NY Islanders Prospect Report: Week of 11/14-11/20

Samuel Bolduc, Bridgeport Islanders, AHL (2nd Round, 2019)

Still, one of the biggest surprises for the Bridgeport Islanders is the production they are getting from Samuel Bolduc.

Last week, Bolduc found his way back to the scorer's sheet after failing to register a point the week prior. Bolduc assisted on two goals, one each against Scranton-Wilkes Barre and Providence. In the game with Providence, Bolduc also contributed six shots, as his confidence has not faltered.

Bolduc remains one of the top-scoring defensemen in the AHL at nearly the quarter mark of the season. His 14 points (two goals, 14 assists) are tied for the team lead with Ruslan Iskhakov.

It’s hard to imagine that Bolduc wouldn’t be the first defenseman called up if there was an injury to the blue line, even with Grant Hutton being a late cut from the eIsles during training camp.

Ruslan Iskhakov, Bridgeport Islanders, AHL (2nd Round, 2018)

It was hard to imagine that Iskhakov could keep up the torrid pace he was on to start his rookie campaign in the AHL. The 22-year-old has seemed to come back to earth as the incredible start to his season has slowed down.

Failing to register a point in his previous five games, Iskhakov is even finding it difficult to locate his name on the game-day roster.

As Nikita Soshnikov went unclaimed on waivers and has reported to the B-Isles, the NHL Isles have yet to make a subsequent call-up. This has Bridgeport operating with an extra forward, causing someone to be scratched each night.

On Sunday, Iskhakov drew the short stick as he was a healthy scratch against Providence in the B-Isles 3-2 OT victory.

It’s hard to believe that the B-Isles would find it beneficial to sit the reigning AHL rookie of the month for a 29-year-old returning to North America for the first time in four seasons.

Iskhakov should be back in the lineup this week and will hopefully take the benching as a way to re-energize his game and find his form from the first month of the season.

Iskhakov still leads the B-Isles with 14 points (four goals, ten assists) this season.