Hudson Fasching hasn't placed since Nov. 5.
EAST MEADOW, NY -- Prior to Wednesday's morning skate, New York Islanders forward Hudson Fasching was doing his usual thing.
He got on the ice early to shoot on backup netminder Semyon Varlamov, as an extra forward does before a game.
Fasching, who has only played five games this season, has been waiting patiently to get another crack. He last played on Nov. 5, 24 days ago, in their 4-3 come-from-behind shootout victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Matt Martin, who we were told wouldn't be playing every day after inking a one-year deal, has played 10 straight games.
The struggling Oliver Wahlstrom, who has shown not to be a fourth-line player, has played in 13 straight games.
After the starting players joined Fasching on the ice, head coach Patrick Roy and No. 20 exchanged head nods.
Then Roy went over to Fasching and gave him a stick tap.
"You're playing against Washington," Roy told Fasching.
Words couldn't describe the smile coming off the depth forward face.
Through five games, it didn't seem that Fasching had done something egregious to not get another look, but it was clear that he was at the bottom of the team's totem pole despite the struggles with key players out.
After the morning skate, I asked Roy about Fasching and how he's handled not playing.
"First of all, Fasching is a phenomenal person. I mean, he's a team guy. He's doing exactly what you want, and I expect him to play against Washington [on Friday]," Roy said. "He's been a perfect pro. I mean, he's a team guy, and I know if I throw him in, he's gonna do the job. I have no doubt in my mind."
Fasching burst onto the scene in 2022-23, becoming a player former head coach Lane Lambert could not be taken out of the lineup.
A 10-goal, nine-assist stat line through 49 games earned him a two-year deal, but in 2023-24, injuries and inconsistencies had him out of the lineup.
Fasching didn't make the team out of training camp, which was a shocking move when he hit the waivers before reporting to Bridgeport.
However, due to injuries, he found his way back on the squad, and although his playing time has been limited, Fasching has been a tremendous teammate.
“Fasching is a great teammate," Kyle Palmieri said. "I think that's one of the reasons that got him here in the first place. I think he's an incredibly hard worker. You see it in practice, and he's a pro. He knows that when his time comes, he needs to be ready. It's not his first run around the block."
Before joining the Islanders, Fasching had bounced around the NHL, starting in the Buffalo Sabres' organization before moving to Arizona, where he played 38 NHL games in seven years.
"I think he's staying confident. He’s continuing to be an awesome teammate, going out there and doing whatever they ask him," Palmieri continued. "Sometimes, with the way the injuries have been, he's playing defense out in practice. But I think he's had a great attitude with it, and like I said, it's a long season. He'll get his chance to play, and I know he's looking forward to that."
As of now, we don't know who Fasching will be slotting in for, but given that it's the first of a back-to-back, it's likely he plays for Martin alongside Kyle MacLean and Wahlstrom.
Last season, Fasching scored against the Capitals alongside Simon Holmstrom:
Roy will talk at 1:45 PM ET on Friday ahead of their 3 PM puck drop, so we will know who Fasching plays for then.
The Islanders don't need anything crazy from Fasching.
With the fourth line struggling mightily this season, Roy will just need him to get pucks out of the zone, get pucks deep, get on the forecheck, and make the most of offensive chances if they arise.
Fasching has proven to be an insanely hard worker, and the Islanders need that attribute right now.