Rip-Roaring Ruslan Headed to All-Star Classic This Weekend
Jan 29, 2024
Ruslan Iskhakov is having another strong season with the Bridgeport Islanders. So good, in fact, that he’s headed to San Jose this weekend to represent Bridgeport at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic, presented by Tech CU.
Iskhakov has recorded a team-high 13 goals, 21 assists and 34 points through the first 43 games of his sophomore season in the American Hockey League - reaching a new level of confidence along the way.
“He’s just more comfortable overall,” Head Coach Rick Kowalsky said earlier this month. “I talked to him a little bit in training camp about being tenacious. He has that ability to really hunt pucks down and strip them from guys. He demands the puck and wants the puck a lot.”
Despite Bridgeport's struggles this season, Iskhakov's performance is a huge positive for the team.
“I’ve been definitely feeling more comfortable,” Iskhakov said. “I don't want to say I feel like a veteran because it's only my second year, but I just feel better. We have a young team, so I think we just got to find a way to win and just keep battling all the 60 minutes.”
Kowalsky pointed out how he sees the 23-year-old forward as a potential as a consistent top scorer this season, comparing him to last year’s top point leaders in Chris Terry and Andy Andreoff, who put up 78 and 65 points last season respectively.
“He’s kind of taken the role as ‘I'm the guy now,’” Kowalsky said. “Last year, we had Terry and Andreoff at the top of the standings, but [Iskhakov] has really emerged as that go-to guy offensively, whereas he was maybe second tier last year.”
Iskhakov is emerging as a standout player offensively and he's been getting comfortable in that role. The highly-skilled forward came up big against the Charlotte Checkers on Jan. 7th, scoring in regulation and recording his fourth career OT winner by knocking in a rebound to win the contest 3-2.
The two-goal game extended his career-long point streak, which ended at 10 contests, while his fourth overtime goal tied the AHL single-season record. His performance earned him league-wide recognition as the AHL's second star of the night for Jan. 7th.
Though the Russian winger has come a long way, he put up strong numbers in his rookie season last year. The Islanders' 2018 second-round pick (43rd overall) racked up 51 points (17g, 34a) through 69 games, which led all rookies and was good for fourth on the team in points. Kowalsky said Iskhakov felt the heat that came with league recognition and experienced a learning curve as a result.
“Last year, he came in and he was kind of an unknown,” Kowalsky said. “We were hoping he was going to produce, and he got off to a really good start. But as teams started to become aware of what he can bring, he started to get keyed up and I think he struggled a bit and got frustrated and maybe tried to do too much at times but still ended up having a good year.”
Iskhakov's impressive rookie season earned him a spot on the roster for the 2023 All-Star Classic, where he represented Bridgeport. Another highlight of his rookie year came in the form of a penalty shot goal on Feb. 26th, which garnered recognition on a national level.
“I think everyone's kind of seen the videos of what he can do with the puck and how special of a talent he is,” Matt Maggio said. “He's been great to me so far.”
Iskhakov vividly remembers what it’s like to be a rookie and adjusting to a new environment and routines, so he naturally took Maggio under his wing. Maggio arrived in Bridgeport for his first professional season after a four-year OHL career and pointed out how Iskhakov helped him adjust to the pros.
“He really helped me out kind of the mental side of being a younger guy in the league,” Maggio said. “Just coming in, using your creativity to play but also to earn coach's trust to be out there as much as you can. He’s really been there for me and has done a great job in helping me settle in.”
“Trust your linemates and just use your potential,” Iskhakov said when asked what he learned up to this point in his career. “Don't be afraid to make plays. Be smart with the puck all the time. Just go in and take it all.”
Iskhakov has yet to make his NHL debut, but Kowalsky believes he’s headed in the right direction.
“He's really embraced his offensive role and I like how he's working,” Kowalsky said. “He's committed to a 200-foot game and he's working off the puck a lot better than he was last year. That’s what he's going to have to do to get a chance to play with the big club.”