Ryan Pulock has been out of the lineup for the New York Islanders for quite some time, and it looks like he will be for even more after being placed on long-term injured reserve Saturday, according to the team.
Pulock, 29, has been on injured reserve since Dec. 7 with a lower-body injury he appeared to suffer while blocking a shot off his right leg during the second period of a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Since then, Pulock has missed ten games and has not returned to skating.
Pulock’s movement to LTIR is retroactive to Dec. 7. He must miss a minimum of 10 games and 24 days of team activity in order to be eligible to return.
The Islanders now have two players on long-term injured reserve as Pulock joins his fellow defenseman Adam Pelech, who has been out with an upper-body injury since Nov. 24.
With both Pulock and Pelech on LTIR, and after sending goalie Ken Appleby down to AHL Bridgeport, the Islanders now have $9.95 million in cap space, per Cap Friendly.
The Islanders have battled through injuries all year to their backend but could be getting reinforcements soon as Scott Mayfield appears to be nearing a return to action.
Mayfield began participating at practice for the first time earlier this week since being placed on injured reserve with an upper-body injury on Dec. 15.
Islanders head coach Lane Lambert said yesterday that he has “a good feeling” that Mayfield will travel with the team on their upcoming road trip.
The Islanders’ four-game trip begins tomorrow night in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.
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