Islanders reacquire D Freddy Meyer off waivers from Phoenix

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) -The New York Islanders reacquired defenseman Freddy Meyer off waivers from the Coyotes on Saturday after losing him to Phoenix last month.

Meyer, scratched from the Islanders' first two games of the season, was placed on waivers Oct. 7 as New York tried to send him to Bridgeport of the AHL to make room for veteran defenseman Bryan Berard.

The Coyotes claimed him off waivers the following day

New York has been short on the blue line recently due to injuries to Berard and Aaron Johnson, who had seen time up front as a forward, too. Berard could be back from his groin injury this week, but Johnson is expected to miss up to two months because of a knee injury sustained this week in practice.

"The injuries prove you can never have enough depth," general manager Garth Snow said in a statement. "We've always liked Freddy. He's an intense competitor and he's a very solid defenseman in all areas who is still just 26 years old.

"We only lost him earlier in the season because of a numbers game. We are very happy to have Freddy back."

After being claimed by the Coyotes, Meyer played five games with Phoenix and eight with the team's San Antonio AHL affiliate.