Max Shabanov, in what amounted to a significant understatement, called it “a little bit unusual” to have gone five weeks without playing in a game.
Granted, that layoff was in large part due to the Olympic break, but the nine straight healthy scratches Shabanov endured before returning to the lineup for Tuesday’s win over the Blues amounted to an obvious signal that the Russian rookie needs to do more to be in the Islanders’ lineup down the stretch following the additions of Ondrej Palat and Brayden Schenn.
He’s getting his chance to prove he deserves more playing time now, with a second straight game on the fourth line in Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Kings after coach Patrick Roy seemed happy with his game in St. Louis.
“Just keep working,” Shabanov said, with goaltending coach Sergejs Naumovs acting as the interpreter Friday morning, his first time addressing reporters in nearly four months. “Stay positive. Try to get out of yourself the best you can do on the ice. Just be patient.”
Roy was happy enough with Shabanov’s play Friday to move him up to the second line by the end of the game when, he said, he was looking for more skill in his top six.
Shabanov’s name had been prominent in trade rumors leading up to the deadline last week, as it seemed he may not have a clear place in the Islanders’ plans.
It’s not clear whether a move was ever close to materializing, but both Shabanov and the Islanders need to take the rest of the season and figure out whether there’s a longer-term fit in New York.
If not, Shabanov likely will be on the block this summer, when he’s set to be a restricted free agent.
“I try to stay away, not reading anything,” Shabanov said of the rumors. “Just to stay focused on practicing. Be capable to be back any time in the lineup and be helpful for the team. So it’s not my job to follow the news. Nothing I can do, nothing I control about it. Control what I can control.”
In 42 games this year, Shabanov has proven a skilled player and put up a solid 16 points. But the physical adjustment to the NHL — expected to be a process given Shabanov is 5-foot-9, 167 pounds — has indeed proven tough.
“Everything is different from the KHL,” Shabanov said. “Technically, tactically, game-wise. Pretty much everything is new.”
Friday was the Islanders’ 13th straight sellout, their longest streak since they opened UBS Arena with 19 in a row.
Matthew Schaefer set a career-high in time on ice, finishing with 29:24.
Though this is a short homestand, with a three-game trip to Canada following Saturday’s match against the Flames, 12 of the Islanders’ last 18 games are at UBS.
