Islanders News: The normalcy of Lou; Kulie memories

The madness of the NHL Entry Draft and its concurrent trades are not too far away. It will be interesting, to say the least, to learn what the new boss does.

Islanders Things

• Whatever happens, Lou Lamoriello’s draft should have a sense of normalcy to it. [IPB]
• Capitals GM Brian MacLellan said he would explore a trade to give Philipp Grubauer a chance to be a No. 1 goalie somewhere. Should the Isles toss their hat in the ring? [LHH]
• Yesterday, it was reported that Nikolay Kulemin will be headed back to Russia to play hockey there. Spizz relives his greatest moments, including his 2015 Game 6 game-winner. [LHH]

Hockey Stuff

• The Ottawa Senators have officially overtaken the Islanders as the laughingstock of the league under much-maligned (and deservedly so) owner Eugene Melnyk. Ken Warren wonders aloud if the league will step in and make him sell. The fans sure hope so. [National Post]
• Ten players and an honorable mention eleventh are listed in this article as potentially on the move, including Grubauer and two Hurricanes I’d probably take. [USA Today]
• Carter Verhaeghe, once part of the Isles organization as a piece in the Michael Grabner trade, signed a one-year, two-way deal to remain in the Lightning organization. He ended up there when the Islanders acquired Kristers Gudlevskis last summer. [Lightning]
• If you only click one of today’s Bits, make it this one: Nick Boynton’s harrowing experience as an NHL tough guy, what he did just to keep going while playing, and the nasty after-effects. [Players Tribune]