Victor Eklund giving Islanders every reason to keep him on roster

When the Islanders’ prospects reported to Northwell Health Ice Center two weeks ago Friday, Victor Eklund’s chances of making the NHL roster depended on doing everything right. He checked every box.He stood out at every opportunity.

Though Mathew Barzal’s injury didn’t hurt his chances, the Islanders would be hard-pressed to send him away now, no matter what. While nothing is official yet, the 19-year-old Eklund’s presence in the lineup for Saturday’s preseason finale/dress rehearsal tells you all you need to know.Unless something changes in the final hours, he will be on this team.

He deserves to be on this team. “My expectation is that I work as hard as I can,” Eklund said after his first practice of rookie camp.“Give myself a shot at the team this year.

Whatever happens, I want to make sure I’m giving 100 percent.” Check, check and check. Eklund hadn’t yet spoken to general manager Mathieu Darche before Saturday’s match against the Devils. “I’m still trying to work as hard as I can,” he said.“Just do my thing out there in the game and hopefully it goes well.” Bo Horvat, though, seemed to tip the Islanders’ hand. “He’s been great.

He’s getting better and better as the camp’s gone on,” Horvat said.“I think he’s gonna start getting more comfortable as the games go on too.” The best news the Islanders have had over the past few weeks is that every single one of the prospects they view as integral to their future put forth terrific training camps. Cal Ritchie put in a summer of hard work, and looked the part, making the Islanders believe he is ready to be the second-line center on Wednesday night in Toronto and for as long as it takes for Barzal to return. Kashawn Aitcheson and Cole Eiserman both stuck with the NHL group through the last round of cuts, looking more like players who could be called up at some point soon than guys who need a year of AHL seasoning.

Eiserman looked highly engaged and sh...