Islanders News: How Do Schedule-Makers Get Their Jobs Anyhow?

Who are schedule-makers? Is there an entire department dedicated to the task? Is it just a small team? Is it one person who spends their entire year at home in their bathrobe reviewing arena concert and event schedules and filling in from there? Either way, there was a bit of an oversight with this many days in between Islanders games. I mean, don’t get me wrong, if they gave us this kind of break in like March, when things around this team might be brutal, we may not have minded as much. But, they’ve only played three games thus far, and many of us weren’t able to watch the most recent one because we had to work.

Also, it’s not just the Islanders’ schedule that’s bizarre. Did you know there is not one NHL game scheduled for today? And then there are 14 on Saturday. I guess it’s possible all 31 arenas (or 30, really - one team would have to be on the road, I suppose) are hosting a concert or the circus, but I sincerely doubt it.

No need to complain too much more, though. The Isles are back at it tomorrow night.

Islanders News

• Tanner Fritz was sent down to Bridgeport and there was no immediate corresponding move, which means Andrew Ladd’s return is imminent. [Newsday]
• The Isles site catches up with Mariusz Czerkawski as part of their Alumni Corner series. [Islanders]
• Also on the alumni tip, Isles Blog talks to Adrian Aucoin about his time with the Islanders.
• The Islanders have partnered with the LGBT Network to create an Anti-Bullying Program in Long Island and New York City schools, becoming the first sports franchise to work with the Network. [Islanders | Newsday | VIDEO]
• Katie Strang pens a piece on Robin Lehner’s shutout and what it means in terms of smashing the mental health stigma in the NHL. [The Athletic]
• Let’s relive the John Spano era, shall we? [Newsday]
• Speaking of fraudsters (I’m kidding, of course): Isles co-owner Jon Ledecky has been listening “very seriously” to the community’s concerns about the arena, but he expects construction to begin in May. [Newsday]
• Mike Fornabaio wonders aloud where Fritz might fit into the Sound Tigers lineup. He’s not considered a veteran, though. [Soundin’ Off]
• Mike Cornell was named the captain of the Worcester Railers. [Telegram]
• And they announced their opening night roster. ‘Tis the season! [Railers]

Elsewhere

• Ilya Kovalchuk has picked up right where he left off when he left the NHL five years ago. [Sportsnet]
• Brian Burke explains why he rated Morgan Rielly no. 1 back when he was drafted in 2012. Not a bad guess, to be honest. That draft class was horrendous. [Sportsnet]
• It’s only been a few games, but I guess we’re doing this already: new Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon’s decisiveness has driven them to first place in the Metro. [Canes Country]