Islanders Roster Options With 2 More on Injured Reserve

The New York Islanders are in Seattle as they gear up for their New Year’s Day contest against the Kraken on Sunday.

With Oliver Wahlstrom and Simon Holmstrom becoming the fifth and sixth Injured Reserve members on Friday morning, the Islanders have two roster spots available.

Here’s general manager Lou Lamoriello‘s options for this road trip.

Injured Reserve Swap

Because of the secrecy surrounding the injured Islanders, in terms of specific injuries and timetables, we do not know if a player will be back until their skates hit the ice for an NHL game.

As of now, the Islanders have six players on Injured Reserve with two roster spots available, but they are running out of NHL-ready prospects up in Bridgeport.

But the positive news for the Islanders is that three IR remembers made the trip to Seattle: Forwards Cal Clutterbuck and Kyle Palmieri, goaltender Semyon Varlamov.

New York Islanders Injury Update: 3 Will Travel, 3 Stay Home

All three have skated over the last few days, but that doesn’t mean they will be available at any point during the trip. 

They could just be traveling to practice with the team and be ready to go when the Islanders face the Dallas Stars at UBS Arean on Jan. 10.

But if they are ready, the Islanders can activate all three without placing anyone on waivers. Netminder Cory Schneider is up on an emergency basis, so he can be loaned back to Bridgeport if Varlamov is ready. 

Do Not Recall Anyone Regardless of Injury Status

Let’s say that none of the injured players are available to return. That still doesn’t mean anyone comes up to the NHL.

The Islanders played a game with the current roster and outplayed a struggling Columbus Blue Jackets team. 

Here was the lineup:

Josh Bailey-Mat Barzal-Hudson Fasching
Anders Lee-Brock Nelson-Anthony Beauvillier
Zach Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Casey Cizikas
Ross Johnston-Aatu Räty-Matt Martin

Parker Wotherspoon-Ryan Pulock
Alexander Romanov-Scott Mayfield
Sebastian Aho-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Cory Schneider

If the Islanders go this route, expect Casey Cizikas to play on Mathew Barzal’s wing, as Lambert is thrilled with what Hudson Fasching brings to the Pageau line. 

Recall A Player or Two From Bridgeport

There are not many NHL-ready players in Bridgeport, but if the Islanders do want to call up a few players, there should be no shock when it’s AHL veterans like Cole Bardreau and Andy Andreoff.

Twenty-year-old William Dufour is not ready for NHL action. Twenty-two-year-old Ruslan Iskhakov might be ready, but he’s still in his first AHL season. 

Could it be 23-year-old Arnaud Durandeau‘s chance after three-plus seasons in Bridgeport? 

Lamoriello was clear this summer that he would rather wait too long to call up a prospect than rush them, which is the right mindset.

So the reason Lamoriello called on Aatu Räty is because he believed he was ready. 

The New York Islanders will be on the practice ice around 3 PM ET in Seattle, so we could very well find our answer then.