What Happened
The Islanders opened roster spots on October 26 by putting Matias Maccelli and Calum Ritchie on injured reserve, then brought up Pierre Engvall and Kashawn Aitcheson. According to Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News, those recalls serve salary-cap planning purposes, and neither player is expected to dress before being sent back down.
Key Details
- Maccelli and Ritchie were placed on IR retroactive to October 17. Pro Hockey Rumors' Brennan McClain reports both are recovering from lower-body injuries.
- Rosner reports that Engvall and Aitcheson are expected to be reassigned on October 27.
- The temporary roster additions are intended to improve New York's potential long-term injured reserve relief and performance-bonus calculations, according to Rosner.
What It Means
The recalls do not signal immediate reinforcements for the lineup. Rosner's reporting points instead to financial flexibility as the reason for the short stays on the NHL roster.