COVID-19 List Update Ahead of Game vs. Buffalo

The New York Islanders have announced that Cal Clutterbuck, Matt Martin, Zach Parise and Robin Salo have been removed from COVID-19 protocol. Defenseman Sebastian Aho is now in COVID-19 protocol. Other roster moves have been made as followed:

Cole Bardreau, Austin Czarnik and Michael Dal Colle have been recalled from the team’s taxi squad. Grant Hutton has been recalled from Bridgeport. Kyle Palmieri (lower body) has been placed on the team’s IR list (retro Dec. 16).

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) December 30, 2021

Brock Nelson, Anthony Beauvillier, Oliver Wahlstrom, and now Aho are the remaining Islanders left in protocol.

Just because players are out of COVID-19 protocol does not mean they are game-ready. Ross Johnston spoke with the media following morning skate on Thursday, which is a sign that he will be in the lineup against Buffalo. Will it be in Martin’s spot on the fourth line?

Time will tell.

It seems that Michael Dal Colle will make his season debut for the Islanders. The fifth overall pick back in the 2014 NHL Draft did not live up to the expectations that come with being selected that high up. In 111 career NHL games (all with Islanders), Dal Colle has recorded eight goals and 13 assists.

Following the 2020-21 season, Dal Colle was not tenured a qualifying offer. The restricted free agent hit the market where the Islanders re-signed him on a one-year, $750K contract. This season in the AHL, Dal Colle has four goals and two assists in eight games with Bridgeport.

Czarnik has played six games with the Islanders this season. He has one goal and two assists.

In 20 games with Bridgeport, Czarnik has six goals and nine assists.

Cole Bardreau has not played a game with the Islanders this season. He had one stint in the NHL, 10 games, as he recorded a goal and an assist. With Bridgeport, Bardreau has four goals and two assists in 10 games.