Islanders News: D-Day (de Haan Day); Tavares calms the storm

Here we are, folks. Today brings us the arbitration hearing for Calvin de Haan, a player whom is apparently only worth a skosh more than Adam Pelech. (Negotiating tactics, I know, but they're clearly not working on this Carp Lad.)

Most players don't actually reach their hearing, and the Garth Snow Islanders have come down to the wire with previous RFAs without reaching the hearing (Brock Nelson), as well as self-imposed deadlines (Ryan Strome). Still, based on the asks, they don't seem too close, and there have been no reports that the two sides have made any significant progress.

Sinking Into the Atlantic

• In positive news! John Tavares, silent since the end of the season, reiterated on TSN Radio that he would like to remain with the Islanders, though he wouldn't divulge of any contract talks. Which isn't completely convincing of anything, but things were seemingly a bit too quiet, and he has eased the air for a bit. [TSN | NHL.com]
• Of course, the encyclopedia has been updated with this latest tidbit. [LHH]
• Garik stopped by to summarize the Isles' neutral zone play under Doug Weight. Some good, some (many) not-so-good, as you might imagine. Breaking up with Travis Hamonic seems to have been the right call. [LHH]
• Adam Pelech spoke with the NHL Tonight crew about his new contract extension. The first question was "Wait, who are you again?"
• "Islanders' path back to Long Island is clearer than ever." Hmm, a statement like that has never before backfired. [NY Post]
• The Sound Tigers have announced their promotions for the upcoming season. Sadly, no bacon night this year, but there will be a craft beer tasting/fest on Black Friday before their contest against the Hartford Wolf Pack.
• There are many, many decisions and happenings in Islanders history that, had they gone slightly differently, might have improved the history of the franchise. Perhaps none more so, though, than the hiring of Mike Milbury. [Puck Daddy]

Above Water

• The Hurricanes have locked up another young defenseman of theirs long-term. This time, the lucky recipient of a six-year deal was none other than Brett Pesce. [Canes Country]
• Good ol' Mike Dunham, long-time Isles goalie coach, was added to the Providence Bruins coaching staff. [Bangor Daily News]
• In case you've forgotten, the Colorado Avalanche had one of the worst seasons in NHL history. That's not even the funny part. The funny part is that the NHL's clear-worst team has done nearly nothing to improve or even change itself like they said they wanted to. Joe Sakic makes Garth Snow look like Aristotle.
• Folks view her opinions as prospect pessimism, but Katya Knappe's approach to prospect ranking is really prospect realism, because most of them do not work out. [PPP]