Islanders News: Lather, defense, repeat

First there was Dennis Seidenberg. Now Luca Sbisa. Sure, they’re not signed. Sure, you need guys to fill out camp (sometimes). Sure, you want to light a fire under prospects.

But...well we’re still watching for signs that the new regime’s approach to personnel is as much of a change as its approach to coaching (and facial hair...and uniform numbers, etc.).

Islanders Reading

• The pool of potential defensemen is growing, because Seidenberg and Sbisa’s appearance in pre-camp skates means “the presumption is both will be invited to training camp on a professional tryout offer.” [Newsday]
• We assigned Spizz the 10th question on our 20 Questions preseason series, and he delivered the goods: Will the Isles improve in the D zone? Analysis with a healthy sprinkling of video and satire. [LHH]
• On the weekend you heard Newsday on the young goalies in rookie camp (most not Islanders property) were soaking up lessons from Mitch Korn. Now a little more from 2018 Isles draft pick Jakub Skarek on what he learned. Making the NHL “is why I get out of bed in the morning.” [Isles]
• Some guy left Long Island and now he and his agent are talking about it. Again. “The toughest part for John was leaving the Islanders. He knew his heart was in Toronto.” Okay. [Athletic]

Elsewhere

Mostly, the Pacioretty trade. What are they saying?

• It shows the Habs know they’re in a rebuild. [HEOTP]
• Though they bashed him before they dumped him, Pacioretty knew what it meant to be captain of the world’s most self-aggrandizing franchise. [NHL]
• Does adding Pacioretty keep the Knights in Cup contention? [NHL]

The Senators are desperate, their owner did a sitdown interview with his staff to...share a vision for “a very very serious team”? Our friends at Silver Seven are... not impressed.