Duclair could rejoin the lineup against the Maple Leafs, while Varlamov remains sidelined until late December due to a lower-body injury.
Islanders winger Anthony Duclair is expected to be a game-time decision for Saturday’s matchup against the Maple Leafs, head coach Patrick Roy shared. Duclair has a strong chance of being activated from long-term injured reserve (LTIR) to play.
In preparation, the Islanders moved goaltender Semyon Varlamov from standard injured reserve (IR) to LTIR. This shift helps free up the necessary cap space for Duclair’s return but means Varlamov will miss at least three more games, keeping him out until December 29 against the Penguins.
Duclair has been sidelined since October 19 after a bad fall during a game against the Canadiens. His recovery took longer than the initial four- to six-week timeline, but the Islanders are eager to have him back. Before his injury, Duclair was skating on the top line alongside Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat. After signing him to a four-year, $14 million contract this offseason, the team had high expectations.
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In his five games this season, Duclair scored two goals and added an assist while averaging a career-high 16:30 of ice time per game. His line with Barzal and Horvat dominated possession, controlling 64.6% of expected goals when on the ice together, according to MoneyPuck.
The Islanders are looking forward to regaining that edge as they try to improve their December record, which currently stands at 3-4-1. The team is 12-14-7 overall and sitting seventh in the Metropolitan Division.
Meanwhile, Varlamov has been out since November 29 after allowing five goals in an overtime loss to the Canadiens. He picked up a practice injury shortly after and hasn’t played since, leading the team to call up Marcus Högberg from AHL Bridgeport. Högberg has performed well in relief, stopping all 17 shots he’s faced in two appearances, and might get his first start soon to give Ilya Sorokin a break after nine consecutive starts.
Varlamov is having a tough season, posting a .889 save percentage and a 3-4-3 record through 10 starts. This marks a significant dip from last season, where he had a .918 save percentage. If his current numbers hold, it would be his first negative season in goals saved above expected since 2018-19.
With Varlamov on LTIR and defenseman Grant Hutton set to be removed from the roster after clearing waivers, the Islanders will activate Duclair and have $437K remaining in their LTIR pool, according to PuckPedia. This move will bring the team back to a full 23-player active roster.
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