Islanders Gameday News: Koivula signs, random Tavares speculation

The Islanders are back at it and ready to shovel their way to another home game tonight, this time with the Lightning coming to town.

FIG picks go here.

Islanders Reading

• Big body, good shot and hands, unpolished skater. 2016 pick Otto Koivula signs an ELC with the Isles. [LHH | Isles]
• Thanks to all the snow (precipitation, not Garth), the Lightning delayed their flight up until today. [NHL]
• The Isles know they’re done, but they still like to play hockey and win and stuff, so Tuesday’s victory over the Pens was a relief. [Newsday]
• Various team notes from Staple, including a little more on Christopher Gibson’s performance thus far. [The Athletic]
• Would it shock you to hear there was more Tavares speculation? A tanned Bob McKenzie muses on NBC Sports. (Yes, Dan has added more to The Encyclopedia.)
• A few non-changes, a few injuries down in Bridgeport. [Soundin’ Off]
• For an off-day activity, the Sound Tigers learned just how hard sled hockey really is. [CT Post]
• Andrew Ladd was the latest podcast interlude. [Isle Seat]
• Episode IX of Railers vs. Nailers goes to Wheeling, though Worcester picks up a consolation point. [Railers]

Elsewhere

Last night’s NHL scores include the Flames losing yet again, contributing to the Islanders’ meager-but-real draft lottery odds.

• The GMs want all goalie interference reviews to be handled by Toronto and the NHLPA agrees. [NHLPA]
• And what do you know, that same day we see another example of the murkiness of the rule. Claude Julien, whose Habs were victims: “it’s a matter of not wasting our time and just moving on; it’s never the same thing so it’s not worth arguing.” [The Athletic]
• Meanwhile, there was zero push to redefine the Hart Trophy, which is a thing some people really obsess over way too much. It’s voting, people. The Art Ross trophy counts things. The Hart reflects people’s opinions at the time. [TSN]
• The Stars’ struggle to make (and quite possibly miss) the playoffs this year reflects some knee-jerk decisions. [Defending Big D]
• On Lucia stepping down at Minnesota, and the disparity between fan expectations and reality. [College Hockey News]
• Composing all-time NCAA lineups for top 10 schools based on future NHL success. [ESPN]
• Jason Chimera played his 1,000th game in an Islanders uniform and his 1,100th in Duck orange (he also shook Matt Stajan’s hand in warmups, recognizing the Flames forward’s 1000th):