EAST MEADOW, NY -- For a second straight training camp, New York Islanders depth forward Hudson Fasching has suffered an injury.
The difference is that Fasching's spot on the 2023-24 NHL roster was given after he earned a two-year extension following a strong 2022-23 campaign.
But with Fasching's inconsistencies and health concerns last season — he only played in 45 games in 2023-24 — and the acquisition of more forward depth this summer, a roster spot wasn't guaranteed.
Entering his first training camp under Patrick Roy, he would need to impress to remain with the big club.
"I think for me, it's just about playing my game, being true to my identity," Fasching told The Hockey News. "I mean, that's something that I learned through last year is to not try to change based on the lineup or the position that I'm playing. Just be true to myself and just try to make the right reads as I see the game."
No player uses injuries as an excuse, but Fasching opened up about the training camp injury last year and how much that affected his season.
"I didn't realize how much it kind of set me back at a time," Fasching said. "Oh, it's just a small injury, but training camps are a big piece of trying to figure out where the pieces are going to fall and what kind of opportunities you're going to get for the season."
Your heart breaks a bit for Fasching, given what's transpired since that early camp conversation.
Fasching suffered his lower-body injury after going awkwardly into the boards following an Adam Edstrom cross-check against the New York Rangers on Tuesday.
Because the Islanders' cap situation only allows for 13 forwards instead of the usual 14, Fasching could get the short end of the stick, given that there are more hats than ever in the ring for that final spot.
With Fasching sidelined, players like Julien Gauthier, Liam Foudy, Fredrik Karlstrom, Matt Martin (PTO), and Oliver Wahlstrom get an extra look.
All of them will play against the New Jersey Devils on Friday night.
Despite not having an incredible camp, Fasching seemed to be the front-runner for the job, but his injury changed everything.
If Fasching's injury makes him unavailable to start the season or his lack of ability to continue battling takes him out of the running -- he would need waivers to go to Bridgeport -- who becomes the front-runner for the final forward spot?
The answer, as of this moment, is Foudy.
The 24-year-old former 18th overall pick in 2018 has 102 NHL games under his belt, 90 coming with the Columbus Blue Jackets, who drafted him, and another 22 with Barry Trotz in Nashville.
He brings speed, a ton of it, and the difference between him and a player like Gauthier is that Foudy's IQ in all three zones is NHL-caliber.
Foudy hounds pucks on the forecheck, but he hadn't found the scoresheet through three preseason games.
Then came Friday night against the New Jersey Devils.
At 2:23 of the second period, Foudy made a heck of a play, bouncing the puck off the boards to himself in transition before scoring five-hole on Devils goalie Jake Allen:
"That was a nice play, a really nice play," Islanders head coach Patrick Roy said. "He had a great game. He played really well. We doubled-shifted him when Maxim Tsyplakov left, and I thought he had a great game."
In 10:48 minutes, 1:20 on the penalty kill, Foudy had a goal on three shots.
"He knows his speed. He knows his geometry, too," Islanders forward Kyle MacLean said about Foudy's goal. "That was like a perfect bounce right to him. It's a really good and impressive play. It's not easy to burn defenders like that, so it's a real good play there.
"He can fly. Everyone can see it. He gets away from the defenders like you saw tonight. That was a great play. He chipped it to himself, and he's just gone. You definitely noticed his speed. He's a really good player."
What did Foudy see on the play?
"The defender had a tight gap there. And there's not too many other plays you can make there. It was better than turning it over," Foudy said. "So, I just tried to put it in an area there and use my speed to get there, and luckily enough, it worked out."
Foudy is a player who seems to fit this Roy system pretty well. And it's clear the Islanders wanted to see more of him, hence him playing back-to-back days.
"It's been a long camp thus far, so the back-to-back at the end is not the easiest thing," Foudy said. "But, you're never going to complain when you get a chance to showcase yourself. So, I was happy to find out I was playing again."
The Islanders are off on Saturday and will be making roster cuts.
It's safe to say he made the most of his extra opportunity on Friday and that he'll be moving on to the next round.