Islanders News: Updates from Fort Knox

Folks,

... which means that the rumor mill is going to start heating up; by the end of this month, it will be red hot, especially because it will be, as Dan and Mike described it in Islanders Anxiety, Islanders Hell Week.

Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final is tonight. It will be the first such game in the city of St. Louis in 49 years, and I imagine Dom wearing a massive, ear-to-ear grin while also shaking uncontrollably. Well, perhaps I’m projecting; that’s what I’d be doing if the Islanders were hosting a Cup Final game tonight. The Blues and Bruins drop the puck at 8:00 p.m. to determine who will take a 2-1 series lead into Monday’s Game 4.

Islanders News

• 2017 6th round pick Arnaud Durandeau needed to be signed by today at 5:00 p.m. or the Islanders would lose his rights. Lou Lamoriello got the deal done yesterday afternoon. Durandeau, who just faced off against Noah Dobson in both the QMJHL Finals and the Memorial Cup Final with the Halifax Mooseheads, has produced reliably throughout his time in junior and is an intriguing prospect. Also, the Islanders re-signed Tanner Fritz to a two-year deal at a nice and cheap $700,000 — he could be an option for fourth line center if they allow Casey Cizikas to play 3C. [LHH | Islanders | CT Post]
• Arthur Staple touches on these signings in this piece about his sit-down with GM Lou Lamoriello and offers updates what Lamoriello says about Cal Clutterbuck, who had surgery, Josh Ho-Sang, who will be qualified, and Noah Dobson, who will have a chance to make the team next season, along with Bode Wilde. [The Athletic]
• Denis Potvin gets most of the praise and recognition on the back end of the Isles dynasty teams — rightfully so, of course — but he couldn’t have done it alone. This week, Stan Fischler reminds us of the other five defenseman that patrolled the blue line with Potvin during the Cup runs. [Maven’s Memories]

Elsewhere

• Zach Sanford is going to draw into the Blues lineup to replace Oskar Sundqvist, suspended for tonight’s Game 3 for his hit on Matt Grzelcyk. Robert Thomas and Vince Dunn remain questionable for St. Louis. [NHL]
• John Oefelein has been a Blues season ticket holder since their inaugural season and this Cup Final run has been the “dream of a lifetime.” [NHL]
• Alexander Steen and his father, Jets legend Thomas Steen, are bonding over the younger’s Cup run, the first one in the family. [NHL]
• Blues coach Craig Berube and Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy are longtime friends with very different journeys to their current steads and many connections along the way. [Duhatschek Notebook]
• LISTEN: Patrik Berglund joined Andy Strickland on his podcast to discuss his memories of the Blues and why he left the NHL. [Hockey Sense]
• It’s time for everyone to stop talking and start doing when it comes to women’s hockey, which continues to twist in the wind. [HEOTP]