Islanders prospects daily: Robin Salo back to playing big minutes

Prospects (and players in the system) in Action Today

• Matias Rajaniemi (Pelicans)
• Henrik Tikkanen (KalPa)*
• Ruslan Iskhakov (TPS)
• Collin Adams (UND)

Just like Robin Salo, Matias Rajaniemi has been playing big minutes for the Lahti Pelicans. He’s averaging 18:19 this month and played 21:17 in his last outing. What makes that more impressive is how Rajaniemi only turns 19 in September.

He’s playing big minutes for a top team in one of the better leagues in the world. I don’t think I need to explain to you why that’s a good thing for the Isles sixth-rounder from 2020.

As a forward, Iskhakov isn’t getting the same ice time as Rajaniemi, but he’s damn productive with what he’s got. The Isles second-rounder from 2018 is currently on a four-game point streak and holds 28 points in 40 games.

He’s a big reason why TPS has been able to charge up the SM-Liiga standings. The Turku side sit third with 80 points from 45 games.

Collin Adams is quietly having a great year for UND. Their number one center has put up a point per game this year with 24 in 24. That’s not a career high technically, he got 28 last year, but that was in 35 games. Maybe he’s not that quiet about it, he was an honorable mention for the NCHC All-Conference teams.

Henrik Tikkanen could still be the backup, but with back-to-back games I expect him to get the nod today. I’ll speak to his GM later in the day so if he doesn’t I’ll ask him.