-line center at some point next season (provided Marty Reasoner is a disappointment again… hey, a girl can dream, can’t she?).

Katic, Rakhshani, and DiBo will be playing in Europe next season, so the Islanders retain their NHL rights to those players as well.