Isaiah George will need to bide his time before stepping onto the NHL stage.
The Islanders confirmed what had been evident throughout training camp on Monday, assigning George to AHL Bridgeport as one of their final roster cuts before finalizing the 23-man lineup for the league.
General manager Matthew Dersch managed to avoid what might have been his most challenging decision when Cal Ritchie sustained a lower-body injury in the last preseason game, but, in the end, there were no real surprises.
For George, the expectation is to play regularly in Bridgeport this season, likely securing a place on the top pairing. “At 21 years old, I want him to get those minutes,” Dersch noted. “That’s why we opted for Bridgeport. We wanted him to join us for our little team retreat in the Hamptons. Last year’s NHL experience—that’s what I talked about with him yesterday. It was a fruitful camp, but we need him to get time on the ice, not just sit around in the league. Playing is key for him.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t be shocked if I cross paths with him later,” he added. “He really put in the effort.”
George had 33 games with the Islanders last season after being called up, and there were moments when he seemed poised to establish himself in the NHL. But after a shaky January, he was reassigned and didn’t receive another call-up.
Although it seemed like he might have a clear path with the Islanders this time around, his chances were thwarted after the team used a 3.5% lottery pick to select Matthew Schaefer.
Dersch mentioned that Ritchie could start skating on his own again in two to three days, emphasizing that the team is in no rush to bring the 20-year-old back too soon.
Once Ritchie is cleared to play, the Islanders will determine whether he joins the AHL or NHL.
“When he’s healthy, we’ll assess the situation,” Dersch shared. “By then, a few games will have been played, and we’ll calibrate our decision based on when Calum is ready.”
Semyon Varlamov is also dealing with a knee surgery recovery and continues to skate on his own, but there’s no specific timeline for his return.
He will start the season on injured reserve.
Pierre Engvall, who underwent hip surgery, will also begin on the non-financial injured list. According to Dersch, Engvall is skating independently and is set for a follow-up appointment next week to assess if he can rejoin the team.
