The Islanders have placed both Pierre Engvall and Oliver Wahlstrom on waivers, signaling that the return of injured key players like Mathew Barzal is imminent. With the team needing to clear around $4 million in cap space, these moves could allow the activation of Barzal or Anthony Duclair, who have both been on long-term injury reserve. It’s a strategic maneuver as they prepare for their upcoming game against the Blackhawks.
Wahlstrom has seen more action than Hudson Fasching lately, but his larger cap hit of $225,000 makes him a candidate as the Islanders navigate their cap crunch. The decision to wave him and Engvall is a direct correlation to the imminent returns of Mathew Barzal and Anthony Duclair, who have been skating with the team, showing their readiness to re-enter the lineup.
Moving Mike Reilly to LTIR and potentially sending Marcus Hogberg down would be necessary to clear adequate cap space for the potential returns of Barzal and Duclair. The Islanders are under pressure to manage their salary cap effectively, making the current waiver moves critical for solidifying their roster ahead of their Sunday matchup against the Blackhawks.
The Islanders face a delicate balance as they try to accommodate the returns of their injured stars. Engvall and Wahlstrom's placements on waivers are not just routine, but a strategic move to finesse a complicated salary cap situation, ensuring they have room for either Barzal or Duclair without overextending their financial obligations.
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