The Golden Knights made a pair of roster moves this afternoon, assigning Jonas Røndbjerg and Viliam Kmec to AHL Henderson. With Vegas back in action tomorrow, the transaction list points toward a possible return for Victor Olofsson, who had started fast with four goals in four games before an injury sidelined him early last month.
Røndbjerg has already become a familiar shuttle piece for the Golden Knights this season. The 27-year-old was recalled on October 30, only three days after his previous AHL assignment, and appeared in two games during this latest stint.
He logged 11:02 in Monday’s shootout loss to the Bruins. A steady AHL veteran who can step in when needed, he has spent his entire pro career in the organization after being selected in Vegas’ inaugural 2017 draft.
Kmec’s return to the minors comes after a brief recall on Sunday that still didn’t produce his NHL debut. The 22-year-old defenseman, undrafted out of the WHL, has emerged as a promising late-blooming option with bottom-pairing potential.
At 6-foot-2, the right-shot blueliner brings a balanced game, but Vegas went with Dylan Coghlan on the third pair instead. Kmec should remain in the mix for another call-up later this season if injuries open the door.
On Long Island, the Islanders had three players in red non-contact jerseys this morning: Mathew Barzal, Mattias Maccelli, and Ryan Pulock. Barzal drew the most attention, as his presence marked a step forward in his recovery from a knee injury that has kept him out all season. Last year, he led the club by a wide margin with 72 points in 81 games, and captain Bo Horvat has helped cover the loss by producing at a point-per-game pace through 14 appearances as the team’s 1C.
Maccelli has also been working his way back after a lower-body injury landed him on injured reserve. He had six points in his first eight games with New York after trying to build on his strong second half last spring with Toronto.
Pulock, meanwhile, is dealing with an upper-body injury suffered six days ago against the Wild. The veteran defenseman was expected to be week-to-week, so his return to the ice is at least a positive sign, even if there is still no clear timetable.
The Islanders, currently 7-5-2, are set to face the defending champions of Carolina tomorrow while still missing all three.
In Buffalo, Senators forward Ridly Greig did not take warmups, according to The Ottawa Citizen’s Bruce Garrioch, and Hayden Hodgson moved into his spot on the fourth line. Greig is dealing with an undisclosed injury and is set to miss his third game of the season.
His other two absences came because of a lingering suspension carried over from last year. Through 14 games, the 24-year-old has two goals and four points and is still trying to push past the 13-goal mark he has posted over the last three seasons.
Hodgson brings a very different edge. He is just back from a two-game suspension for a reckless hit on Los Angeles’ Brandt Clarke, and he already has 24 penalty minutes in five games this season.
The Windsor, Ontario native set a career high with 10 NHL appearances for Ottawa last year, and his path to the league has been built the hard way. Undrafted after an OHL career that included two seasons as an Erie Otter alongside Connor McDavid, he has played at least 40 AHL games in each of the past five years.
In Other News...
Islanders Still Waiting On Mathew Barzal For One Frustrating Reason
Mathew Barzal is back on the ice with the Islanders, but only in a limited way for now. He has been skating in a non-contact jersey during practice as he works through inflammation in his left knee, and coach Pete DeBoer confirmed he is still not cleared for contact. Teammates have sounded encouraged by the sight of him moving again, especially after Barzals left kneecap injury in February 2025 led to surgery and wiped out the rest of that season.
The frustrating part for the Islanders is the lack of any real timetable. Barzal played most of last season after returning from that injury, but this latest knee issue has kept him from a full return to NHL games, and the team is still waiting for a clearer answer on when that changes. For a club that leans on his speed and creativity, the progress is welcome, but it does not yet solve the bigger question hanging over his availability. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Still Have One Power Play Problem They Must Finally Solve
The Islanders power play has been a recurring issue for a while now, and the frustration around it is starting to sound familiar. Pete DeBoer and players such as Brayden Schenn have both pointed to the same basic fix: move the puck faster and finish more of the chances that are there. Until that happens, special teams will keep hanging over a group that has not been able to turn enough good looks into goals.
Help could be on the way, at least in pieces. Mathew Barzal, Matias Maccelli and Ryan Pulock have all been skating in non-contact drills, and each would give the unit a different boost once healthy. Barzals creativity, Maccellis playmaking touch and Pulocks point presence are all the kind of ingredients this group has lacked at times, but the Islanders still have to show they can put those pieces together when the games start to matter most. [Read more 🡒]
Islanders Add Veteran Blue Line Depth After Surprise Camp Push
The Islanders have turned a surprise camp push into a new opportunity for Ben Hutton, signing the veteran defenseman to a one-year contract after he first arrived on a professional tryout agreement. Hutton has spent time with several NHL teams over his career, and his resume includes a Stanley Cup win with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, giving New York another experienced option on the blue line as the roster takes shape.
For the Islanders, the move adds a familiar depth piece without much risk, and it comes after Hutton had been looking for a landing spot following his latest camp audition. The signing gives him a chance to stick in New York and gives the club another veteran presence to lean on if injuries or lineup changes test the defense early in the season. [Read more 🡒]