Islanders News: Filppula the leader; Brock’s improvement

The Islanders are back on the ice today; break time is over. They’ll practice today, lightly I’m sure, ahead of their Coliseum back-to-back this weekend as the Lightning and Kings come to Uniondale.

Islanders News

• Valtteri Filppula has quietly lead the way on the Island this season, in the ol’ “calming veteran presence” way. [NHL]
• Carey explains how Brock Nelson has improved this season centering Anders Lee and Jordan Eberle, his other fellow pending UFAs. [LHH]
• According to the Associated Press, Isles fans prefer the Coliseum to the Barclays Center. Hmm, what insight! [Sportsnet]
• Old friend Matt Donovan went overseas for two seasons, but returned this summer with one last-ditch attempt at making the NHL for good. Unfortunately for him, he signed with the Predators organization, historically stacked on the back end, so he hasn’t gotten a crack. But it means something that they’ve always had interest - they certainly know what they’re doing on defense. And hey, he represented the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL All-Star Game. [CT Post]
• The Railers went back and forth with the Brampton Beast but ultimately lost 5-4 in the shootout. [RailersHC]
• The star of Alumni Corner this week is Darius Kasparaitis, a man so bruising that even his last name sounds like an injury he’d cause you. [Islanders]

Elsewhere

Only two games in the NHL last night: the Penguins jumped out to an early lead over the Lightning and never looked back, while the Stars blanked the Sabres 1-0.

• Elliotte Friedman dropped his latest 31 Thoughts, concerning the Mark Stone, Matt Duchene, and Artemi Panarin dominoes. Only one Islanders thought, and it’s toward the end. [Sportsnet]
• Pierre LeBrun also examines the trade landscape now that Jake Muzzin has been dealt, while the Blue Jackets get ready to deal Panarin and the Maple Leafs look to get Auston Matthews extended. [The Athletic]
• Mark Spector argues that the Oilers should be willing to deal their first round pick for long-term help, even though he acknowledges that Edmonton only has an outside shot at making the playoffs and would likely get smoked. [Sportsnet]
• Kendall Coyne Schofield, whom you remember from the Fastest Skater Competition last Friday night, made her debut as an analyst last night on NBCSN’s Lightning-Penguins game, which is awesome. But Pierre McGuire, creepy little hobbit that he is, had to go and make things weird and shitty with his condescending attitude - especially ironic when you compare their hockey resumes. She is an Olympic gold medal winner, while the highlight of McGuire’s resume is getting unceremoniously fired after only six months as coach of the Whalers for being a raging dick that nobody liked.