Islanders News: Trade deadline dreams and lineup holes

Les than a week from the trade deadline. The Islander are back in action tomorrow in Toronto, where the Leafs won a back-and-forth 1-0 squeaker over the Panthers last night.

Islanders Reading

• Oilers (no match), Canadiens (Alex Galchenyuk?), Rangers (McDanaugh, Grabner) — the Isles scouts have been about the continent, but Arthur Staple says keep your expectations low, which is likely where you were. [The Athletic]
• Tanner Fritz admits to some butterflies and cautious play upon his NHL callup, but he’s trying to keep a calm mental approach and appreciates sage words from Jason Chimera. [Lantern]
• Anders Lee and the Isles raised $100,000 again in the Jam Kancer event after Monday’s game. [Isles | Photo gallery] Meanwhile, the wives and girlfriends chipped in at Ronald McDonald House.
• Almost no Isles talk but lots of other trade rumblings in this week’s 31 Thoughts, though like Staple there is the suggestion that Brock Nelson is a trade chip. [Sportsnet]
• Dan discussed life as an Isles fan on the Around the Boards podcast. (His part starts about a third of the way in.)
• #9 on Stan Fischler’s Top 10 Isles Moments countdown: Al Arbour returns for his 1,500th game. [Isles]
• Tyler Dellow attempts to unpack the lineup “black holes” on the league’s playoff-chasers, and sees the Isles first pairing as an issue, is suspicious of poor possession numbers for the top line. “Lot of holes to paper over.” You don’t say. [The Athletic]
• Two young boys enjoy a great Sound Tigers experience through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, “signing contracts” and watching practice from the bench. Ho-Sang and Vande Sompel still nursing injuries. [CT Post | Soundin’ Off]
• Prospect Report: Freshman Logan Cockerill has an eight-game point streak at BU. [Isles]
• The roles were reversed in the Beauvillier family. [(French) NHL]
• Another cool feature on former Isles goalie coach “Sudsie” Maharaj, including how Steve Valiquette called him in tears after his first NHL win. [NHL]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Blue Jackets beating the Devils in regulation, the Flyers beating the Canadiens in OT.

• At the Olympics, the U.S. men are the latest team to fall to the Czechs in a shootout. Tournament over for Team America. [IIHF]
• We have a trade to announce: Fear The Fin gives the Sharks’ acquisition of Erik Fehr the “for some reason” treatment.
• They did the thing: The Canucks re-signed Erik Gudbranson for three years at $4 million per, confirming the fears of many fans about GM Jim Benning. Lot of good zingers in here. [Canucks Army]
• The player-coach bond of Taylor Hall and John Hynes is a good one. [NorthJersey]
• The Rangers’ trade of Nick Holden for Rob O’Gara means awkward-but-he’ll-take-it moments for O’Gara and his Islanders fan father. [Newsday]
• Henrik Lundqvist’s age slump has worsened the Smurfs’ situation. [Puck Daddy]
• The Seattle expansion season ticket drive has begun. [CBC]
• An in-depth look by Justin Bourne at why Jake Guentzel thrives despite not having flashy size, speed or hands. [Athletic]
• Ageless wonder Roberto Luongo was outstanding in a 1-0 loss in Toronto last night, but the man continues to shine in his twilight years. [Sportsnet]