Islanders News: ‘I just like playing hockey’ — #Greisspreach

Johnny Boychuk knows he kind of sagged last season, and Thomas Hickey now realizes that he was kind of awesome, actually. Hickey hopes to carry that playoffs step-up through to this season, with some interesting thoughts on what happened to the Isles transition game last season. [Newsday]

Thomas Greiss’s answer to every "but isn’t there something more going on here?" hockey question is pretty much this: "I like hockey."

That’s basically his response to the possibility that the Islanders three-goalie rotation might continue into a second season.

As someone who helped spread that refrain in his high school hockey locker room whenever the tension got ridiculous and disproportionate, I approve.

Things That Interest the Islanders Fan in You

• Greiss and Halak talk World Cup and goalie crowd for the Isles. Greiss: "I like hockey." Halak: No biggie, I swear. [Newsday]
• Greiss, by the way, is cool with the whole Team Europe thing because Bossy knows they wouldn’t let a Team Germany or Team Slovenia play. [Isles]
• (By the way, Greiss and Halak may get more playing time in the tournament if Frederik Andersen’s injury during the Olympic pre-qualifier ends up being serious. Initial estimate is a couple of weeks.)
• Here's video from the Al Arbour memorial service announcing the practice rink is now christened in his name. [Newsday]
• The World Cup pits Jack Capuano against John Tavares. The former isn't worried about the effects on Isles training camp. [NHL]

Beyond our Awesome Home Team

• Not Isles but home-ish though: Stony Brook's Chris Stemke has a tryout with Buffalo's ECHL Elmira Jackals. [Jackals]
  
• But wait hold on, was Andersen really injured? Here's video. [PPP]
• Anyway, that game ended in a 3-0 Slovenia win over Andersen's Denmark, which knocks Denmark out of qualifying for the next Olympics, and punishes Frans Nielsen for his 2016 life choice. [IIHF] {dodges lightning bolt} {{fails}} {{{passes LHH reins to someone else}}}
  
• Sean Monahan, set for Team (young) North America, is the latest to pull out because ouchy. [NHL]