Islanders Roster Updates: Chara to Injured Reserve, Wotherspoon & Koivula Recalled

Prior to Saturday’s contest against the St. Louis Blues, the New York Islanders shared some roster updates:

New York Islanders captain Anders Lee was to miss the game against the Blues for personal reasons. Defenseman Zdeno Chara has been placed in Injury Reserve (retro to 2/26/22). Forward Otto Koivula and defenseman Parker Wotherspoon have been recalled from Bridgeport (AHL).

Anders Lee’s absence is due to personal reasons.

New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz told us that Mathew Barzal (LBI, day-to-day) was getting warmed up with his teammates (off-ice), and if he were on the ice for warmups, he would be in the lineup. Barzal did not take on-ice warmups as he will miss his fourth straight game.

The fact that Barzal was a game-time decision means that he is close to returning. Both he and Chara sustained injuries against the Los Angeles Kings back on Feb. 26 in the second period of a 5-2 loss.

Zdeno Chara (UBI) had been day-to-day until the update this morning. There is no timetable for his return

24-year old defenseman Parker Wotherspoon has three goals, 12 assists, and 101 penalty minutes in 44 games played with Bridgeport this season. He took warmups but did not play.

“He’s been our best defenseman down in Bridgeport consistently for quite a while,” Islanders head coach Barry Trotz said. “There’s guys that are more, I’ll say, have a better name brand that you would know. “But at the same time, you have to evaluate players who’s playing the best down in Bridgeport, and Parker has been, and so he deserves to come up.”

As for why Robin Salo did not get the call-up, Trotz had this to say: “He hasn’t played as well as he’s needed to play. He should be an impact and the best defenseman down (there). He hasn’t been.”

Otto Koivula has 10 goals and 26 assists for Bridgeport in 43 games this season. He has some NHL experience, 15 career games, with an assist. He played three games for the Islanders earlier this season while the Islanders were in COVID-19 hell.

He recorded his first career NHL point in a 4-1 loss to the cross-town rival New York Rangers on Nov. 24. He was in the lineup against the St. Louis Blues and skated alongside Zach Parise and Oliver Wahlstrom.