Islanders bring Hamilton forward up after injuries in Toronto
The New York Islanders have recalled right winger Mitchell Chaffee from the Hamilton AHL club after the NHL team lost two forwards to injuries in Saturday’s game in Toronto.
Chaffee, who signed a one-year contract in the summer, will join the Islanders’ fourth line and is slated to play alongside left wing Kyle MacLean and centre Casey Cizikas, according to Islanders head coach Peter DeBoer. The move comes after Cal Ritchie exited early in the first period with a lower-body injury and Matias Maccelli suffered a more serious leg injury that could keep him out roughly four to six weeks.
“[He] just worked hard, good detail to his game, really professional ... The way he handled it, he went down had a hat trick in their opener. That's a great lesson on how to handle adversity and control what you can control and he did, and as a result, he's right back up here again.”
DeBoer praised Chaffee’s professionalism and work ethic after a strong training camp and the right winger’s performance to start the American Hockey League season.
Hamilton production and role
Chaffee has been an early offensive presence for Hamilton, listed second on the team with four goals and two assists for six points in six AHL games this season. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound winger is a former University of Massachusetts captain and was a teammate in college with Islanders defenceman Matthew Kessel.
Last season in the AHL, Chaffee produced 57 points (24 goals, 33 assists) with the Syracuse Crunch, a total the Islanders referenced as context for his recall.
| Season | Team | Goals | Assists | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026–27 (so far) | Hamilton (AHL) | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| 2025–26 | Syracuse (AHL) | 24 | 33 | 57 |
Immediate implications for Hamilton fans
The recall is a reminder of Hamilton’s role as a development hub for NHL clubs. For local supporters of the Hamilton AHL team, Chaffee’s promotion provides both a point of pride and an immediate roster impact. The Hamilton club will need to adjust its forward group with one of its early scorers elevated to the NHL roster.
- Chaffee joins the Islanders’ fourth line with MacLean and Cizikas.
- He leads Hamilton early this season with six points in six games.
- The Islanders also placed defenceman Alexander Romanov on injured reserve with a torn MCL expected to sideline him six to eight months.
The Islanders’ injury list now includes players who will require short- and long-term management, creating opportunities for Hamilton and other AHL players to be called up. Placing Alexander Romanov on injured reserve with a torn MCL was also announced; he is expected to miss six to eight months, removing a top-four defenceman from the NHL lineup.
For Hamilton hockey followers, the recall highlights how quickly a player can move between the AHL and NHL. Chaffee was described by DeBoer as disappointed when he was sent down after camp, but having responded with strong AHL play — including a hat trick in the opener noted by the Islanders — he has earned another opportunity at the NHL level.
As the NHL season unfolds and injuries shift lineups, Hamilton’s AHL squad remains an important pipeline of players ready to step into NHL roles. The club will now search internally to fill the vacancy left by Chaffee while keeping an eye on players who may follow his path to the NHL this season.
Sources: New York Islanders team communications; game reports from Islanders–Maple Leafs, Hamilton AHL statistics.
