Kyle Palmieri out 6–8 months with ACL tear for New York Islanders (Image Via Twitter) The New York Islanders have announced that veteran forward Kyle Palmieri, who has been a key player for the team, will be sidelined for a long time due to the tear of his left ACL. This injury was sustained during the shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers on Friday when Palmieri fell awkwardly after colliding with defenseman Jamie Drysdale and went to the hip. Despite clearly being really hurt, Palmieri managed to do something spectacular as he stole the puck from Flyers defenseman Emil Andrae and assisted on a goal for Emil Heineman before skating off for the locker room still accompanied by a team doctor for further evaluation.This year, Palmieri has been a great asset and has registered 18 points (6 goals, 12 assists) in 25 matches, which is just another productive season for him on Long Island. The injury will necessitate surgery to fix his ACL and will keep him out for approximately 6-8 months, thus also putting an end to his streak of 223 consecutive games played, which is a sign of his toughness and the fact that he was the Islanders’ reigning ironman. The 34-year-old winger is currently in the first year of a two-year, $9.5 million contract he signed in May and is in his 16th NHL season, during which he has scored 276 goals and made 545 points in 925 games played with Anaheim, New Jersey, and New York combined.
What does Kyle Palmieri’s injury mean for the New York Islanders’ lineup?
The Palmieri injury is a major blow to the offensive power of the Islanders. The trainer and the team are to reschedule the lines and depend on the less skilled players to make up for the missing score. Captain Anders Lee praised Palmieri’s toughness, mentioning his capability to withstand pain and to make critical plays even in an injury. The Islanders are now facing the problem of competing in the Metropolitan Division without one of their most reliable scorers; at the same time, they have to adjust their strategies to overcome the absence of a veteran presence that has influenced the team’s lineup for several seasons.Kyle Palmieri’s ACL tear is a big disappointment for the Islanders in the areas of scoring and leadership. The team has to cope with the next 6–8 months minus their tough forward, but this injury also highlights the need for depth and adaptability as the Islanders persist in their struggle in a very competitive division.Also Read: Why was Max Domi left out vs. the Washington Capitals, and will he get another chance this weekend?