Islanders probably have unlucky reply to hardest roster query
The Islanders’ hardest roster resolution, no less than for now, has been made for them.
After struggling a lower-body harm in Thursday’s preseason finale in opposition to the Flyers, Cal Ritchie will miss the subsequent 1-2 weeks, the Isles introduced Friday.
With the NHL’s roster deadline for opening evening approaching Monday and the Islanders beginning their season on Thursday evening in Pittsburgh, that each one however confirms that Ritchie, the 20-year-old prospect who spent the final three weeks mounting a livid push to be in that lineup in opposition to the Penguins, finally gained’t be.
Even given what had been a terrific coaching camp on Ritchie’s half, it nonetheless would have been unlikely for him to make the preliminary 23-man roster if solely as a result of there was no apparent place for him to fit into the lineup.
The Islanders have 4 centermen in Bo Horvat, Mat Barzal, JG Pageau and Casey Cizikas, which might have blocked Ritchie from enjoying his pure place.
Barzal and Cizikas have each performed wing as lately as final season, however the Islanders are dedicated to beginning the season with Barzal enjoying within the center, and transferring Cizikas nonetheless would have displaced one other NHL common — probably Max Tsyplakov — from the lineup.
Isles coach Patrick Roy mentioned throughout camp that it was his choice to play Ritchie at heart, although he can play on the wing as properly.
Within the preseason and coaching camp, Ritchie was used solely down the center, with Roy usually shuffling Cizikas to the wing in consequence.
As for the potential for utilizing Ritchie as an additional ahead, whereas the Islanders by no means explicitly dominated it out, it’s onerous to see how that may have been higher for his growth than enjoying top-line minutes within the American Hockey League.
It additionally would have probably compelled the Islanders to topic both Kyle MacLean or Marc Gatcomb, who’re projected to begin the season because the crew’s two further forwards, to waivers, the place any crew might have picked them up. Ritchie is waivers-exempt and could be despatched to AHL Bridgeport with no danger.
Whereas Roy publicly left the door open to the Islanders carrying eight defensemen earlier this week — which might imply waiving MacLean or Gatcomb to make room for Isaiah George — that doesn’t appear to be a possible route for the membership to take, provided that George can also be waivers exempt, and would additionally seemingly profit extra from enjoying each evening than sitting in an NHL press field.
If the Islanders do certainly ship George down to begin the season in Bridgeport, it could imply that their 23-man roster is, in essence, set, although the quick time-frame on Ritchie’s harm all however ensures it gained’t be lengthy earlier than there’s one other resolution to make.
Pierre Engvall’s looming return from hip surgical procedure — Engvall has been skating on his personal however has not rejoined the crew for a observe as of but — additionally has the potential to complicate issues.
Ritchie, who was topic to the CHL/NHL settlement whereas with the Ontario League’s Oshawa Generals, has by no means performed within the AHL. He gained an NHL job with the Avalanche in coaching camp final season, however performed simply seven video games in Colorado earlier than being returned to juniors. Assuming he begins off in Bridgeport, after coming back from harm, it will not be lengthy earlier than he’s knocking on the NHL’s door but once more.
Certainly, Ritchie could be the present betting favourite to be the Islanders’ first ahead to be referred to as up from Bridgeport, if the timeframe given on his harm proves correct.
Ritchie’s well being has eliminated what would have been Mathieu Darche’s hardest resolution from his plate.
However that may be very a lot a short lived state of affairs.
Jonathan Drouin (sickness) missed observe Friday.
The Islanders will spend the weekend on a crew bonding journey within the Hamptons, practising Sunday on Japanese Lengthy Island earlier than returning dwelling.
