Islanders Tipping Their Duclair Hand After Hutton Waiver Decision?

Is Duclair ready to return on Saturday?

On Wednesday, the New York Islanders chose to waive defenseman Grant Hutton. 

It certainly made sense if it was a move to create a roster spot for Anthony Duclair (lower body), who should be ready to go by Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But, at the same time, it was a risky endeavor as big-body right-shot defensemen are hard to come by. 

Hutton hasn't played since the Islanders' 3-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Dec. 10, so if he isn't going to play, what's the point in him holding a roster spot, which the Islanders need? 

At the same time, the Islanders could have gone a few different routes without risking anyone. 

The decision to waive Hutton may have tipped their hand a bit on their thought process for when Duclair is ready to return.

This past Friday, the Islanders placed forward Pierre Engvall on waivers but recalled him on Satuday night after he cleared with Bo Horvat battling a lower-body injury. 

Because Engvall cleared waivers, he's now waiver-exempt from 30 days since his recall or 10 games played--whichever comes first.

So, instead of waiving Hutton and risking him going bye-bye, the Islanders could have just sent Engvall down to create the roster spot. 

They did not, and that's because he will likely be in the lineup when Duclair returns. The reason we say this is because when the team took line rushes at Tuesday's morning skate, which included Anthony Duclair, Engvall was included as a regular:

Head coach Patrick Roy talked about Engvall "seizing the moment" and that it's not "too late" for the forward, who has been in and out of the lineup and on waivers twice now with a player in the second season of a seven-year deal with $3 million annually. 

If Engvall is going to drive the net and use his speed, he's no question a start in this lineup and just makes them deeper. 

However, the Islanders need consistency, or the player is useless to them. 

One of the positives to come out of all the injuries, especially to the blue line, has been 20-year-old rookie Isaiah George. 

From the moment he stepped on the NHL ice, he has been poised and has done a strong job at shaking off the mistakes that he's made. 

George has been a healthy scratch for the last two games, and the Islanders will use Dennis Cholowski against the Chicago Blackhawks and Carolina Hurricanes. 

Because George is waiver-exempt and currently not in the starting lineup, sending him to Bridgeport rather than risking Hutton to waivers would also have made sense.

However, the Islanders clearly see tremendous value in George continuing his development at the NHL level, regardless of his role, at least for now. 

George spoke on Tuesday afternoon about how much he's learned from watching above, and I'll share that interview in Thursday morning's Elmonters column.

Roy said on Saturday that he sees George and Cholowski rotating in. Given that No. 25 has played the last two games, don't be shocked to see No. 39 in there against the Mape Leafs.