Islanders News: Prospect peeking; Tavares in Top 10; Parenteau's Place; KHL Chaos

Summer days with nothing to talk about but arbitrary topics aren't just a problem for fan-run world wide web logs. NHL Network did a ranking of the Top 20 forwards in the league and our boy John Tavares came in seventh overall. Not bad.

Here's a video of EJ Hradek and guest discussing Tavares' greatness and the full list for you to agree/disagree/be fine/be mad about. My sources say all of these guys want to go home to play for Toronto (even the Swedes and Russians).

NHL Network's Top 20 Forwards Right Now:

1.     Patrick Kane, Chicago Blackhawks

2.     Sidney Crosby, Pittsburgh Penguins

3.     Alexander Ovechkin, Washington Capitals

4.     Jamie Benn, Dallas Stars

5.     Jonathan Toews, Chicago Blackhawks

6.     Joe Pavelski, San Jose Sharks

7.     John Tavares, New York Islanders

8.     Anze Kopitar, Los Angeles Kings

9.     Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars

10.  Evgeni Malkin, Pittsburgh Penguins

11.  Steven Stamkos, Tampa Bay Lightning

12.  Vladimir Tarasenko, St. Louis Blues

13.  Connor McDavid, Edmonton Oilers

14.  Patrice Bergeron, Boston Bruins

15.  Johnny Gaudreau, Calgary Flames

16.  Joe Thornton, San Jose Sharks

17.  Claude Giroux, Philadelphia Flyers

18.  Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay Lightning

19.  Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks

20.  Nicklas Backstrom, Washington Capitals

Islanders readings

• NDRE looks at how P.A. Parenteau's re-acquisition could affect Tavares' production. [FanPost]
• A quick look at how prospects like Kieffer Bellows have been enjoying summer camp. [Islanders]
• Bellows is also one of a few very talented kids coming to Boston University this semester. [SBN College Hockey]
  
• Islanders fans show their colors around the world as they enjoy vacations. [#IsleHopping]
• In praise of Barclays Center's unique asymmetrical quirks. [Eyes on Isles]
• I answered a few Islanders-centric questions for Silver Seven. Shhh. Don't tell them that I have no idea what I'm talking about.
  

Other stuff

• Some animal in the KHL named Damir Ryspayev, who plays for Barys Astana, tried - literally - to fight the entire roster of the league's new China-based Red Star Kunlun during a pre-season (seriously?) game. Caught in the blast was former Islanders farmhand Tomas Marcinko, who refused to fight Ryspayev. Kunlun's coach pulled his team, causing them to forfeit, and Ryspayev has been suspended for the rest of the preseason while the league comes up with further punishment. You'll be seeing this again. [The Hockey News | Sporting News]
  
• Could the Devils play an outdoor game at Red Bull Arena? [AATJ]
  
• The entire Team USA roster for the 1996 World Cup of Hockey has been named to the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. [NHL.com] | The Islanders had a few very tenuous connections to that team, which shouldn't be a surprise given the state of the Islanders at the time. [Eyes on Isles]