Islanders News: Safe Snow, Luukko at the horizon; Green gets the gig

There are actual playoff games tonight: Blues-Predators at 8 pm and Oilers-Ducks, with our pal Brendan Burke on the mic, is at 10:30. Get hyped.

In news related to our own team, the Islanders had a prominent place in Elliotte Friedman’s 30 Thoughts yesterday. Friedman opened by talking about the various steps the team has taken to prepare for a John Tavares extension, including naming Doug Weight head coach and working to secure an arena at Belmont. I’ve already added Friedman’s take on Tavares to our encyclopedia.

On the subject of Garth Snow, it seems his place at the table is secure and that’s just how the owners want it (brace yourselves):

Most of us expected a change, but GM Garth Snow received a renewed vote of confidence. Some sources have described Snow’s safety in even stronger terms than that, but this is a crazy business so you have to be careful.

Weight’s ascension certainly played a role. He and Snow have worked together for years, and the coach would definitely feel more comfortable with him than an unknown entity. The Islanders also received favourable reviews of the GM’s work when they asked around. I reported last week that they hired someone to solicit opinions for them, but a couple of sources disputed that, saying they were provided with the names of good people to query. Whatever the case, they asked a lot of questions.

My two cents: as much as we all joke about rival GMs totally wanting to work with Garth forever, I think the owners may have been asking more about his relationships and respect level than his trading prowess. Maybe it’s just because we just finished our evaluation period at my office, but that kind of interpersonal stuff does come up and can make a difference.

Or we can just freak out. Either way...

And in an extra 30 Thoughts entry, Friedman mentions a name that’s come up recently for the front office:

29. As Chris Botta reported on Twitter, it is expected that Peter Luukko will leave Florida to join the Islanders as point man on the team’s new arena. The NHL loves Luukko, who previously worked in Philadelphia and navigated the Panthers’ new lease deal with Broward County. He is also co-chairman of Oak View Group, a key partner in the Islanders’ arena plan.

So be on the Luukk-out for that.

Other Islanders stuff

• Travis Hamonic is a finalist for the NHL Foundation Player Award because he’s an amazing person. [LHH | A great profile on Travis from the Islanders site]
• I had some advice for the Maple Leafs and Oilers regarding their rebuilds. Spoiler alert: they’re not done yet.
• In attempting to build an arena at Belmont, the Islanders can learn from the Cosmos’ failed bid there. [Eyes on Isles]
• The Worcester Railers, soon-to-be of the ECHL, are set to announce a new NHL affiliate and Michael Fornabaio says it looks like it could be the Islanders. Probably means the Missouri Mavericks switch full time to the Blues. [Soundin’ Off]
• The Islanders are holding a goalie camp - featuring coach/consultant/instructor Marc Champagne - at Northwell Health Ice Center in July. [Twitter]

Around the NHL (mostly by way of Sportsnet)

• Steve hates the playoffs. [The Unbalanced]
• Sounds like former Islander and so-called “Gutless Puke” Travis Green will be named the Canucks next coach. [Nucks Misconduct]
• The Penguins have good charts and numbers and stuff. [Triblive]
• Way more info from the Wild’s clearout day than you could possibly have asked for. [Star Trib]
• The Blackhawks firings keep coming, with Rockford coach Ted Dent getting the ax yesterday [SCH]. Sounds like there was some serious heat between he and Stan Bowman [Chi. Trib]
• Yeah, gee whiz, you should definitely be wary of being too good too soon. [Sportsnet]
• A fun Q&A with Winnipeg’s Mark Scheifele, who has some Patrick Laine stories. [Sportsnet]
• And what was the deal with Scheifele’s Jets teammate Marko Dano this season? [AIH]
• John Stevens is ready to tweak the Kings for big results. [Sportsnet]
• RIP former Flames and Devils enforcer Sasha Lakovic, who has passed away due to brain cancer. [M&G]
• Down Goes Brown handicaps the lottery participants. Don’t expect a victory this Saturday night.
• The Puck Daddy Eulogies began this week and this season’s Minnesota Wild one, by SBN’s own St. Louis Game Time, is one of the all time best examples of the genre. Holy smokes it’s hilarious.