Islanders News: Please keep your hands and feet inside at all times until the vehicle makes a complete stop

The Islanders roster is finalized. The NHL season starts tonight with four games, beginning with Maple Leafs-Senators at 7. This is what we’ve been waiting for. Buckle up.

Islanders news

• The 23-man roster has been set and includes Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, just as we all predicted. Ryan Pulock is going to have a wait a bit. [LHH | NHL.com]
• The Islanders experimented with a new top line in practice because why not. [Newsday | AP]
• Actually, the reason is because the guy who was supposed to play there is now a New Jersey Devil. [LHH]
• The Point Blank podcast says goodbye to P.A. Parenteau and hello again to a long lost Islanders voice.
• Brett Crygalis says the Islanders need a big year. A controversial stance. [NY Post]
• Look around Barclays Center and you'll see improvements following feedback from last season. [CBS NY]
• Carter Verhaeghe is confident and ready to make his mark on the Sound Tigers. [CT Post]
• Official release on Pulock and Adam Pelech being assigned to Bridgeport. [BST | Soundin' Off]
• The AHL season starts on Friday and Michael Fornabaio gets you caught up on all of the league's new rules. [Soundin' Off]
• Eamon McAdam impressed at a recent Missouri Mavericks scrimmage. [Examiner]
• The NEW & IMPROVED Nassau Coliseum will open its doors in April with a concert from Billy Joel, who has his own section in Newsday, which I think is kind of hilarious.

Other stuff

• Call off the dogs in Tampa, the Lightning have resigned Nikita Kucherov to a ridiculously good bridge deal. [Raw Charge]
• Kris Versteeg trolled all of Alberta, coming to Oilers camp on a PTO, then deciding to sign with the Flames. [Calgary Herald | TSS has Dreger's explanation]
• There's a new Tkachuk in town and the old one now gets to watch. [Calgary Herald]
• Ron Hextall sticks up for his on-ice attack dog, Radko Gudas. [BSH]
• Vice's list of most exciting young players in the NHL doesn't include Barzal or Beauvillier... yet.
• The NHL has new rules for spotting and diagnosing concussions on ice level that could keep players in the locker room if a ref determines they can't continue. [Puck Daddy]
• NCAA games are losing attendance. [Lets Go DU]
• Frank Seravalli makes 31 predictions and sees the Islanders taking a step backwards (but still in the playoffs). [TSN.ca]
• Say hello to Bob McKenzie's Bobcast, a new hockey podcast coming to your earholes every other Friday. [TSN.ca]
• And say goodbye to the legendary Ruslan Fedotenko, who announced his retirement yesterday. Farewell, Tank. [NHLPA]

Kevin Bieksa goes undercover at a Ducks preseason game. That disguise is worthy of Hannibal Smith.

With his team playing in a recent preseason game, @kbieksa3 went undercover with the ice crew.

Here's what happened next. pic.twitter.com/KZHtPNSy6G

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) October 11, 2016