Islanders' Liam Foudy is looking to make the most of his latest NHL shot

Liam Foudy donned Josh Bailey’s old No. 12 — given out too soon? — to make his Islanders debut and again try to gain some traction in what has been a stop-and-start NHL career since the Blue Jackets selected him 18th overall in 2018.

“You don’t know what to expect, exactly, when you’re getting drafted at a young age,” Foudy told Newsday before the Islanders faced the Red Wings on Tuesday night at UBS Arena. “You’re just going in and trying to work. Things didn’t work out the way I would have liked them there. Now, I’m just moved on past that and just focusing on my game to start a fresh opportunity with a new organization.”

The Islanders recalled Foudy from their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on Tuesday with top-line left wing Anthony Duclair suffering a long-term injury to his right leg in Saturday’s 4-3 nine-round shootout win over the visiting Canadiens.

Coach Patrick Roy inserted Foudy onto fourth-line center Kyle MacLean’s left wing with Oliver Wahlstrom. Casey Cizikas was elevated to Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s third line with Anders Lee, and Simon Holmstrom was given the first chance to replace Duclair on Bo Horvat’s left wing with Mathew Barzal.

“We need someone with some good speed to play with Bo and Barzy,” coach Patrick Roy said. “We need someone capable of making plays. Simon could be a player that could fill that spot. Curious to see how he’s going to do.”

Narrator: He needs to shoot more. More on that soon.

As for Foudy, 24, who entered Tuesday with seven goals and 15 assists in 102 games with the Blue Jackets and Predators as he’s bounced between the NHL and AHL, Roy said he was impressed with his training camp performance.

“I was very happy with him,” Roy said of the 6-1, 186-pound Foudy, who had one goal in three preseason games. “It was hard to let him go. He did everything we asked for and he’s been playing very well in Bridgeport. He deserves to be with us right now. He brings speed. He’s capable of making plays and I think his intensity or energy will serve us very well on that line.”

Foudy had four assists in five games with Bridgeport after splitting last season between the Predators and their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, where he had 10 goals and six assists in 28 games.

He understands the opportunity he now has with the Islanders to prove he should be a full-time NHLer.

“The older you get, I’m just getting more games under my belt,” Foudy said. “I had some tough luck with injuries. Getting a chance here, I’m excited for it. I definitely think I’m a lot better player now than I was.”

Meanwhile, Tuesday was another chance for Holmstrom to skate with Horvat and Barzal after getting some time in that role last season and after Duclair was hurt Saturday.

Holmstrom, the 23rd overall pick in 2019, had two assists in five games on Pageau’s line. But he took just two shots over that span and none in his previous three games.

“It’s not acceptable,” Holmstrom said. “Last game, I think I had two or three shots that didn’t hit the net. I’ve just got to find those open lanes and get those shots off. When you go three or four games without a shot on net, you definitely want to get a shot on net. I’ve definitely got to work on that.”

“I’d love for him to shoot a little more,” Barzal said. “He’s got a great shot. Yeah, I’m looking for him.”

Notes & quotes: The Islanders issued no further update on Duclair after he underwent additional medical testing on Monday other than president/general manager Lou Lamoriello reporting on Monday he would be out “long term” but it wasn’t a season-ending injury . . . Ilya Sorokin received his third start in the last four games, though Roy has alternated his goalies the past three games. That trend will almost certainly continue as the Islanders have their first back-to-back set of the season on Friday night at New Jersey and hosting the Panthers on Saturday. Their next set of games is also a back-to-back as they host the Ducks on Oct. 29 and are at Columbus the next night.

By Andrew Gross

andrew.gross@newsday.comAGrossNewsday

Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.