Travis Hamonic will be out for an indefinite period of time with what is reportedly a concussion.
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The Islanders will enter tonight’s Stadium Series with a gaping hole on the blue line.
Top defenseman Travis Hamonic was placed on the injured reserve Tuesday morning with an upper body injury that is believed to be a concussion. Defenseman Matt Donovan was recalled from AHL Bridgeport in the corresponding roster move.
“He’s starting to progress a little bit [but] still not feeling well,” head coach Jack Capuano said after the Islanders late-afternoon skate at Yankee Stadium. “It’s a little bit of a process with him and just take it as it goes.”
Hamonic joined the Islanders at the Stadium for the team photo and post-practice skate with family.
He had not played since being hurt in the Islanders’ 4-2 win in Dallas on Jan. 12, but he had participated in recent practices. Hamonic has nine points and a minus-3 rating while averaging 24:57 of ice time in 47 games this season.
“We don’t have any timetable for him,” Capuano said. “It’s a situation with him where [we have to make sure he’s] 100 percent.”
Stadium sold out
Looking for a last minute ticket to Wednesday’s Rangers-Islanders Stadium Series game at Yankee Stadium?
Well, you’re out of luck, as the NHL announced Tuesday afternoon that the game is sold out. The sellout means every Stadium Series game has been, or will be, played in front of a capacity crowd. Saturday night’s Ducks-Kings game at Dodger Stadium drew 54,099, while 50,105 packed Yankee Stadium Sunday afternoon for the Rangers’ 7-3 win over the Devils.
Tickets made available to the public for the March 1 Penguins-Blackhawks game at Chicago’s Soldier Field sold out in less than a day, according to the NHL.
Prospal calls it a career
The stated goal of the NHL salary cap is to create parity, and the artificial leveling of the playing field has been successful as 27 of the league’s 30 teams are technically in playoff contention.
As such, teams will be looking to bolster their rosters up to and including the March 5 trade deadline. But one player who won’t be added is Vinny Prospal, who announced his retirement in a statement released by the NHLPA Tuesday.
Prospal totaled 255 goals and 765 points in 1,108 NHL games, 255 goals and 765 points with Anaheim, Columbus, Florida, the Rangers, Ottawa, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay.
“I want to thank all of the teams I have played with for having the faith in me they did. I especially want to thank the Vancouver Canucks, with whom I have never played a game for, and my coach and friend, John Tortorella, for helping me have closure that would not have occurred had they not extended to me the opportunity they did last week,” Prospal said of the Canucks, who were set to sign the veteran forward to a tryout contract. “I appreciate Torts and the Canucks for their faith in me and am sorry I will not be reunited with one of the most influential people in my life in Torts as we had planned.”
Follow NHL beat writer Denis Gorman on Twitter @DenisGorman.
