The New York Islanders announced a series of trades following last night’s win over the New Jersey Devils. Anthony Duclair (lower body) was placed on LTIR (retroactive to 10/19/24). Liam Foudy was loaned to Bridgeport. Matt Martin (previously under PTO) signed a one-year contract. Pierre Engvall and Hudson Fasching were recalled from Bridgeport.

Let’s start with Duclair. Duclair’s move to LTIR doesn’t change much for the current Islanders. He is 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 have already served three matches and seven days. His earliest possible return date is November 13.

November 13 falls a day after the Islanders play the Edmonton Oilers in Canada, but it is the first game in Western Canada. The first game for which Duclair is eligible for LTIR will take place on November 14, against the Vancouver Canucks.

Matt Martin Signs:

Less than a week after Lou Lamoriello said Matt Martin was not a candidate to sign a contract, Martin has reached a deal.

Martin, 35, officially has a contract for his 16th NHL season. He started this year with a PTO and discussed how his health limited his abilities last year.

During camp he looked a little faster, and when asked about it 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 were both given chances, but neither impressed and ended up being left 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 cuts at New York Islanders training camp this year, returns to the NHL roster, aided by the 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 certainly returns to the Islanders with a chip on his shoulder and a hunger to avoid the likely embarrassment of being demoted to the AHL for the second time this season.

During his six games with the Bridgeport Islanders, Engvall alternated between playing center most nights and some games on the wing. He only scored one goal and recorded no assists while recording a -3 in the +/- category.

Engvall’s speed, forechecking and strong puck recovery skills make him a natural fit to join Anders Lee and Jean-Gabriel Pageau, the line where his training camp began.

Hudson Fasching back from Bridgeport:

Hudson Fasching was also recalled. He returns from Bridgeport, where he had a goal and an assist in five games while being -3 in +/-.

Fasching, 29, signed as a free agent in the summer of 2022 and received a contract extension to remain with the Islanders. Throughout his tenure, Fasching alternated, playing a total of 94 games over two seasons with the Islanders.

The Islanders expected Fasching to make the team out of training camp, but an injury during camp derailed his preseason and left the Islanders with no choice but to waive him while it 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 void left by Foudy and Gauthier on the wing. left of the fourth line.

What happens when Duclair is ready?

As of now, the Islanders have essentially reopened their training camp battles for roster spots. Coming into camp, there were spots on lines three and four and even line two up for grabs.

Tsyplakov holds the second line spot; he’s not going anywhere.

Currently on the first line, Simon Holmstrom felt like an ideal candidate for the third line with Pageau and Lee. But things can change quickly.

Engvall, Fasching, Wahlstrom and Martin will fight for jobs. Kyle MacLean has had some serious struggles this season. Its position seemed solid in September, but is now under serious threat.

What doesn’t help MacLean’s cause is that he is exempt from waivers. This means that when the Islanders need to clear cap space to allow Duclair to be activated, MacLean is the easiest guy to eliminate.

Martin could, in theory, be waived, and that’s assuming he goes unclaimed and the Islanders agree to still not travel to Bridgeport until his cap hit is reached.

It is likely that the final decision will again come down to Wahlstrom and Engvall. The two battled for a spot during camp, and the Islanders opted not to risk losing the 2018 first-round pick in Wahlstrom.

Through the first seven games, Wahlstrom only played six games, recorded no 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 didn’t, and that dampened any potential attack.