Ryan Pulock watched practice from behind the glass on Thursday, Robin Salo skating in his place.
With Pulock out four to six weeks with a lower-body injury, the Islanders called up Salo, the 23-year old Finn, from AHL Bridgeport on Thursday morning. The 2017 second-round pick had a strong training camp and preseason, which he followed up by scoring eight points in 14 games with Bridgeport.
“Just thought that he had a good camp,” coach Barry Trotz said. “People in Bridgeport felt he’s the guy. And [president] Lou [Lamoriello’s] in constant contact with [Bridgeport GM] Chris [Lamoriello] and the coaching staff there. He’s the guy based on what he’s done so far.”
The other obvious in-house option for the Islanders would have been Thomas Hickey, a veteran who has played eight NHL seasons with the Isles. But the team felt that Salo would fill Pulock’s puck-moving role better than Hickey, a more defensive-minded player.
Replacing Pulock’s contributions, though, will not be easy.
“This is not a pity league,” Trotz said. “I think we’re well aware of that. … And I talked to a couple of the captains today, quite frankly, no matter what happens we gotta stay focused on the task at hand.”
Salo skated with Zdeno Chara at practice on Thursday. Chara has been on the ice for 12 goals against, more than anyone else on the team, and has just a 45.01 percent expected goals rate, per Natural Stat Trick. Salo, assuming he is in the lineup, will make his NHL debut on Saturday.
“Super smart D-man,” Mathew Barzal said when asked about Salo. “Moves really well. Good hands. I think he’s got a great IQ for the game. So it’s gonna be nice to see him up here with us.”
Josh Bailey is still in Florida after testing positive for COVID-19. The 14-year veteran will presumably miss Saturday’s home opener at the brand-new UBS Arena.
“If there’s anyone that deserves a chance to open up this building, it’s Josh,” Anders Lee said. “It’ll be tough not to have him with us. I know he’s gonna make his mark on this building when he has a chance.”
Without Bailey, Anthony Beauvillier skated on the first line with Lee and Barzal. Kieffer Bellows was on Brock Nelson’s left, with Oliver Wahlstrom on the right. As a result, Kyle Palmieri was on Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s right on the third line.