Isles Day-to-Day: Ladd Progresses, Kovar on Waivers

Andrew Ladd took another step towards returning to the Islanders lineup, skating alongside Valtteri Filppula and Leo Komarov at Wednesday's practice.
Ladd, who sustained an injury during an inter squad scrimmage on September 16, skated on his own at times during training camp and started practicing with the team on October 3, largely as an extra. Wednesday marked the first day of taking line drills with the regulars.
"He's still day-to-day," Head Coach Barry Troz said. "Mentally he's feeling better, he's in pretty good shape and I think he's at that point where we have a couple more days here and we'll have to decide what we're going to do."

The Islanders' philosophy is if you have time, you use it, so a decision on Ladd coming off IR isn't likely to come before the Islanders upcoming four-game Western road trip. Trotz said that barring a setback Ladd will make the trip - starting Saturday in Nashville - and getting him back into a regular role was the next step in his process of re-integration.
"The next process is getting on a line that's getting more regular reps at game speed," Trotz said. "Just mentally so you feel like you're preparing to play and then we see how he does the next couple of days and make that decision is he in or do you wait another game or two. That's the process were in right now with him."
LINES AT PRACTICE:
Lee - Nelson - Eberle
Beauvillier - Barzal - Bailey
Ladd - Filppula - Komarov
Marin - Cizikas - Clutterbuck
Johnston - Gionta/Fritz - Kuhnhackl
JAN KOVAR PLACED ON UNCONDITIONAL WAIVERS:
Jan Kovar was placed on unconditional waivers on Wednesday at noon.