The New York Islanders announced today that defenseman Dylan Reese has been recalled from loan on emergency basis from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. The emergency recall comes after defenseman Andrew MacDonald suffered a right leg injury against the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
This is not the blueline depth callup many fans were hoping for: It's prompted by MacDonald's shot block at the end of Tuesday's 2-1 victory, when A-Mac was left hobbled at the final horn. With MacDonald partnering Travis Hamonic as the Islanders' top defensive pair, this will create some matchup issues if MacDonald can't go Friday in Chicago or Saturday in Dallas.
Emergency conditions exist when you fall below the minimum number of healthy players at any general position (e.g. if you fall to five defensemen, 11 forwards, or just one goalie) so this is not a long-term measure to provide a seventh defenseman going forward, though that condition can always change. In other words, under the emergency condition Reese can be returned to Bridgeport without having to pass through waivers.
Reese, 27, was one of the last cuts in training camp and was probably re-signed over the summer for just this sort of scenario. He leads the Bridgeport blueline in points with 2 goals, 10 assists in 21 games.