New York Islanders Impact of Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey Return

The New York Islanders announced today that both Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey have been recalled from the AHL. What does that mean for the Islanders roster?

The New York Islanders have recalled both forward Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey from their conditioning stint in the AHL. Neither have yet been reactivated from their place on IR, but you have to think that move is coming soon.

Along with recalling both Ladd and Hickey, the Islanders sent Michael Dal Colle to the AHL. Further evidence that the Islanders will soon reactivate both players.

With 22 of 23 spots taken on the roster, how does the return of Ladd and Hickey affect the New York Islanders roster? Where will either slot into the depth chart, assuming they’re back for the game against the Calgary Flames on Wednesday.

New Players

Getting Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey back at this time of the year is essentially like trading for two new players after being out for large portions of the 2018-19 season.

Ladd has played 14 games this season and scored seven points before going out with an injury. He hasn’t been the teams best player, but with Ladd, the Isles will get another good veteran presence with two Stanley Cup rings to his name. Sounds like a typical deadline day acquisition to me. And they “brought him in” for free.

Hickey’s been out for a similar amount of time. He’s played 32 games this season and has been a competent and reliable defender in that time for Barry Trotz. Getting him back could give the Isles a good sixth man for the Islanders defensive core.

So where do they fit in the lineup?

With Michael Dal Colle now in the AHL, you have to assume that Ladd would slot in alongside Mathew Barzal and Josh Bailey on the second line. It may not seem like an ideal place, but he’s a better option than Tom Kuhnhackl and with the way Beauvillier has played with Filppula and Komarov, you’d like to Beau stay there.

For Thomas Hickey, he’ll step in for Adam Pelech. Pelech has played well recently and Barry Trotz may opt to keep Hickey on the scratch pad for the time being. Both are the sixth man in the rotation and will swap time between the scratch pad and the ice through the rest of the season and into the playoffs.

That means something must be done with Luca Sbisa. Again, the Isles currently have 22 of 23 spots taken. Waiving Sbisa in the hope that another team take him should be the Islanders goal, but if he clears, there’s no issue in having him play in the AHL.

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Adding Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey to the roster is a positive for the New York Islanders. They get two savvy vets back into their lineup (again, for free) that can help them down the stretch. And it does nothing to impede their ability to bring in a big name player at the trade deadline.