The New York Islanders have called up defenseman Cole McWard from their AHL affiliate, Bridgeport, ahead of their Saturday night game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. McWard, 24, a right-shot defenseman from Fenton, Missouri, has tallied 16 points (5 goals, 11 assists) in 29 games with Bridgeport this season.
McWard, who was not drafted, joined the Vancouver Canucks as a free agent after finishing at Ohio State University. He played five NHL games last season, scoring his first and only NHL goal. In the current 2023-24 season, McWard has appeared in one NHL game and 57 games with the Abbotsford Canucks in the AHL, scoring 17 points (4 goals, 13 assists), slightly less than his previous season’s 26 points in 67 games.
This summer, McWard signed a one-year, two-way contract with a $775,000 NHL cap hit. Whether McWard will make his debut for the Islanders on Saturday is still undecided, as head coach Patrick Roy mentioned after Friday’s practice that he has yet to decide if Adam Boqvist will play alongside Scott Mayfield. The spot has been held by Marshall Warren for the last six games, but Warren was sent back to Bridgeport on Friday.
The puck will drop at UBS Arena at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Fan Take: Bringing up Cole McWard is an exciting move for Islanders fans, showcasing the team’s commitment to developing young talent. This call-up could give McWard the platform to prove himself at the NHL level, potentially adding depth and new energy to the Islanders’ defense.
