:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46227048/usa-today-8532438.0.jpg)
Back on Long Island after their season-ending loss to the Capitals last night, the Islanders were finally able to come clean about their injuries in exit interviews, dropping the typical NHL post-season subterfuge that's proven to be more airtight than the Colonel's secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices.
Defenseman Travis Hamonic missed all seven games of the series with what the team revealed today was a torn MCL. Hamonic left a late-season game against Pittsburgh after a check into the boards by the Penguins' Rob Scuderi and was slapped with the "lower body injury" tag immediately afterwards.
There were no updates on his condition throughout the playoffs, which kinda made you think it was sorta serious. It was, although Hamonic - a warrior's warrior - was already eyeing a comeback had the Islanders advanced.
Travis Hamonic reveals he tore his MCL and could have potentially returned towards the end of a second round. #Isles
— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 28, 2015
Hamonic says he suffered a torn left MCL. Original prognosis was 6-8 weeks, but was hopeful to play at end of 2nd round.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 28, 2015
John Tavares suffered an MCL tear (as well as torn meniscus) in the 2014 Sochi Olympics and was recovered by the end of the Islanders' regular season. He was able to do his normal summer training and didn't seem to show too many lingering effects this season, so the hope is that Hamonic is back and ready to go in October.
Hamonic said it was a Grade 3 tear, does not need surgery. Was hopefully he could have played later in postseason. Initially 6-8 week injury
— Stephen (@StephenCLorenzo) April 28, 2015
Hamonic's D-partner Calvin deHaan missed the last two games of the Washington series with a mysterious "upper body injury" after taking a strong hit from Troy Brouwer. A player with a long history of serious shoulder issues, deHaan only (he typed, sitting at his cushy desk) ended up with an sprain of his acromioclavicular joint, or AC joint, near the top of the shoulder.
He downplayed the injury's severity and joked in a way that could send a shudder across #IslesTwitter.
de Haan says injury is week to week, possibly could have played if they advanced
— Stephen (@StephenCLorenzo) April 28, 2015
De Haan says he had a sprained AC joint, feeling better now. "Not a serious thing for those fans who think I'm made of glass."
— Arthur Staple (@StapeNewsday) April 28, 2015
There were no updates on the condition of Lubomir Visnovsky, who was crumpled by Washington's Tom Wilson in Game 4. It's assumed that Visnovsky is out with a concussion. If there's an update, we'll add it here.