Islanders Suspend Lubomir Visnovsky, Claim Brian Strait

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) — The Islanders are suspending newly acquired defenseman Lubomir Visnovsky for failing to report to the team on Friday for the start of the NHL season.

Visnovsky has been playing in Russia's KHL, but is required to return now that the lockout is over. The Islanders' season opens Saturday night.

Visnovsky, acquired in June from Anaheim, attempted to have the trade overruled but an arbitrator ruled in December that the deal was valid.

"Lubo has personal reasons for not reporting to the Islanders right now, all of which have absolutely nothing to do with the New York Islanders," Visnovsky's agent, Neil Sheehy, wrote in an email to The Associated Press on Monday. "We will have to see how this situation plays out."

The KHL is complying with an agreement with the NHL and won't let Visnovsky play in Russia now that the lockout has ended.

The team also announced Friday that it has claimed Brian Strait off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

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