Islanders to place Parenteau on waivers, confuse everyone

This may come as a great shock to you, but the Islanders have decided to do something weird.

According to First reported in a series of tweets from Arthur Staple of Newsday, the team will placed newly-re-signed winger P.A. Parenteau on waivers this morning as a way to alleviate their glut at forward. Needless to say that’s not how we figured things would play out.

Update: it’s officially official now.

I kinda have an idea of what Parenteau’s reaction was or will be.

To summarize quickly, before the waiver flood gates open at noon (hello, Ondrej Pavelic!), the Islanders have two 19-year-old junior prospects in Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier who have impressed this preseason. They also have Joshua Ho-Sang, who was assigned to AHL Bridgeport despite also having a good camp because he was ineligible for waivers. They also have Alan Quine and Shane Prince, who were solid during last year’s playoff run (although Prince is currently injured). That’s all on top of the incumbent veteran forwards.

So something had to give. We just didn’t expect it to be Parenteau, who signed a one-year, $1.25 million deal to return to the Islanders after four years away to reunite with John Tavares. Looks like he won’t get that chance because as a 20-goal scorer making that little dough, he will almost assuredly get claimed.

Here’s some more from Staple:

While on the one hand, playing Barzal and Beauvillier (or even Ho-Sang) would inject a jolt of youthful energy into the roster, giving up Parenteau means the margin for error becomes even slimmer. If the kids work out and hold their own as regulars, great. If they don’t, you let a proven veteran walk away for nothing (again, assuming he doesn’t clear)(he won’t).

So we wait and see. The final roster needs to be set by 5 pm Tuesday, Oct. 11th so there might be more action to follow.

Sorry, PAP. We were happy to see you back.