Islanders prospect report: Robin Salo producing consistently again

Your latest New York Islanders prospect report includes news on a loan move, a forward shifting positions, and a defenseman putting up points.

While some teams have begun recalling their prospects, the New York Islanders sent another one out on loan. Goalie prospect Jakub Skarek was loaned to Mestis side Peloiitat in Finland.

Skarek, a third-round pick in 2018, split his time between the AHL and ECHL last season with a combined 6-19-3 record. He returns to Finland where he played for Peliitat in 2018-19 putting up a 1-4-2 record and 2.86 GAA and 0.896 SV%.

The Islanders like Skarek. It’s why they were comfortable allowing Linus Soderstrom to leave as a UFA. This loan spell will allow him to get some playing time before the start of the AHL season, whenever that may be.

Finland (Liiga/Mestis)

Ruslan Iskhakov (TPS)
Season stats: 11GP, 2G, 3A, 5pts

After a strong start to the season, Iskhakov has a tougher time of late with TPS. After being a healthy scratch (twice) before the break, he comes back into the lineup as a winger on the fourth line.

The highly skilled forward will certainly progress as the season goes on, but for now, things haven’t gone too well for him.

Otto Koivula (HIFK)
Season stats: 10GP, 3G, 6A, 9pts

Otto Koivula is absolutely dominating at the moment. The Isles fourth-round pick from 2016 has put up over a point per game since his third game for HIFK. He may not get a shot in the NHL this year, but he’s certainly making the case for the Islanders to give him a shot.

The big 6’4″ forward is already defensively sound, and has Trotz’s trust in the D-zone. And with some slick moves, like this one against Karpat, he could be a good addition to the Islanders bottom six.

https://twitter.com/HIFKHockey/status/1327672378017591302

Matias Rajaniemi (Pelicans)
Season stats: 13GP, 1A, 14:12ATOI

His ice-time has gone down of late. In October the young man was regularly on the ice for 15 minutes or more. In November, he hasn’t yet hit 13 minutes of ice time in a game. Although to be fair, his minutes have risen game-over-game from 10:15 on November 11 to 12:47 on November 14.

The Pelicans are clearly trying to manage his minutes and his exposure on the ice. Something Islanders fans should be used to with Noah Dobson’s minutes in 2019-20.

Henrik Tikkanen (IPK)
Season stats: 6GP, 2.31GAA, 0.899SV%

He’s still out injured. He should be coming back next week.

Sweden (SHL/Allsvenskan)

Simon Holmstrom (Vita Hasten)
Season stats: 9GP, 1G, 1A, 2pts

Holmstrom is back in action after the international break. He wasn’t tossed into the lineup in Vita Hasten’s last game. The forward was listed as a substitute. Vita Hasten are back on the ice on Tuesday to faceoff against MODO, I expect Holmstrom to be in the lineup for that meeting.

Oliver Wahlstrom (AIK)
Season stats: 6GP, 2G, 2A, 4pts

I was told that AIK expected Wahlstrom to be out for another two weeks just ten days ago. AIK aren’t back on the ice until the 22nd, another six days. If Wahlstrom’s recovery goes according to AIK’s timelines, he should be back on the ice then. We’ll see.

Robin Salo (Orebro)
Season stats: 16GP,2G, 8pts, 23:16 ATOI

Robin Salo started the season well putting up four points in his first five games, but then his production dried up going pointless over the next eight games. Over his last three games, Salo found his way to the scoresheet again putting up another four points. Including this goal.

He’s still getting significant ice time. He hasn’t played fewer than 21 minutes a night since October 22 when he player 20:44.

Salo has one year left on his deal with Orebro, expect him on the Island when that deal is done.

Alexander Ljungkrantz (Brynas J20)
Season stats: 16GP, 8G, 7A, 15pts

I’ve been asked a lot recently about Ljungkrantz.

Yes, he’s still playing at the U20 level. His call up was only for that short break where the U20 side didn’t have games and the SHL side did.

We should also be excited about his development, but we should also take that with a grain of salt. While it’s true that Ljunkrantz is playing well it is at the U20 level. We’ll see what he can do at the SHL level when he gets there full-time (likely next year).

Russia (KHL)

Anatoly Golyshev (Avtomobilist)
Season stats: 22GP, 8G, 8A, 16pts

Golyshev hasn’t necessarily missed Pavel Datsyuk’s absence. The Isles fourth round pick from 2016 has four point in his last four games. His 16 points in 22 games are a good return but who knows if he makes that jump to North America next year.