Ilya Sorokin chat EAST MEADOW, NY -- New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] defenseman Grant Hutton has cleared waivers, giving the Islanders an additional $775,000 to work with. With goaltender Semyon Varlamov ($2.75M) being placed on long-term injured reserve on Thursday morning, retroactively to Dec. 3, the Islanders have now cleared enough cap space to activate Anthony Duclair out of long-term injured reserve. Here's what head coach Patrick Roy had to say about Duclair's availability for Saturday night against the Toronto Maple Leafs: "I think he will be a game-time decision [Saturday]," Islanders coach Patrick Roy said Thursday. "We'll see how he feels, but I honestly feel he's very, very close. There's a big chance he plays in that game." Duclair has not been in the Islanders' lineup since their 5-4 shootout loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 19. It's expected that he will skate with Mathew Barzal and Anders Lee when he returns, at least to start.
