Across The Sound: Bridgeport’s Ruslan Iskhakov on Strong Starts & Unique Journey

New York Islanders prospect Ruslan Iskhakov is off to a hot start for the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL, with five points (three goals, two assists) in two games. We caught up with him after Tuesday's practice to discuss.

New York Islanders prospect Ruslan Iskhakov is off to a hot start for the Bridgeport Islanders of the AHL, with five points (three goals, two assists) in two games.

After not standing out in rookie or training camp, outside a couple of deke and dangles, the 2018 second-round pick is certainly making a statement early.

Bridgeport is 1-1-0 out of the gate, with Iskhakov leading the way in a 4-3 overtime win over the Rochester Americans, as he rifled home the overtime tally:

Strong starts for Iskhakov are nothing new, or so it seems.

In his rookie season for Bridgeport, the Russian forward recorded four goals and seven assists in the first seven games of the 2022-23 season, as he was named AHL Rookie of the Month for October.

Iskhakov ended that season, his rookie season in Bridgeport, with 17 goals and had 34 assists for 51 points in 69 games.

Our Brendan Yerkes caught up with Iskhakov following their Tuesday practice to find out what he can attribute to his strong start, his story from the KHL to UConn and back, and more in this exclusive interview.

Iskhakov has had a very unique path to the AHL. After he was drafted by the Islanders 43rd overall in 2018, he spent two years at the University of Connecticut.

He recorded 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 64 games across both seasons.

There was a major injury scare early on in his freshman season, as after taking a vicious hit in a game against Quinnipiac, Iskhakov showed no sign of movement and eventually needed to be stretchered off the ice.

He was back on the ice a few weeks later, somehow.

After two years of college hockey, Iskhakov elected to turn pro at the age of 20, joining TPS of the Finnish Elite League.

In his first and only season with TPS, Iskhakov potted 10 goals and 28 assists in 54 games:

He then joined Adler Mannheim of Deutsche Eishockey Liga, the highest level of pro hockey in Germany, scoring seven goals with 15 assists in 25 games.

“Playing with the older guys with more experience, asking all the questions, and having a longer season,” Ishkakov told The Hockey News as the reasons he thought his development would fare better in Europe. “Because in the NCAA, we play 30 plus games, and then in Europe, you play 60 games plus playoffs.

“The playoff experience made a huge impact on me as well.”

The journey helped bring Iskhakov success and confidence when he arrived in the AHL.

“For my first AHL season, I was mentally prepared,” Iskhakov said, “I was more adult than I was when I played in college.”

Another summer and training camp has been key for Iskhakov's early success this season.

“Coming into camp, you haven’t played hockey in a long time, and you're very excited,” Iskhakov said. “Having a chance to play with some of the best players like Brock Nelson, Mathew Barzal, Bo Horvat, and playing strong, you get that good start during camp.”

Ahead of the 2022-23 season, Iskhakov suffered an injury forcing him to miss the entire preseason.

What Iskhakov has shown in his time with Bridgeport is that NHL-caliber offensive talent.

“He attacked with speed,” Bridgeport head coach Rick Kowalsky said. “I thought he was tenacious on pucks down low, and again, he has creativity.”

But there’s an area of his game that the young forward needs to work on if he wants to get a taste of NHL action and stick with the Islanders.

“It’s his play off the puck,” Kowalsky said after their opening-night win. “Then staying on the puck on the forecheck, which I thought he was good [at]. When he does get it, he has a tendency to slow things down, and I don't think he did that much.”

“He had kind of that one high-zone spin-o-rama in the third. Like, he's got to completely get that out of his game, but instead of two to three times a game, just once was good.”

Iskhakov has started the year skating on a line with veteran Brian Pinho (one goal, four assists) and rookie Matt Maggio (one assist).

Through two games, the players on this line have contributed to five of Bridgeport’s six goals on the season, not including an Arnaud Durandeau power-play goal in which Pinho earned the secondary assist.

“I think we got the chemistry right away,” Iskhakov said. “Pinho has great hockey sense, and Maggio is electric with the puck.”

The threesome started to play together toward the end of Islanders training camp.

Playing with a guy like Brian, he's going to get it to you, and they seem to have developed some chemistry early,” Kowalsky said.

Iskhakov has certainly made those passes count early and often.

For as talented as Iskhakov is offensively, he wants to find a way to be more consistent.

“There’s a bunch of games that aren’t going to go your way, and you are not going to get six, seven chances a game, maybe you’ll get one or two,” Iskhakov said. “We have to use those, shoot the puck more, use my shiftiness and edge ability.”

Kowalsky is in Bridgeport to help Iskhakov and other prospects translate their game to the highest level and knows what the player needs to do.

“If he's going to play in the NHL, he is to make sure he's reliable defensively, make sure he's winning wall battles, but he certainly looks like he's taken a step from last year,” Kowalsky said.

“Obviously, he should be confident as far as maintaining intensity and playing with pace.”

Iskhakov has a lot of skill and is hungry for more after his fast start.

In regards to his timetable to get to the NHL, he is always going to stay ready for the but is taking his time with Bridgeport.

“It’s not for me to decide,” Iskhakov said. “I just gotta do my job here and wait for a call-up.”

Iskhakov and Bridgeport continue their season Wednesday night in Providence against the AHL Bruins with puck drop at 7:05 ET.