NHL
Islanders Expect Ritchie Out Four to Six Weeks and Maccelli Out Two to Four
Monday’s injury update leaves New York replacing two forwards, with Brayden Schenn moving into the middle.
The New York Islanders expect Calum Ritchie to miss four to six weeks and Matias Maccelli to miss two to four weeks with lower-body injuries, according to the team’s update Monday.
Both forwards were hurt in Toronto on Saturday. Ritchie played only 28 seconds before leaving, and Maccelli also exited in the first period. Monday’s announcement supplied recovery estimates after the Islanders initially faced uncertainty over how long each player would be unavailable.
The absences require changes among New York’s top forwards. Brayden Schenn is moving from the wing to the middle in Ritchie’s place at second-line center, with Emil Heineman on the left and Victor Eklund on the right, according to New York Islanders On SI.
Maccelli had six points through eight games, putting him third on the team behind Bo Horvat and Matthew Schaefer. Mathew Barzal has also been unavailable as he works back from a knee injury. The Islanders also recalled Mitchell Chaffee from Hamilton on an emergency basis Monday, giving them another forward option while they work through the injuries.