Isles Day to Day: Hickey, Ho-Sang and Fritz on Waivers

Thomas Hickey, Josh Ho-Sang and Tanner Fritz will be placed on waivers on Monday, according to Islanders President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello.
If they clear waivers by Tuesday at noon, they will be assigned to the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Hickey has played his entire 449-game career with the Islanders - 10th all-time among Isles defensemen - recording 115 points (22G, 93A) over that span. Ho-Sang, who signed a one-year deal with the Isles this summer, played 10 games with the Islanders last season, but spent a majority of the year in Bridgeport. Fritz, who signed a two-year deal over the summer, appeared in eight games with the Islanders last season, but also spent a majority of the year in Bridgeport before undergoing season-ending blood clot surgery.
"None of them are easy [calls]," Lamoriello said. "In Thomas' case certainly, it was a little more difficult because of the history with the team. It doesn't mean he's going anywhere. It depends on whether he gets acquired or not, but we won't know that for another 24 hours."
"It was a real tough organizational decision," Head Coach Barry Trotz said of Hickey. "From our standpoint it was tough. He's a fantastic human and been a real good player."

Hickey's transaction creates a path for defenseman Noah Dobson to make the Islanders out of camp. While Lamoriello did not officially commit to including Dobson on the 23-man roster, which is due Tuesday at 5 p.m., the Isles GM said the 19-year-old had made a positive impression. If Dobson makes the team, the Islanders still have nine games to evaluate him before triggering the first year of his entry-level deal.
"With [Dobson] organizationally, it's not where he is right now, it's where is he going to be six months from now, or a year from now" Trotz said. "The vision for him is pretty clear in terms of what we think of him. He's had an excellent training camp. Maybe one bad game where I think he could have been a little better, but for the most part he was one of the better guys. Through training camp he's given us no reason to think he can't handle the workload."
Regarding Ho-Sang, Lamoriello said he did all that the Islanders asked, but with a crowd of forwards - including Michael Dal Colle, Tom Kuhnhackl and Ross Johnston - vying for a spot, tough decisions needed to be made.
"He came in and did everything that you could ask of a player to try and win a spot," Lamoriello said. "In my opinion he was given every opportunity and just it did not work out and you have to make decisions."
Trotz said he felt this was the best camp he'd seen from Ho-Sang.
"I think this was his best camp," Trotz said. "The reason being that he was consistent, his attention to detail was much better. He fits in that same category as Thomas. Real tough decision on that organizationally and we'll see where we are. He's made strides every time he gets an opportunity at training camp or during the regular season, he's closer and closer. So we'll see where that ends up."

HOLMSTROM STILL AT CAMP:

Simon Holmstrom is still among the 30 players left at training camp. Where the Islanders' 2019 first-round pick (23rd overall) goes this season is to be determined, as the Islanders, Bridgeport and Sweden are all viable options.

CIZIKAS DAY TO DAY:

Casey Cizikas is day to day, but expected to be fine, according to Lamoriello. Cizikas hobbled off the ice at the tail end of Saturday's 4-2 preseason win over the Rangers after a collision with Adam Fox. Lamoriello said Cizikas' knee is fine and the lower-body issue is not determined to be serious.
Trotz said it's too soon to say whether or not Cizikas will be available for Friday's opener, but he's "hopeful" that he will and confident that he'll be on the ice before opening night.