Daniel DeLoach/Utica Observer-Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORKEAST MEADOW, NY -- The New York Islanders may still believe that they have a chance at qualifying for the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but their seven-point deficit in the wild-card race with eight games to go makes their chances slim to none.
Regardless of how the season's final three weeks play out, there is an opportunity given the roster expansion and their current $10.4 million in cap space, to recall prospects from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.
And with forward Anthony Duclair taking an indefinite leave of absence to "reflect" on what's been, essentially, a lost season due to a groin injury, the Islanders have no extra forwards rostered.
Despite that, a forward call-up does not seem to be in the cards.
"Not at this moment, no," head coach Patrick Roy said.
Many asked why we didn't ask a follow-up question, the one that goes "why?" but the answer is that call-ups are a Lou Lamoriello decision, not a head coach decision.
The Islanders' top prospects may not be in Bridgeport, with Cole Eiserman, Danny Nelson, and Quinn Finley in college and Cal Ritchie in the OHL, but that doesn't mean there aren't any players in the AHL who can be depth NHLers at some point down the road.
There's certainly a benefit to those players getting practice time with NHLers, even if they don't suit up in an NHL game.
The Islanders battle the Minnesota Wild at 7:30 PM ET on Friday before hosting Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at 12:30 PM ET on Sunday.
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