Mathew Barzal is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

The New York Islanders announced on Monday that forward Mathew Barzal was out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

On Tuesday afternoon, the Islanders announced that Barzal had been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Feb. 3, the date of the injury. 

Barzal being placed on IR opens up a roster spot but does not allow them $9.15 million in cap relief, Barzal's annual average salary.

The only way for that to happen is if the Islanders placed him on long-term injured reserve. 

That could still happen, as we saw that occur with goaltender Semyon Varlamov and Mike Reilly, who started on IR before being moved to LTIR. 

However, there's a caveat.

The Islanders only have $1.95 million in available LTIR space. So, putting Barzal on LTIR right now wouldn't do any good. They could get more relief if they activate a few 

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