When we think of the Bridgeport Islanders players who can help the big club, names like Matthew Maggio, Ruslan Iskhakov, and William Dufour come to mind. But there's another player who deserves recognition for his play right now.
When we think of the Bridgeport Islanders players who can help the big club, names like Matthew Maggio, Ruslan Iskhakov, and William Dufour come to mind. But there's another player who deserves recognition for his play right now.
When we think of the Bridgeport Islanders and players who can help the big club, names like Matthew Maggio, Ruslan Iskhakov, and William Dufour come to mind.
But there's one player who was never brought up during training camp conversations, and he may be the hottest player on Bridgeport's roster right now.
That's 25-year-old Samuel Asselin.
The Quebec native has quietly been the hottest Bridgeport Islander the past few weeks, with three goals in the team’s last five games.
The Hockey News caught up with Asselin to discuss his hockey journey, what led him to Bridgeport, and his goals for this season and beyond.
Asselin's junior career consisted of three teams, all out of the QMJHL: The Shawinigan Cataractes, Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and the Halifax Mooseheads.
After going undrafted, Asselin signed with the Boston Bruins organization ahead of the 2019-20 season.
He started in the ECHL, playing 53 games with the Atlanta Gladiators, posting 52 points (26 goals, 26 assists).
This was Asselin's first taste of professional hockey, and he learned rather quickly how much skill is needed to thrive on the pro stage.
“[I learned] Just how hard it is to play at the next level. Whether it's AHL or NHL, it always getting harder and harder, and you have to have your A-game every time you step on the ice,” Asselin told The Hockey News.
“Looking back on it, [The ECHL] was really helpful to me and to my career. Just being able to be a pro and learn about myself, learn all the little stuff off the ice, such as cooking, the ECHL helped me a lot.”
The following season (2020-21, COVID-19 shortened season), Asselin made the jump to the AHL full-time.
He spent four seasons with the Providence Bruins, playing 166 games with 26 goals and 42 assists.
“It was a really cool experience being there for so long," Asselin said. "Providence is one of the best places to play in the American Hockey League. Just the organization and the staff they have down there, I definitely learned a lot and made some really good friends, so I'm grateful I got to spend four years there.”
After the 2022-23 season, Asselin was left without a contract. He spoke with Bridgeport, and it seemed like a great match.
“I had a couple of good conversations with Chris Lamoriello. It seemed like the Islanders really liked my type, a hard-nosed player.
“They invited me on a PTO up there. I had another conversation with Chris, and I signed a deal here in Bridgeport.”
That hard-nosed, grinding type of forward are player the Islanders organization has valued heavily since Lou Lamoriello came aboard in 2018.
"I can have some skill sometimes, but I’m definitely not a skill guy," Asselin joked.
Transitioning to another city and another organization for the first time is never an easy task, especially a rival city given that Providence and Bridgeport have not had the smoothest of relationships on the ice.
But Asselin has enjoyed the move. “It's been really good. We had that game in Providence, so that was a little awkward,” Asselin said. “Doing everything kind of backward, the warm-ups and everything was on the other side.”
The guys in the room have been great to me so far. Being in Providence for four years, it's just that kind of rivalry between Providence and Bridgeport, so I knew that there were gonna be a couple of awkward handshakes. Other than that, it's been really good.”
Having French-Canadian teammates in Bridgeport helps bring Asselin some comfort in a new city, and he’s been able to become very close with those players.
“The easiest answer is the Frenchies we have down here. We have (William) Dufour, (Vincent) Sevigny, and we have Arnaud Durandeau, who I’m living with,” Asselin said. “Having them really helps the transition for sure, but they've all been good.
“I played with (Karson) Kuhlman back in Providence. The guys have been really good to me, and I’m just trying to fit in as much as I can.”
At just 25 years old, Asselin has multiple years of professional hockey under his belt, which puts him in a unique position to both improve and become a leader at the same time.
“I think I'm still at the age where I can grow my game, grow as a person, and grow as a player, so that's fun,” Asselin said. “I think on the other side, too, some younger guys can look at me and my history in the league.
“Starting on an AHL deal, going to an NHL deal, and now back to an AHL deal after having nothing on the table this summer, I think guys can look up to this and see resiliency there.”
This year Asselin went the first five games of the season without scoring a point. Now he has three goals in the team's last five games, and he’s looking to continue contributing and helping the team win.
“The American Hockey League is a really hard league to score and put up points. Whenever they come, you take them and be happy about it,” Asselin said. “I think in the first five games, I was trying to find my identity in Bridgeport.
“New team, new coaches, new system. Ever since we started those five games, I think personally, my game is getting better and better.”
“I have the confidence with the coaches, so that helps a lot playing big minutes.”
While mentioning he isn’t a skilled player, Asselin is trying to improve his offensive game.
“I’m trying to get a more dangerous shot, have some poise with the puck, and make some plays,” Asselin said. “I know I can do it.”
This early in the season, Asselin is looking at the team’s performance in the eyes of the head coach.
Rick Kowalsky wants to see full 60-minute performances and have that translate to wins, according to Asselin.
“We can't be looking only at results. I think we have to look at the team's improvement,” Asselin said. “Getting better every day and getting those good games. We have a young team. There are a couple of let-downs during games.”
Asselin knows the tight races and competitiveness of the AHL.
“Every team is so close to each other, and it's hard to get away in this league and run with a conference title,” Asselin said. “Looking at the big picture, we really want to make a run, but I think ten games in, you can't just be looking at the playoffs, you have to look at the way you play and improve where you can improve.”
There are more goals Asselin wants to accomplish, but for now, he is focused on contributing to Bridgeport.
“It's getting to the next step playing in the biggest league in the world. I just have to keep looking at what is in front of me and go one game at a time,” Asselin said. “Try to be the best version of myself and the best player I can be. Hopefully, that brings me to the upper level.”
Stefen Rosner contributed to this report.