Robin Salo called up by Islanders on emergency basis

On Thursday, the New York Islanders recalled Robin Salo on an emergency basis. The Isles opted to call up Parker Wotherspoon and Grant Hutton the last two times they needed a d-man, skipping over Salo who has the admittedly higher ceiling.

Both times, Barry Trotz indicated that Salo wasn't called up because the other two were playing at a higher level than Salo. That changed over the weekend. In a big win over the Rochester Americans, Salo put up a goal and two primary assists.

(To be fair, Hutton was already up with the Isles at the time and Wotherspoon has been MIA for a while now.)

Salo's game against Rochester was the kind of effort that said to the Isles: "I'm ready for a call up."

New York Islanders call up Robin Salo on emergency basis

And they, obliged by calling up him on Thursday. The call-up was on an emergency basis. Which effectively means someone on the roster isn't 100%. Per the CBA, an emergency call up can only be made if a team can field a full team:

"Article 13.12 (m) Emergency Recall. (i) A Player on Loan to a club of any league affiliated with the League may be Recalled from such Loan under emergency conditions at any time for the duration of the emergency only following which he must be returned promptly to the club from which he was Recalled. (ii) Emergency conditions shall be established when the playing strength of the Loaning Club, by reason of incapacitating injury or illness or by League suspension to its Players is reduced below the level of two (2) goalkeepers, six (6) defensemen and twelve (12) forwards. Proof of the existence of the emergency conditions including the incapacity shall be furnished to the Commissioner of the League upon request made by him."

NHL CBA

Complicating things is that it seems Grant Hutton is still around on. Hutton was called up on an emergency basis on March 27.

Based on the morning skate it seems that Salo is an extra tonight. So I'm not quite sure what the emergency is exactly. If the Islanders can ice 6D (with Hutton) then what's the emergency exactly? We'll likely find out why Salo was called up during the Isles morning presser.

But he's here as he should be. Salo's skill set is exactly what the Islanders need right now. He's still got things to learn in the D-zone, but Salo is a capable puck carrier and who can make a smart first pass. Bringing him up now to work on his overall game with the Isles effectively out of the playoff picture is a smart idea (assuming he plays of course).