Islanders News: Engvall on waivers, Wahlstrom gets his shot
Probably not the end. | Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images
The Islanders’ route to season-opening cap compliance includes giving Oliver Wahlstrom a shot at a new role. Most of the NHL is making their last-minute waiver drops ahead of the season-opening roster deadlines, and that includes a highly anticipated “How will they sneak under the cap?” move from the Islanders.
Pierre Engvall, he of the seven-year deal, is on waivers — largely because he’s got a $3 million cap hit and is the move that would get them compliant, though the team also described him as not a bottom-three player, while Maxim Tsyplakov has beaten him out for a spot in the top six, top nine.
Islanders News
Engvall is one of eight players placed on waivers (though the others were pretty much expected). Lou Lamoriello talked about the top-six (ahem, $3M) reasoning. [Newsday | Post]
Asked Lou whether what he saw from Engvall last season prompted him to sign Duclair and Tsyplakov this offseason and Lou said, no, he thought Engvall was one of #Isles better players in playoffs.— Andrew Gross (@AGrossNewsday) October 6, 2024
Other important developments:
Matt Martin is not signed, but will continue skating with the team.
Not on waivers: Dennis Cholowski, Oliver Wahlstrom, Julien Gauthier.
So Samuel Bolduc and Hudson Fasching, battling with the above for those last blueline and forward spots, are on waivers. The Islanders currently believe Wahlstrom can be a good fourth-line complement to Casey Cizikas and Kyle MacLean.
Roy on what he likes about Wahlstrom, who is essentially stepping into Cal Clutterbuck’s old (5-on-5) shoes. [THN]
The Isles had an open practice, and Patrick Roy thanked the fans and spoke of the importance of that bond. [Isles]...
Want the trending hockey news in your inbox daily?.
Just add your email, and we'll start sending you the most important hockey news of the day.
