ELMONT, N.Y. — New York Islanders prospect Ruslan Iskhakov was recalled from the team’s AHL affiliate in Bridgeport to make his NHL debut on Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Solo lap for Ruslan Iskhakov, who wears No. 37 tonight. #Isles pic.twitter.com/hM7rV48ShD
— Joe Pantorno (@JoePantorno) April 17, 2024
The 23-year-old winger gets a chance to skate in the big leagues on the last day of the regular season. With the Islanders’ playoff berth and standing already wrapped up — they finished third in the Metropolitan Division and will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round —the team sat Mathew Barzal, Pierre Engvall, Hudson Fasching, and Anders Lee for some extra rest.
Iskhakov is a Moscow native who was selected by the Islanders in the second round (43rd overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. He attended UConn for two seasons before making the jump to Europe for two years.
He arrived at Bridgeport for the 2022-23 season and across the last two minor-league campaigns, he posted 35 goals and 66 assists (104 points) in 178 games. He was an AHL All-Star this season, recording 18 goals and 32 assists.
Head coach Patrick Roy opted to pair him with veteran center Jean-Gabriel Pageau on the third line — a common tactic the Islanders have relied on in recent years with their younger prospects who have made the jump to the NHL.
