The expansion draft is less than a week away, the entry draft is a week from tonight, and we’re...talking about Nassau.
Islanders News
- Much rumored, now confirmed and announced by the club and operator: The Islanders preseason schedule spans the northeast, from Bridgeport, Brooklyn, Allentown and...some oddly named place that is still “home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum.” [Isles | LHH | Newsday]
- But back to the draft: Here are the Islanders picks and, in some cases, how they got them. [LHH]
- Programming alert: The SB Nation annual mock draft continues today, and our selection for the Isles will post this afternoon around 3 p.m. EDT.
- Back when the Islanders were formed, the league essentially screwed expansion teams with junk in the expansion draft. Bill Torrey remembers. [NHL]
- Some gratuitous Ron Duguay hate. [LHH fanpost]
Minute* ♀️ we are all human
— Josh Ho-sang (@66jhosang) June 15, 2017
Elsewhere
Positive news out of Buffalo about Kyle Okposo:
"Everything's looking great from Kyle. He physically looks great and mentally looks great." -Sabres' Botterill on Okposo https://t.co/4y0lf3FHLd
— John Vogl (@BuffNewsVogl) June 15, 2017
- Big news of yesterday: The Canadiens acquire Tampa’s sometimes-malcontent Jonathan Drouin for a top defenseman prospect, then sign him for six years. [HEOTP | More analysis: PPP | HEOTP | Raw Charge]
- The move was ultimately a cap move for the Lightning, though they did need reinforcement on the blueline. [Raw Charge]
- And it’s likely not the end of moves for the Canadiens, who are still expected to trade Alex Galchenyuk. [TSN Insider]
- By scoring rate, Jordan Eberle has been a top-25 goal scorer in the NHL, so the Oilers should be careful in dealing him. [TSN]
- And Portland shall have pro hockey again, in the form of an ECHL franchise relocated from Alaska. [Portland]
- Former Islander Bill Guerin, part of the large mix in Penguins management under Jim Rutherford, will become GM of their AHL team. [W-B/Scranton]
- Former Sabre, Jet, Blue, Flame, Devil Phil Housley leaves the Predators bench for the head coaching gig with the Sabres. [Die by the Blade]
- And down in Florida, Bryan McCabe was promoted to director of player development. [Panthers]