Radek Martinek, who has been signing a waiver every day for over a week so he can skate with the Islanders for free, was rewarded Wednesday when he signed a one-year deal with his old club worth a prorated $600,000.
The 37-year-old defenseman, who has played 11 of his 12 seasons for the Islanders, including last season, came to training camp on a professional tryout and didn’t make the team.
Yet, the Islanders are suddenly in need of some depth on defense. Lubomir Visnovsky has been sidelined since Saturday when he was concussed on a hit by the Hurricanes’ Radek Dvorak. Visnovsky saw another doctor on Wednesday, but there was no update on his status. The team placed him on injured reserve retroactive to Saturday, and the earliest he could return would be Oct. 29 against the Rangers at the Coliseum.
The most likely defensive options for call-ups from AHL Bridgeport are Calvin de Haan and Aaron Ness, yet the team prefers they continue to play big minutes in the minors.