Islanders News: Roster set, broadcast expanded, podcasts abound

Islanders Reading: Toews down, Kuhnhackl remains

• In some ways this season is dead on arrival — I know the team needs to believe, and Barry Trotz can do a lot with a little, but their ceiling is low — so sure, I get the team tinkering with all of its moveable parts. But the opening roster is unimaginative, outside of including Tanner Fritz (which, again, that’s a low bar for imagination). [LHH | Isles]
• In cool news, Olympic champion AJ Mleczko will join the MSG broadcast for about a quarter of the games this season. This is a good broadcasting move, and also a welcome glass ceiling-breaker too. [LHH | Newsday]
• For the Isles Buzz podcast, Noel and Dan P. talked to Arthur Staple and relabeled The Best Fourth Line in Hockey. [LHH] (Look for another podcast, from the Anxiety side of LHH, to drop tomorrow.)
• The PTIsles podcast talked to radio play-by-play man Chris King for their season preview. [SoundCloud]
• Something I find interesting from our current era is that the two main beatwriters covering the Isles are calling out that, yeah, this probably isn’t the Islanders’ optimal opening roster. Arthur Staple is one. [Athletic] (He’ll answer your repetitive questions this afternoon.) Andrew Gross is the other. [Newsday]
• The torch has been passed to Barzal. [Post]
• Some people get nostalgic about “pitchers and catchers report.” For me, it’s when Eric Hornick delivers a season-opening NYI Skinny.
• The Sound Tigers have a lot of vets, with Jan Kovar making seven. They hope Chris Bourque pushes them over the edge. [CT Post]
• Kieffer Bellows returns to Bridgeport already an improved player. [CT Post]
• Post beatwriter Michael Fornabaio also spoke with Devon Toews upon his return, and referenced the veterans rule. [Soundin’ Off]
• He’s on a stacked team (12-0 in September!), but still cool that Isles prospect Anatoly Golyshev has won offensive player of the month in the KHL. [HockeyBuzz]
• The Isles say Andrew Ladd is close to coming back, though I’ll believe it when I see it. [Newsday]
• It’s the 2000s all over again: Isles, Rangers seem a few years away from contending. [Newsday]

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. Lou talks the opening moves.

Elsewhere

• The Kings began camp with injuries and red flags. [LA Times]
• Marc Bergevin is sensitive to criticism. [Sportsnet]
• In appreciation of Patrice Bergeron. [Boston Globe]
• The Leafs had not one but two goalies claimed off waivers. [PPP]
• Measurable proof that preseason hockey is meaningless! Also, this: “every year while watching the fifth preseason game on a stream that’s 45 minutes behind the actual game and misses goals because the scoreboard was showing a mascot shoot itself in the crotch with a t-shirt cannon, I have an existential crisis.” [Raw Charge]