New York Islanders
BREAKING: Duclair LTIR; Martin Signs, Engvall & Fasching Recalled
The New York Islanders announced a slew of transactions following last night’s victory over the New Jersey Devils. Anthony Duclair (lower body) has been placed on LTIR (retroactive to 10/19/24). Liam Foudy has been loaned to Bridgeport. Matt Martin (previously on a PTO) has signed a one-year contract. Pierre Engvall and Hudson Fasching have been recalled from Bridgeport.
Let’s start with Duclair. Duclair going onto LTIR does not change much for the current Islanders. He’s still out for 4 to 6 weeks. Duclair must now miss 24 days and 10 games, but the injury placement is retroactive to 10/19. After today, Duclair will already have served three games and seven days. His earliest possible return date is November 13th.
November 13th is one day after the Islanders take on the Edmonton Oilers in Canada, but it’s the first game in the Western Canada swing. The first game Duclair is eligible to come off LTIR for is November 14, against the Vancouver Canucks.
Matt Martin Signs:
Less than one full week after Lou Lamoriello declared that Matt Martin was not a candidate to sign a contract, Martin got himself a deal.
Martin, 35, officially has a contract for his 16th NHL season. He started this year on a PTO and discussed how much his health limited his ability last year.
During camp, he looked a step faster, and when asked about that, he said his lower body really hurt him last year and slowed him down.
Martin brings more veteran leadership to the Islanders. Liam Foudy and Julien Gauthier both received opportunities, but neither impressed and wound up being iced out of their lines in close games.
The Return of Pierre Engvall:
Just when you think you know the answers, the question changes. Pierre Engvall, who headlined the training camp cuts for the New York Islanders this year, returns to the NHL roster, aided by the cap space created by Duclair’s LTIR placement.
Engvall, 28, lost his job in camp after the emergence of Maxim Tsyplakov, coupled with a strong camp from Oliver Wahlstrom. Engvall returns to the Islanders assuredly with a chip on his shoulder and a hunger to avoid the probable embarrassment of being demoted to the AHL for the second time this season.
In his six games with the Bridgeport Islanders, Engvall shifted between playing center most nights and a couple of games on the wing. He scored just one goal and recorded zero assists while recording a -3 in the +/- category.
Engvall’s speed, forechecking, and solid puck retrieval skills make him a natural fit to rejoin Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the line where his training camp started.
Hudson Fasching Back from Bridgeport:
Hudson Fasching also received a recall. He returns from Bridgeport, where he scored one goal and one assist over five games while being -3 in the +/-.
Fasching, 29, signed as a free agent in the summer of 2022 and earned himself a contract extension to remain with the Islanders. Throughout his tenure, Fasching has rotated in and out, playing a total of 94 games across two seasons with the Islanders.
The Islanders expected Fasching to make the roster out of training camp, but an injury during camp derailed his preseason and left the Islanders with little choice but to waive him while he returned to 100%.
Fasching’s speed and forechecking, combined with his scoring touch (14 goals and 33 points in 94 games with the Islanders), make him an obvious candidate to fill the hole left by Foudy and Gauthier on line four’s left wing.
What Happens When Duclair is Ready?
Right now, the Islanders have essentially reopened their training camp battles for roster positions. Entering camp, there were spots on lines three and four and even line two up for grabs.
Tsyplakov owns the second-line spot; he’s not going anywhere.
Currently on line one, Simon Holmstrom felt like a strong fit for line three with Pageau and Lee. But things can change quickly.
Engvall, Fasching, Wahlstrom, and Martin will fight for the jobs. Kyle MacLean has severely struggled this season. His position seemed rock solid in September but is now in serious jeopardy.
What doesn’t help MacLean’s cause is that he’s waivers exempt. That means when the Islanders have to clear the cap space to allow for Duclair’s activation, MacLean is the easiest guy to push out.
Martin could, in theory, be waived, and assuming he goes unclaimed and the Islanders agree still not head to Bridgeport while his cap is cleared.
Likely, the final decision may come down to Wahlstrom and Engvall again. The two jockeyed for a spot during camp, and the Islanders opted not to risk losing the 2018 first-round draft pick in Wahlstrom.
Through the first seven games, Wahlstrom’s only played six games, registered zero points, and averaged less than 10 minutes on ice per game. Yes, his defense and positioning have improved. But his decision-making with the puck has not, and it’s stunted any potential offense.