trim_14028474-D033-4FF6-B654-3A09671C9AFC Even in the darkest of times, there's always some positives. You just have to look. The New York Islanders [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/] have had a bizarre start to the season, with forward Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair, two-thirds of their top line, and defenseman Alexander Romanov falling victim to injuries before October came to a close. Then, on Nov. 1, not only did the Islanders lose Romanov for an additional seven games, but defensemen Adam Pelech and Mike Reilly suffered injuries -- both are still out. Pelech is back at practice skating in a non-contact jersey, while Reilly will miss several months after needing heart surgery. With so many injuries to the blue line, the Islanders decided to make a shocking call-up decision, bringing up 20-year-old Isaiah George, who had only skated in four professional games. Although George has had his rookie moments, the team's fourth-round pick in 2022 looks like a keeper and a staple on the blue line for years to come. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMjI5MzE2MDk1MTU3OTQ5/usatsi_24920364.jpg] George doesn't get a shot without the injuries, and in a salary-cap world, being able to rely on young, cheap options is paramount to success. In 15 games, George has three assists, averaging 18:40 minutes per game. Another discovery amidst the injuries is that the Islanders may have more blueline depth than they initially thought. While Dennis Cholowski won the seventh defenseman job, Grant Hutton has risen to the occasion. Yes, Hutton had NHL experience prior to this season. He was one of the call-ups that opened up UBS Arena amidst the club's COVID-19 outbreak, and he already had 18 games under his belt. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMTYzODIyNjc1NzMyMTU3/usatsi_24902901.jpg] Through his 11 games this season, Hutton has proven to be a stable presence, and head coach Patrick Roy has loved the "bite" he's brought, even though he'll take a seat on Saturday. Hutton provides another option for the Islanders now and next season, potentially being the seventh defense down the road. Although the sample size is small, 20 minutes, we got to see goalie Marcus Hogberg in action for the first time in a real NHL game. The 31-year-old goalie, who inked a two-year deal back in May, came into Thursday's 5-2 loss to Seattle and shut the door, stopping all 12 shots that came his way. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjExMjA2MDU5OTIwOTkxOTMz/usatsi_24920379.jpg] He backed up Sorokin and will likely back him up again on Saturday against Carolina. Semyon Varlamov is day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Could Hogberg potentially be a cheap Varlamov replacement as soon as next season if the Islanders make a move? When teams ultimately give up on a season, that's usually when they recall a few players and see what they have in their system. While the Islanders would rather not deal with injuries and inconsistent play, they got a leg up on "seeing what they have, "which is important for a cap-strapped franchise.
