Islanders prospects daily: Ruslan Iskhakov on dominant run

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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – JANUARY 21: Kieffer Bellows #20 of the New York Islanders prepares his sticks prior to the game against the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Coliseum on January 21, 2021 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Prospect Rankings and Movement

Ruslan Iskhakov ↑ | Parker Wotherspoon ↓

Iskhakov is steadily rising in my rankings with his play in Finland. Thanks to a three-point night he’s up to number eight in my rankings. He’s just behind Bode Wilde at number seven. With the way, Wilde has been playing it wouldn’t surprise me if Iskhakov passes him soon.

The fact that he’s catching up and passing a number of AHL’ers while playing in Finland should have Islanders fans excited about the 2018 second-rounder.

Remember, he’s one of those pieces the Islanders acquired in the Travis Hamonic trade. If he pans out that means the Isles got Noah Dobson, Samuel Bolduc, and Iskhakov from Hamonic wanting to go back home. That’s an incredible haul. Again, assuming Iskhakov continues developing along these lines.

Kieffer Bellows ↑ | Oliver Wahlstrom ↓

With two goals last night for the Islanders, Kieffer Bellows passed Oliver Wahlstrom at the top of my Islanders prospects rankings.

He’s still got a lot to do in order to earn that top-line spot on a more permanent basis, but he’s given Barry Trotz food for thought now. If Bellows can keep up that level of play he’ll give the Isles a positive headache when Anders Lee eventually returns to the lineup.

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