Thomas Hickey (upper body) and Andrew Ladd (lower body) continue to skate with the Islanders as they work their way back from their respective injuries. The two veterans are looking to get back into game shape, which is tough given the Islanders lack of practices/morning skates during a stretch of 33 games in 65 days.
Hickey (out since Dec. 17 with an upper-body injury) and Ladd (out since Nov. 13 with a lower-body injury) both addressed the media on Thursday for the first time since suffering their respective injuries.
"At this time of the year, there's a lot of emphasis on the game and rest and to get back into [game shape] you need those practice time," Hickey said. "Thankfully the last couple days here we've been skating, but that's the biggest challenge for anyone, especially in the second half of the season when rest is at a premium, just trying to get those reps in with your teammates. We've been inching towards that right now, but it's not easy."
Given Hickey and Ladd's lengthy rehabs, it's been re-invigorating to be around the team again.
"It's just nice to be integrated back into the group," Ladd said. "If you're out for that long it's tough to be around the guys and you're never really at the rink the same time. It's been fun to do that."
Both players are itching to get back in the lineup and join the first-place Islanders in the stretch run. Head Coach Barry Trotz did not have a timeline for either player though he said Hickey is closer to a return than Ladd.
