Three replacement options if NY Islanders defenseman Ryan Pulock misses time

Grant Hutton

The obvious first choice for New York to replace a RHD is Grant Hutton, who has already played in 13 games for the team this season. Hutton has posted two assists, and a plus-one rating for New York in 2024-25, and last appeared on January 11 in the Islanders 2-1 win over the Utah Hockey Club. Still, Hutton only appeared for eight shifts and 5:07 during the game and was returned to Bridgeport the following day, according to Islanders NHL beat reporter Stefen Rosner.

Given the circumstances - a RHD injury - and the Islanders' precarious place in the standings, a Hutton call-up seems the most prudent approach to a Pulock replacement. He's already played some minutes on the Islanders' power play and penalty-killing units, something he'd likely be expected to do given both Pulock and Dobson's absences, and he has eaten more minutes in his appearances before January 11. He's a risk-averse option, and that is what a team in the Islanders position should be seeking.

The only trouble with a call-up currently is that AHL Bridgeport is absolutely tapped out with injuries. They don't have a single healthy scratch on the team at the moment, as every player not dressed on Saturday at Lehigh Valley was injured. This is something that could be remedied by a call-up from the ECHL's Worcester Railers, but it's something to keep in mind, no less.