Islanders make necessary defensive call up from Bridgeport

Prior to Sunday's tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the New York Islanders called up defenseman Grant Hutton from Bridgeport.

Signed out of college, Hutton has been in the AHL since the 2018-19 season. He's grown into a solid AHL defender in that time. He's earned this call up for the Islanders who, frankly, needed someone else on the blue line.

New York Islanders make necessary defensive call up

A few days ago I wrote that a change was needed on the Islanders blue line. The Islanders did wait long to agree. They couldn't keep putting Sebastian Aho out there game-after-game. Aho's game just isn't suited for the Islanders. You'd think a player whose one defining skill is transitioning the puck would be perfect for the Islanders, but unfortunately, that's exactly where Aho is struggling.

Aho has been guilty of a number of unforced errors that have either directly or indirectly resulted in a goal against. And, well, that obviously can't go on. Even if the Islanders are out of the playoff picture.

Grant Hutton is ready to get a look. He will be a Group 6 UFA when the season ends (he hasn't played enough NHL games for Isles to retain his rights). So why not see what he's got before the Isles have to make a decision on possibly extending him or letting him walk?

Hutton joins the Islanders on a three-game goal/point streak with the Bridgeport Islanders. He's got goals in all three games and picked up a helper in the third outing for four points. Hutton's been a big part of Bridgeport's push for the playoffs and helping them pick up three wins in a row and with the B-Isles holding a +10 goal differential in those games.

Hutton will seemingly lineup on the third pair with Andy Greene and return a left-right balance to the Isles three defensive pairs.