SYOSSET, N.Y. -- One player who is not here at Iceworks is rookie defenseman Mark Katic, who's spent most of the last two seasons in the AHL at Bridgeport but played 11 games last season with the Isles. He dislocated his left shoulder in one of the rookie games against Boston earlier this week and reportedly is headed for surgery, leaving his season in doubt. The 22-year-old had surgery on the same shoulder two years ago.
Another player not here today is rookie forward Rhett Rakhshani, who sustained a concussion in Monday night's rookie game and is still not skating.
One oft-injured Islander who looks ready to go is goaltender Rick DiPietro, who's hoping for his first healthy season in three years. He's still wearing the old-style plain blue mask he donned after suffering a broken jaw in early February -- odd to see a goalie these days without an extensively decorated mask.