Back in September at rookie camp, Ruslan Iskhakov said his goal was to make the Islanders’ roster.
That didn’t quite happen, but the 23-year-old did get his NHL debut on Wednesday after Anders Lee was made a late scratch against the Penguins for personal reasons, which counted as a just reward for a second straight 50-point season with AHL Bridgeport.
Outside of Kyle MacLean, who came up in January and established himself as an everyday fourth-line center, the Islanders haven’t made much noise in terms of prospects this season.
Iskhakov — the only player to produce more than 33 points in Bridgeport — was something of an exception, but questions about his 5-foot-8, 165-pound frame kept there from being more hype.
And because the Islanders never really needed a call-up in their top-nine anyway, Iskhakov was left to play out his season in Bridgeport.
“Not really,” he said, asked if he was frustrated over the lack of a call-up. “Last year I probably did worry about the things that I can’t control. This year, I was more professional in that case. Obviously wanted to get the chance a little earlier in the season. It is what it is. I’m glad I get my first game.”
The 14:11 Iskhakov played on Wednesday, then, served as the first step in Iskhakov trying to overturn the perception of being too small to play in the league.
For Patrick Roy, at least, it was a success.
“I had fun watching him play,” Roy said after Iskhakov tallied a secondary assist in the 5-4 win over Pittsburgh. “The plan was to give him some ice time and give him a chance to show us what he could do and I was very happy with what I’ve seen, to a point that I was very comfortable to put him with Brock [Nelson] and Kyle [Palmieri] and I think they had fun playing with him as well.
“He’s got great energy. He competes. I think he’s small, but I don’t know if he knows he’s been small the way he’s been playing. That’s nice to watch. I have time for him.”
Iskhakov did lose the puck a few times despite the game — which didn’t have impact in the standings — not featuring much physicality.
But he also used his size to draw an interference penalty on Jack St. Ivany at the end of the second period, leading to a pair of Islander goals after Kyle Palmieri scored, the Penguins lost a challenge and then Samuel Bolduc scored on the subsequent power play.
“Felt pretty good,” Iskhakov said. “I would say from each period I was getting better and more comfortable. Felt pretty good today.”
