After the Islanders acquired Adam Boqvist off waivers from the Florida Panthers, Isaiah George was reassigned to the AHL.
After the Islanders acquired Adam Boqvist off waivers from the Florida Panthers, Isaiah George was reassigned to the AHL.
The New York Islanders have returned Isaiah George to the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League (AHL) following their successful waiver claim of Adam Boqvist.
George, 20, was called up to the NHL after just four AHL games at the start of the season.
Since his NHL debut on Nov. 5, he has played in 33 games, tallying five assists (one goal and four assists).
Head coach Patrick Roy has commended George's play but admits he still has a lot to learn.
"He's very good when he moves that puck quick. When he started to play east or west or even coming, bringing it back south, it's a little tougher," Roy said (H/t New York Islanders).
"I love the fact that even if he's making mistakes, he's capable of coming back and playing harder the next shift.
How many guys go out there, make a mistake, and then are afraid to just be on the ice to make another one? I like him a lot."
However, George's ice time has recently been reduced.
In the Islanders' 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche on Jan. 28, George logged only 13 shifts -- with just five occurring during the final two periods -- and he recorded a mere five shifts in the Islanders' 3-0 shutout against the Philadelphia Flyers on Jan. 30.
Even as injuries mounted along the blue line, George found himself spending more time on the bench.
This led the franchise to make the tough, but ultimately correct decision to send him down.
With only five games remaining before the 4-Nations Face-Off break, all against teams that are currently in playoff contention, Roy's preference to limit George's matchups does not help to the team or the youngster's development.
Returning the rookie to Bridgeport for the upcoming weeks is clearly the right move.
Between now and Feb. 23 -- the Islanders’ first game after the two-week break -- Bridgeport will play eight games, as opposed to five for the Islanders in the NHL.
With Bridgeport, George will garner top-pair minutes along with special teams opportunities, which will help him further develop his skill set.
Additionally, this move will allow Roy to evaluate the performance of the Islanders' three newest defensemen: Boqvist, Tony DeAngelo, and Scott Perunovich.
Before the 2024-25 season, George had not played a professional game, and now he has 33 NHL appearances under his belt.
His move to the AHL should not be viewed as a setback, but rather an opportunity to develop his skills and build on his NHL experience, preparing him for his inevitable return to Long Island.