Kyle Palmieri out for season with torn ACL in crushing Islanders injury blow

Kyle Palmieri suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on Friday and will miss the rest of the season, the Islanders said on Saturday.

Palmieri will undergo surgery on his knee with a timeline of 6-8 months. 

The news comes as a devastating blow to the Islanders, for whom Palmieri was a crucial piece of the top six.

He was also one of their most durable players over the last few seasons, playing 223 consecutive games, 90 more than any other Islander. That streak will end on Sunday against the Capitals.

Islanders center Kyle Palmieri (21) falls to the ice after an injury against the Philadelphia Flyers during the second period at UBS Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Max Shabanov and Mat Barzal both missed Saturday’s practice due to maintenance — both are expected to play Sunday — so the expected lines against Washington are not entirely clear. 

However, it is expected that Shabanov will play on the second line with Bo Horvat and Emil Heineman, the same way the Islanders finished Friday’s game. Max Tsyplakov is expected to come back into the lineup on the fourth line, and Marc Gatcomb would be a likely call-up from AHL Bridgeport as an extra.

Palmieri was quietly in the middle of a strong season after signing a two-year, $9.5 million extension during the offseason, with six goals and 12 assists over 25 games. 

His injury adds a second major piece the Islanders have lost for the season in the span of just over a week, with Alexander Romanov requiring shoulder surgery following a hit from Mikko Rantanen at the end of the Isles’ win in Dallas last Tuesday.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau is also currently out with an upper-body injury, but is expected back before Christmas.

Palmieri’s injury did not come as the result of anything dirty; rather, he appeared to fall awkwardly during a routine battle with Jamie Drysdale while skating into the corner.

The Islanders will have some added cap flexibility if and when Palmieri’s $4.75 million salary is added to long-term injured reserve, but that is largely academic.

Though Pierre Engvall is currently their only player on LTIR, adding Romanov ($6.5 million) and Semyon Varlamov ($2.75 million) can happen whenever the Islanders need the extra room, so the Islanders are not really in need of more LTIR space.