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Islanders Place Colin McDonald on Waivers, Grabovski on IR

Logjam management in full effect.

By Chris McNally
It's been a fun ride, Colin.
It's been a fun ride, Colin.
Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports

The Islanders made two roster moves Wednesday which looks like they will allow for two more important moves to be made tomorrow.

Forward Colin McDonald was placed on waivers while Mikhail Grabovski was placed on injured reserve.

Grabovski's IR assignment is retroactive to October 16th, meaning he will be eligible to be activated on Friday and only have to miss tomorrow's game against the Boston Bruins.

McDonald  was a surprise addition to the Islanders roster out of training camp in 2012-13 after being named captain of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  He only got into the lineup for two games this season, and it took Grabovski's injury to do so.

If McDonald isn't claimed, he will be assigned to Bridgeport.  We've seen worse players in the NHL claimed off waivers and we've seen better players make it through waivers safely, so who knows what will happen with McDonald.

According to the great Arthur Staple:


Lee's return would give the Islanders a forward to replace Grabovski on the second line, at least for tomorrow night and reunite the Kulemin/Nielsen/Bailey line that was so successful to start the season. Grabovski's short stint on IR looks like it has to do with another important Islander returning to the lineup:


It doesn't seem as if there needs to be a defenseman moved to make room in the lineup for Visnovsky until at least the weekend, because Travis Hamonic's ability to play tomorrow seems in serious doubt.  Thomas Hickey will not miss any time due to the severe cut he took to the mouth last night, but was sporting a mouth guard in practice today.

Visnovsky's return will add even more offensive firepower to what has been a potent defensive unit on the scoreboard so far this season.

Looks like Islanders fans have at least some good news today to get their minds off of last night's awful loss to Toronto.