New York Islanders’ winger Shane Prince has officially been sidelined for four to six months as he recovers from his ankle surgery.
The New York Islanders have had a bit of a roller coaster of an offseason. On Monday, the Islanders hit another drop. Young forward Shane Prince has been officially sidelined after receiving surgery on his ankle.
He suffered a high ankle sprain last season. Though Prince tried to rehabilitate his ankle since being home, he has been unable to stay on schedule. He had no option other than to have the surgery. The surgery went well but will sideline the player for a minimum of four months.
Prince played 50 games for the Islanders in 2016-17, posting five goals and 18 points. He became an Islander in February of 2016, as the result of a trade with the Ottawa Senators. Prince will be entering the second year of his two-year contract with an annual cap hit of $850,000.
Without Prince
This injury is sure to be an inconvenience for the Isles. While Prince’s presence alone won’t make or break the team, the Islanders are in a delicate position. They are looking to have a strong season, despite last season’s blunders, and every player has a part.
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This season will also be the final in captain John Tavares‘ contract. Because of this, the Islanders will want to create a successful environment to extend his contract quickly. While Tavares has stated that he wants to remain an Islander, the team still fears he might leave for a Stanley Cup contender.
Every player plays a role in the Islanders’ success. The Isles have a roster capable of making up for the loss of Prince, but a healthy team is preferable. His presence has been good for the Isles and losing him for almost six months will cause a riff.
The New York Islanders are heading into an important season. They need success and they want to get closer to the Stanley Cup. Despite missing the playoffs by a few points, the Isles are ready to take it up a notch.
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The addition of Jordan Eberle and the decision to keep Doug Weight on the bench will be beneficial for the Isles. Not to mention- a Tavares re-sign might inspire some harder play, though it might not come when we want it to.
Regardless, the Isles are ready to take their play up a notch. New York is ready to show the league what they can do and this season will begin a new era for the team.