Islanders Transactions: Komarov, Timashov on waivers, for different reasons

Monday’s waiver wires had two New York Islanders names, for different purposes.

Leo Komarov, who’s in the final year of a contract with a $3 million cap hit, was placed on waivers — something that happened multiple times last season, and he cleared each time. This likely makes room to bring Matt Martin off IR, where the winger has been since the start of the season after offseason ankle surgery. Andrew Gross of Newsday reported Martin taking his regular rotation next to Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck during today’s practice.

The other waiver move carries a little more permanence: According to Elliotte Friedman, who also first shared the Komarov paper move, Dymitro Timashov is also on waivers, for the purposes of termination.

Timashov turned 25 this month but has only appeared in one NHL game with the Islanders since being acquired before 2020-21 season. Originally a 5th-round draft pick of the Maple Leafs out of Ukraine, he appeared 39 games for them followed by just 5 for the Detroit Red Wings in 2019-20. He played 22 games with Bridgeport in the truncated 2020-21 season and appeared once in Bridgeport’s opening games over the weekend. His departure will save them AHL money but won’t impact the NHL cap.

Truly, Timashov has never really appeared in the plans and certainly didn’t make a positive impression during the one game he had with the NHL club. He was acquired for future considerations which may never have actually been actualized. GM Lou Lamoriello may have seen something or at least agreed to give him one more chance after they overlapped in Toronto during Lamoriello’s tenure as GM there.

Whatever the reason — and for his sake maybe Timashov has an overseas opportunity lined up — it appears it’s over.