{ "blocks": [ { "type": "video", "data": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/MjjylDsP.mp4", "streached": true, "controls": true, "caption": "Islanders Beat Leafs", "image": { "url": "https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/video-migration/MjjylDsP-poster.jpg" }, "cdn": { "service": "jwplayer", "playlistUrl": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/MjjylDsP.m3u8", "sources": [ { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/MjjylDsP.m3u8", "type": "application/vnd.apple.mpegurl" }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/MjjylDsP-KyKUfvSA.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 180, "width": 320, "label": "180p", "bitrate": 169416, "filesize": 5357781, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/MjjylDsP-rVxHCS6o.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 270, "width": 480, "label": "270p", "bitrate": 210666, "filesize": 6662317, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/MjjylDsP-Ok2KDRCK.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 720, "width": 1280, "label": "720p", "bitrate": 524978, "filesize": 16602458, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/MjjylDsP-XtftnkI5.m4a", "type": "audio/mp4", "label": "AAC Audio", "bitrate": 114146, "filesize": 3609892 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/MjjylDsP-8wczJJH0.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 360, "width": 640, "label": "360p", "bitrate": 247258, "filesize": 7819564, "framerate": 30 }, { "file": "https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/MjjylDsP-bYs8wplI.mp4", "type": "video/mp4", "height": 540, "width": 960, "label": "540p", "bitrate": 353947, "filesize": 11193588, "framerate": 30 } ] } } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders forward Casey Cizikas is eligible to be activated out of long-term injured reserve." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Cizikas, who suffered a lower-body injury against the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 9, was recently transferred to LTIR to create enough salary-cap space for the activation of defenseman Ryan Pulock." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The transfer from IR to LTIR was retroactive to the date of the injury. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "After missing Monday night's 3-2 win against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Cizikas has missed the minimum 10 games and can return against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The 32-year-old forward has been in a non-contact jersey since Sunday's practice, so it's not quite clear if he is 100 percent ready. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Regarding cap space, activating Cizikas and his $2.5 million cap hit would have the Islanders over the cap by $183,452. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Currently, the Islanders have no roster spots available, but they could kill two birds with one stone and send centerman Kyle MacLean to Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Sending MacLean and his $800,000 cap hit down would allow the Islanders to be cap-compliant, with $170,000 in space.
" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "MacLean is waiver-exempt, as he was sent to Bridgeport over the All-Star break to get some games in before being recalled on Sunday." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The 24-year-old centerman scored his first NHL goal on Monday night via a filthy breakaway move:" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "MacLean has shown well through his first six NHL games and seems to be a reliable depth option going forward. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The rookie going down is the obvious answer, but let's get a little creative, shall we?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Could the Islanders go a different route, given that MacLean has played well?" } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Theoretically, the Islanders could move MacLean to the wing and play him either in Matt Martin's spot on the fourth line or Oliver Wahlstrom's spot on the third line." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It's unlikely that the Islanders would waive Martin, but it's a move that would allow MacLean -- a potential future fourth-liner -- to play, giving the Islanders $249,000 in cap space." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Islanders could waive or trade pending unrestricted free agent defenseman Sebastian Aho, freeing up $825,000, making New York roster compliant and cap compliant ($127,032). " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The Islanders could also waive forward Hudson Fasching and his $775,000 cap hit, giving New York $108,000 in cap space and that needed roster spot. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Fasching signed a two-year extension after last season, so it would be unlikely that he gets claimed. He is currently day-to-day with a lower-body injury. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The last idea, which is rather unlikely but worth mentioning, is that the Islanders could look to move centerman Jean-Gabriel Pageau and his $5 million cap hit -- given how slim the center market is -- and play MacLean as the third-line center or elevate Cizikas and play MacLean in the fourth-line center position. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Pageau does have a term on the books through 2025-26, but he is a player who would undoubtedly garner interest from the playoff and Stanley Cup contenders." } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "It isn't very likely, given that Pagaeu's game fits what Roy is implementing, but it's worth mentioning. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "The whole point of these potential moves is so MacLean can play. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Per Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello and head coach Patrick Roy, it seems clear that Wahlstrom will get a good look right now. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "So that leaves MacLean either playing on the fourth line or being a healthy scratch. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "And if MacLean is going to be a scratch, he might as well go to Bridgeport, play regularly, and stay fresh for if and when the Islanders need a bottom-six fill-in again. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "Rosters expand after the March 8 NHL Trade Deadline, and if the Islanders do have additional cap space, MacLean is the likely call-up. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "All salary cap numbers are courtesy of CapFriendly.com. " } }, { "type": "paragraph", "data": { "text": "You can watch Rosner talk Islanders hockey on Hockey Night in New York with co-host Sean Cuthbert live Sunday nights at 8 PM ET during the season on Twitch, YouTube, Twitter & Facebook." } }, { "type": "header", "data": { "text": "TOP STORIES", "level": 2 } } ] }

Islanders Roster Options Before Activating Casey Cizikas