Islanders Hudson Fasching Eager to Continue Proving He Belongs

If you're a sucker for a good underdog story, look no further than New York Islanders forward Hudson Fasching. Our Stefen Rosner caught up with Fasching to discuss his first NHL extension, how his summer went, and more.

If you're a sucker for a good underdog story, look no further than New York Islanders forward Hudson Fasching.

An afterthought, depth signing last summer turned into an unforgettable one. 

Fasching, the 28-year-old "AHLer," entered the 2022-23 campaign with just 31 NHL games under his belt. But for the sixth time in seven seasons, the former fourth-round pick failed to make an NHL roster.

"They definitely saw me as somebody who was a veteran who could manage call-ups pretty well, going up and down my whole career," Fasching told me back in April. "I was somebody they could plug into the lineup right away, and so for me, it was just kind of about showing them what other parts of my game I had to offer in Bridgeport."

Through the first 18 games of the Bridgeport Islanders season, Faching scored seven goals with four assists. The point total was solid, but it was not until he got his chance with the big club in early December did we get to witness the intangibles Fasching had in his game.

Fasching, a bottom-six player, got the chance due to Cal Clutterbuck's and Kyle Palmieri's combined absence. But when both returned to the lineup in the second half of the season, Fasching wasn't the one that came out. 

From his first shift donning the island crest, Fasching gave off a Zach Parise-Casey Cizikas-esque work ethic, showcasing a responsible two-way game that provided offense and trustworthy defense. 

Primary on Cizikas and Jean-Gabriel Pageau's wing -- but playing everywhere including alongside Mathew Barzal -- the six-foot-three, 240-pound right winger potted 10 goals with nine assists in 49 games.

Fasching's tenacity on the forecheck and his positional awareness in his own zone made him just too valuable. His ability to create in the offensive zone, with an explosive move across the blue line into the high slot, was a bonus.

That move often resulted in a strong look on goal or the opponent skating over to the penalty box for tripping. 

Fasching played in all six postseason games, failing to record a point, but he certainly isn't somebody who should be hanging his head low after battling it out with the Carolina Hurricanes.

Although Fasching would have rather seen the Islanders advance in the playoffs, getting his first taste of postseason play this past April, the end of the Islanders' season brought about great news.

On locker room cleanout day, the Islanders announced that they came to terms with Fasching on a two-year extension (one-way) worth $1.15 million.

"It was really gratifying, for sure," Fasching told The Hockey News on Tuesday. "It's something that I worked a long time for. I put my family through a lot to continue to play this game, and I'm just grateful that they've been able to just support me through it. 

"It was a fun moment for all of us."

I listened to that quote a few times back, as it's something that just stuck with me for a little bit because of a story Fasching told me during the season. 

Parents sacrifice for their children, but what Fasching's parents had to juggle to allow Fasching to play this game was the farthest thing from easy. 

After Fasching answered a question with "I could have been in a wheelchair my whole life," he explained that his two younger siblings were both "severely handicapped," which gave him a good perspective on life. 

"I took all the good genes, so I've got to make it worth it," Fasching shared with The Minnesota Daily back in 2014.

It's truly a beautiful story.

READ MORE:  Islanders Fasching Inspired By Siblings

As one can imagine, Fasching's offseason was a tad different, as there was no need for his wife and one-year-old to have to move to a new city. There was this sigh of relief, but that didn't stop Fasching's willingness to grind, which has been a constant since he laced up the skates.

I asked if he ever gave himself a chance to take a step back and admire what he had accomplished. 

"I think I have," Fasching said. "I'm very excited with how this last year had gone and everything, but for the most part, I really just tried to focus on continuing to get better and continuing to improve and continuing to prove that I can play in this league.

"It [enjoying the accomplishment] was a short-lived thing, and I'm definitely more focused on continuing to get better."

When true professionals get a taste of something, in this case, an NHL career, they will do everything they can to make that opportunity last, especially the players like Fasching, whose routes to the big leagues were anything but a straight path. 

"I want to continue to prove that I can play in this league, that I can contribute to the team," Fasching said "And I think that, for me, coming into camp, I am in a much better position to be able to do that and to be able to reach those goals.

"So, it changes my focus a little bit in terms of the mental side, you know? How can I help? How can I add more value? How can I do this or that instead of, you know, how can I find a way to just impress people and get a look, something along that line. So, it's shifted my perspective a little bit that way. But other than that, I mean, it's still all the same."

Although Fasching had a terrific first season with New York and is incredibly likely to make the NHL roster out of camp, a starting job isn't guaranteed. 

With some prospects knocking on the door, along with the signings of depth forwards Julien Gauthier (one-way), Karson Kuhlman (two-way), and Brian Pinho (two-way), there will be a steady dose of competition. 

Competition isn't a new thing for Fasching. And it's something that he welcomes. 

"I am that guy," Fasching laughed, as he's done what he can over his eight professional seasons to always be a difficult player to send down each summer. 

"I still am that guy. I got to earn my spot every day," Fasching said. "Competition is the name of the game. That's why we all play. We're all competitors."

While we are on the competitor subject, Zach Parise -- currently an unrestricted free agent-- will not join the Islanders at camp as he's taking the time to be with his family.

The 39-year-old is coming off a remarkable season for New York, potting 21 goals with 13 assists while playing on both special teams and shutting down the league's best alongside Pageau. 

Parise is the epitome of hard work, and his absence, for however long it is -- even if it's forever -- will be felt. 

"He's [Parise] been in the league for a long time. And for him to still be the hardest-working guy out there, it's just like, okay, this is what it takes. This is what it looks like," Fasching said. "If you want to be in this league, this long, you have to be the hardest working guy. And it's like, you can understand why he's had the career he's had when you see the engine that he has.

"It's crazy. It's just hard to really appreciate it until you see what he's doing on a day-in and day-out basis to grasp it and be like, okay, if I want to be in this league, and I want to stay in this league, I gotta up my ante, in terms of my dedication to my body, my fitness, work ethic. I gotta give more. He just raised the bar for me, is the best way to say it."

As mentioned, Fasching is a right winger, but with Parise, a left winger not in the immediate picture, that is one of the only openings in the lineup, which training camp will decide.

I asked Fasching if he would be comfortable playing on his off-wing. 

His answer: "I have no problems with that. I mean, I've played primarily right wing, but I've slid into left many times throughout the last six to 10 years, so I would have no problem playing left -- wherever they need me to be."

Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello made no major moves outside of moving Josh Bailey and his $5 million cap hit to Chicago. Whether you think Lou did enough by retaining his players, including the ones he acquired near the NHL Trade Deadline -- Bo Horvat and Pierre Engvall -- shows Fasching that Lamoriello's belief in this group hasn't wavered. 

"It's pretty obvious with what he's [Lamoriello] done in terms of personnel is that he believes in this group, and it's fine-tuning what we have, and it's trying to continue to pull the rope in the same direction," Fasching said. "And I think we have all the pieces here, and we're just gonna try to find a way to put them together the best way possible. I think that is really the big thing.

Before joining the Islanders, Fasching made extended stops in Buffalo and Arizona. 

"I've been in part of organizations with a lot of turnover. So maybe I'm a little biased, but it has been by far the least turnover I've ever seen," Fasching said. "And it's great to see as many familiar faces, and great teammates and great players that are back together, and we can continue to build that chemistry."

The Islanders open training camp next week, commencing the countdown to their Oct. 14 season-opener against the Sabres at UBS Arena.