Player Discussion: Iskakhov Playing for CSKA in 2024-25

[MikeyMike01]

Even there, getting knocked over.

 

[eoin92]

I was not impressed the two times I saw him play with the islanders. Still only 24. Maybe a couple of years in the K sharpening his game, and then he comes back.

 

[Sparksrus3]

Looks like a skill set the NYI are lacking . Great goal

 

[doublechili]

Looks like a skill set the NYI are lacking .

Did you see that goal Wahlstrom scored when he was 10? We're fine.

 

[4Cups Want More]

It is possible that Wahlstrom at 10 was bigger than Iskakhov is now.

 

[Throttle]

The KHL is the ‘never got a chance league’ or the ‘you aren’t good enough for the NHL league but still want to make money playing hockey before Trader Joe’s comes calling.’

 

[Sparksrus3]

Did you see that goal Wahlstrom scored when he was 10? We're fine.

Did you?

 

[JRD76]

He had a goal and assist today but not that important since it’s expected he’ll do well in a league where it’s more wide open and less hitting but Gamzin also plays for CSKA and had his first game today with a 9.28 SV%

 

[doublechili]

Did you?

Yes, the video was all over the place his draft year.

 

[Throttle]

Well, he doesn’t really need to find the open ice to score on that one. It’s 100% open, which is one of his biggest issues in the NHL.

 

[MarsTBOW]

“Have you even seen him? He's absolutely an NHL-level player” - Alexander Romanov about Ruslan Iskhakov.

Iskhakov plays on the third line for CSKA and has two goals and one assist through three games.
Romanov believes he will return to the NHL in Two Years.

Also said "You either have a connection in a positive way or with the Coaches or you don't"....

https://x.com/i/web/status/1833508226526056878

 

[CupHolders]

Yes, the video was all over the place his draft year.

View attachment 906424

Scooby Doo Plot twist… take off that kid’s helmet and it’s not nine year old Wahlstrom!

But a fully grown Ruslan “old man” Iskhakov!

 

[Throttle]

“Have you even seen him? He's absolutely an NHL-level player” - Alexander Romanov about Ruslan Iskhakov.

Iskhakov plays on the third line for CSKA and has two goals and one assist through three games.
Romanov believes he will return to the NHL in Two Years.

Also said "You either have a connection in a positive way or with the Coaches or you don't"....

https://x.com/i/web/status/1833508226526056878

If you listen to the older versions of Spittin Chiclets, they would have a bunch of journeyman friends on the show. Pretty routine comment on those interviews that a relationship with a coach can make or break you.

 

[seafoam]

If you listen to the older versions of Spittin Chiclets, they would have a bunch of journeyman friends on the show. Pretty routine comment on those interviews that a relationship with a coach can make or break you.

What's weird is that Lamoriello drafted Rusty Iskhakov, so why was the relationship there not strong?

 

[BarzyClub]

What's weird is that Lamoriello drafted Rusty Iskhakov, so why was the relationship there not strong?

Lou doesn’t like to be leveraged into anything by an agent . Those rumors about Ish going to Russia during the season probably didn’t sit well with Lou. Ish took the money to go to the KHL and Lou probably won’t be here when Iskhakov comes back.

 

[seafoam]

Lou doesn’t like to be leveraged into anything by an agent . Those rumors about Ish going to Russia during the season probably didn’t sit well with Lou. Ish took the money to go to the KHL and Lou probably won’t be here when Iskhakov comes back.

I mean Isk was not getting an opportunity before all that surfaced.

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

If you listen to the older versions of Spittin Chiclets, they would have a bunch of journeyman friends on the show. Pretty routine comment on those interviews that a relationship with a coach can make or break you.

Pretty routine that players stick up for one another regardless of reality.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

I wouldn't read into all this too much.

Iskhakov has shown what he can (and can't) do for 2 straight years now in the AHL. There were some good things and a few real nice highlights. There were some undeniable deficiencies as well.

He is what he is - and what he is is not something we have space for in the line-up. Certainly not as an everyday regular.

And even if he's right below his "best possible scenario", his package is a conundrum for a player of his ilk.

And it's not like it's the conundrum the majority of us right here didn't see coming right from Day 1 of his drafting.

There's really not much he hasn't done to get to this point as a pro. He's definitely grown and enhanced his game. The team will have his rights for another two years.

But he needs to be Marty St. Louis or Johnny Gaudreau good to be a regular NHLer. And he's never had their wheels. He certainly doesn't have St. Louis' legs or Gaudreau's shiftiness.

Here's hoping he kills it in the KHL.

Here's hoping he gets to where he'd need to be in order to become someone for this team.

Or someone another team would trade for.

 

[Throttle]

He should follow Ho-Sang as the one that never got a chance…in Isles lore.