Islanders News: Gibson signs, Duchene/Tavares Watch

It’s Friday. Who doesn’t like Fridays?

Mostly about the Here

• Looks like RFA Christopher Gibson has re-signed, setting up a battle for Bridgeport playing time and third in line on the Isles goalie depth chart. [LHH]
• More on ex-Isles coach Ted Nolan taking over for Team Poland. [Inside the game]
• Elliotte Friedman’s final 30 Thoughts for the summer offers more of his thinking on the Matt Duchene trade prospects, as well as a reassuring-but-not parting note about John Tavares. [Sportsnet]
• Dan updated the Tavares Encyclopedia accordingly. [LHH]
• Friedman went into way more of his thoughts on other teams’ thoughts on Duchene in a radio interview. [Fan Rag]
• Jordan Eberle can play some guitar. [NHL]

Not Here, But There

• If there is yet another work stoppage, I’m pretty sure I’ll be done with this league. Nonetheless, strategy is strategy, so players in both the NFL and NHL are warned about the risks and potential of another stoppage. [CBS Boston]
• Related: Player “lockout protected” signing bonuses keep increasing, building leverage to prevent a lockout, or at least make one onerously costly for the owners. [TSN]
• Meanwhile: Are the Leon Draisatl contract talks stalling? [C&B]
• A lengthy feature on the rather private Penguins co-owner Ron Burkle, and how he aligned with Mario Lemieux to save that bankrupt franchise. [Post-Gazette]
• Chuck Greenberg, a good friend of Lemieux who came close to bidding on the Stars a few years ago, has a letter of intent to purchase the Hurricanes and keep them in Carolina, which is totally not Quebec. [Puck Daddy]
• Chris Kunitz chose the Lightning for another shot at a Cup. [NHL]
• Andrew Ference officially retires. [Edmonton Journal]
• The new Overwatch league has seven city-based teams. [Heroes Never Die]