The Islanders made two roster decisions on Friday morning. Here's why and what it means.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- On Friday afternoon, the New York Islanders announced that forward Hudson Fasching and defenseman Samuel Bolduc were sent to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League for conditioning stints:
While on a conditioning stint, players count against the NHL cap and count against the roster.
For the Islanders, Fasching doesn't count against either because he was placed on long-term injured reserve on Wednesday, retroactive to Jan. 25.
General manager Lou Lamoreillo said Thursday in St. Louis (H/t New York Post's Ethan Sears) that the 28-year-old forward would play in at least one Bridgeport game before being activated if ready ahead of their game against the Detroit Red Wings on Feb. 29.
However, Bolduc going down is a different story if he isn't injured, which we have no reason to believe that he is.
The 23-year-old defenseman, who carries a cap hit of $800,000, has not played in an NHL game since Jan. 27, watching from above for the last seven games.
However, the Islanders couldn't just send Bolduc down because he was no longer waiver-exempt. So, in order for Lamoriello to get Bolduc playing without opening him up to waivers, they've gone the conditional loan route.
Bolduc had to agree to be sent down on a conditioning stint, per the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement section 13.8: Conditional Loans:
"A player shall not be Loaned on a Conditioning Loan to a minor league club. Such Conditioning Loan shall not extend for more than fourteen (14) consecutive days. The Commissioner may take whatever steps he deems necessary to investigate the circumstances under which a Player is Loaned on a Conditioning Loan. If the Commissioner has reason to believe or determines that the Club has used the Conditioning Loan to evade Waivers, or otherwise Circumvent any provision of this Agreement, he may take such disciplinary action against the Club, as he deems appropriate. The Player shall continue, during the period of such Conditioning Loan, to receive the same Paragraph 1 NHL Salary, and be entitled to the same benefits, that he would have received had he continued to play with the Club."
So, to simplify the explanation here, the NHL can now investigate the Islanders for using this loophole to evade waivers.
But, Lamoriello knows that and has an answer that will suffice.
With Bolduc now in Bridgeport, the Islanders are still okay on the backend, as they have Sebastian Aho as the seventh defenseman.
Bridgeport plays the Wikles-Barrie Scranton Penguins on Saturday night at 6:05 PM before facing Springfield on Sunday