Understanding Roster Expansion & What To Expect From Islanders

With the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline behind us, rosters have expanded. Learn more about the rules and how they impact Islanders.

ANAHEIM, CA -- With the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline behind us, rosters have expanded.

From now through the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the New York Islanders and the other NHL teams can roster as many players as they like. 

But there are some rules.

Regardless of the number of players on the roster, all teams must be salary-cap compliant until the postseason begins.

After a stand-pat deadline for New York, the Islanders have $2.487 million in cap space. Following Friday's 3 PM deadline, general manager Lou Lamoriello shared that defenseman Robert Bortuzzo will be back in "several days."

Bortuzzo, who played in 11 games before suffering a high-ankle sprain on Jan. 2 against the Colorado Avalanche, carries a cap hit of $950,0000 and is currently on long-term injured reserve. 

The Islanders not only have the cap space to activate him, but because it's a post-trade deadline, Lamoriello doesn't have to waive a player to create the roster spot.

Once Bortuzzo is activated, the Islanders will have $2.062 million in cap space, allowing them to fit two Bridgeport players on the roster. 

If the Islanders wanted to activate Bortuzzo before the deadline, a player would have needed to be removed from the roster, whether it was via a trade or waivers. 

Now, Lamorielllo -- likely be design -- doesn't have to lose anyone. 

Another rule regarding the roster expansion is that teams get four normal recalls for the rest of the season. 

For example, the Islanders could recall a veteran like Julien Gauthier if a forward got hurt. Gauthier passed through waivers on Feb. 3 and has a goal and three assists in eight games with the Bridgeport Islanders of the American Hockey League. 

Now, some of you may be thinking, if there's an injury, why wouldn't the Islanders use an emergency recall, which is unlimited after the deadline, and save a regular call-up spot? 

Good question.

Because the Islanders have Oliver Wahlstrom and Hudson Fasching as extra forwards, one forward getting injured wouldn't put the Islanders in an emergency recall position.

To use an emergency recall, the Islanders must not have 18 healthy skaters or two healthy netminders or have less than the league minimum salary plus $100,000 in cap space. 

That's the gist. 

Having a ton of options may seem to be a positive, but more often than not, teams rather not overcrowd the practice ice or morning skates. 

Given that the Islanders are still trying to master Patrick Roy's style, one would think they would rather have the NHL players get as many reps as possible with 19 games, currently sitting a few points out of a playoff spot. 

So, don't be surprised if the Islanders fail to make any regular recalls up until the playoffs-- which means getting a chance to see Matthew Maggio, William Dufour, or Ruslan Iskhakov is likely not in the cards.

And there's no need to see them, at least not right now. 

The Islanders are on a five-game winning streak entering Sunday's game against the Anaheim Ducks and outside of Semyon Varlamov likely getting the start, we are not expecting any lines changes given the latest results.