In early August, it was announced that the attacker Ruslan Iskhakov returns to CSKA. The deal with the 24-year-old forward was concluded for two years. The army graduate played in Finland and Germany, and since 2022 he has been part of the New York Islanders system.
Last season, Iskhakov made his NHL debut with the Islanders, but played only two games in which he scored one (0+1) point. The forward played most of the season in the AHL, playing for the Islanders’ farm team, the Bridgeport Islanders, for whom he played 69 games and scored 50 points (18 goals, 32 assists).
— What is the motivation to return to CSKA?
— Win everything possible, starting with the Mayor’s Cup, because, of course, you want to come and prove that you are the best, that our team is the best in the league. I have set myself the highest goals.
— Why CSKA? I’m sure you had other options.
— Of course, there were options. We contacted both a year and two years ago. Until I signed a contract with CSKA. But in fact, there was always only one choice: I played here in the MHL in the Red Army, and the club did nothing bad for me. So we can say that the choice was one-sided.
– I remember you well from Chelyabinsk – at the World Junior Championships. It seems that not much time has passed, but you had many teams, leagues: Europe, NCAA, etc.
— Yes, it’s true, I played in many countries, in many leagues: in Finland and Germany. I spent the last two years in the AHL and I got the best from everywhere.
— Are the NCAA, AHL and Europe completely different phenomena?
– Yes. In college you basically have only 32 games per season. No more indoor training, you only play on weekends. In Finland, hockey is very fast, everyone is very technical, tough, the rink is bigger. Germany has top players, their skills are at a very high level. But the level of the championship itself is lower than in Finland.
AHL, college – they differ in the class of players. In other words, in terms of speeds, more or less, it’s the same, they play the same hockey. A bit like robots, I would say. Because, basically, the solutions are the same in the same situations. Very fast hockey.
In Finland and Germany you have more space and time to make a decision: see where to pass, throw it.
— Where do the best ones in Germany come from? Are they North American?
— I don’t know how it is now, but previously in Germany there were no limits for foreign players. We had 12 people in our team from Canada and the United States. All these guys are already, more or less their age, and at that time occupied the top positions in the AHL or the same Eastern League. Therefore, they master difficult situations well.
— Question about the student league – some say that kids should play as much as possible, others say when to practice and how to improve their hockey skills. Which do you think is best?
– If you go there with a perspective of 1-2 years, then this is normal, because there is always a tendency that young players after the draft lack physical fitness, they still have to move from junior hockey to adult hockey. And this plays a big role, especially in such a league. Because you go to every game as if you were going to war, because you wait six days for this game. And the playoffs are very fast: indeed, the quarterfinals count up to two victories, and then the semifinals and the final count only one game each. That is, if you start on the wrong foot and are not stronger than your opponent in general, you can easily lose, leave the tournament, and the season will end for you.
In fact, 32 matches resemble the Moscow Children’s Championship.
— Have you received your training or do you still have to complete your studies?
— I studied for two years. I can come back and finish my studies at any time.
– What is your specialty? Or what should I call it properly?
— The first two years you can try everything without having to choose a specialty. To be honest, I am grateful that there was such an opportunity, because, of course, it is difficult to juggle things and there is not much time left to study. Of course, you really want to get an education in the activity in which you plan to realize yourself after your career, and not settle for something easy that you will never need later in life.
– Do you already have this direction? For later, for the future, what is the vector?
– I don’t know… business, real estate. You have to make money after your career.
Author: Alexander Bedarev.
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Source : MatchTV
I’m Emma Smith, a dedicated journalist and avid storyteller. I have been writing for news websites for the past 5 years, reporting on hockey news and delivering in-depth analysis of the sport. In my current role as Author at Athletistic, I write about hockey events from around the world to keep followers up-to-date with what’s happening in the sport.
