Patrick Roy Has His Hands Full Managing Bruised & Battered Islanders

NEW YORK, NY — New York Islanders defenseman Samuel Bolduc did not make the team out of training camp.

But because of the injuries to the blue line, with Alexander Romanov (day to day), Mike Reilly (day to day), and Adam Pelech (injured reserve, 4-6 week recovery) unable to play against the New York Rangers on Sunday, Bolduc drew in after he and Grant Hutton were recalled from Bridgeport on Saturday.

Playing your first game of the season at Madison Square Garden is a tough spot for a young player, especially when you are stepping in on a team struggling to find consistency in the early going.

Before the game began, The Hockey News asked head coach Patrick Roy what he needed to see from the young blueliner.

“I want him to play with some awareness, knowing who’s on the ice, and make good decisions with the puck,” Roy said. “If his first touch is good, I know he’s gonna have a good game. So the first touch will be very important.”

Bolduc’s start to the game, skating alongside Hutton, was good.

He played 4:33 in the first period, taking seven shifts.

Unfortunately for Bolduc, an awareness mistake in the opening minute of the second period directly led to Vincent Trocheck giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead:

Roy decided to remove Bolduc from the rotation, playing him just three shifts over the final 26 minutes.

After the game, a 5-2 loss to the Rangers, we asked Roy about what he saw on the turnover and his decision to limit Bolduc’s minutes.

“It’s sad. Those things happen, but Sam [Bolduc] needs to be better if he wants to play in the NHL,” Roy said. “He’s got to understand [that] and step up. “He’s a good hockey player. He’s got all the tools. Now, he just needs to figure it out. But he needs to be better if he wants to play for us.”

With the banged-up blue line, the Islanders are relying heavily on their depth of defense. If Romanov is unable to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday, Roy and the Islanders will have to make a decision.

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