Islanders News: There are plenty of internal candidates for third-line center, sayeth Lou

I don’t know the exact dates NHL camps open up, but I’d have to imagine a month from today, we’ll be talking about the Islanders at training camp. It’s getting closer, folks!

Islanders News

• GM Lou Lamoriello says the Isles needed the Belmont arena to remain on Long Island. He also provides some updates on the roster for the upcoming year. Among them: of the three unsigned RFAs, two have agreements in place (didn’t specify who) and Casey Cizikas isn’t a candidate to play 3C because he and coach Barry Trotz don’t want to split up TBFLIH. There’s plenty to digest in here. [Newsday]
• Brett Yormark, who once famously told Islanders fans concerned about obstructed views at Barclays Center you “can watch the game on your mobile device,” is leaving the Nets after 14 years as CEO. [NetsDaily]
• Possibly related, but not entirely sure: one of the billionaires behind Alibaba is reportedly purchasing Barclays Center for $700 million. He was previously reported to be in the process of acquiring a majority stake in the Nets, apparently ponying up a record $2.35 billion for them. [NY Post]
• Travis Yost demonstrates why it isn’t always wise to pay NHLers into their 30s, based on a top-10 worst contract list by The Score. Two Islanders appeared in that list, as well as a former Islander and a warning about an Islander we just extended. Wheeeeeee! [TSN]
• Michael Fornabaio gets us all caught up with things happening around the organization and hockey in general, including the news we know about Jakub Skarek reportedly coming to North America this season. He also notes the Sound Tigers’ promotion list. [Soundin’ Off]
• The Isles site caught up with Michael Peca as part of their Alumni Corner series this week. Man, he was good that first year in ‘01-’02. [Islanders]

For your viewing pleasure:

Elsewhere

The Red Wings have some number changes to announce, and for the first time in his NHL career (unless he was given a different number as a rookie) Frans Nielsen will not be wearing no. 51. He gave it up to former Islander and “Weird Frans” Valtteri Filppula and will take no. 81 instead.

• Penguins assistant GM and minor league GM Bill Guerin has started to “separate from the pack” of GM candidates in Minnesota. The former Islander has already had his second interview with the Wild before some other candidates have even gotten their first. [The Athletic]
• Logan Couture “couldn’t imagine” Joe Thornton, his teammate of 10 years now, leaving the Sharks, though the consensus around the league is he’d only leave them to retire. [NHL]
• Here’s something to bookmark for later use: Aaron Ekblad calls his Panthers the “team to beat” after all their offseason moves. To be fair, they should’ve been better last year and only improved this offseason, so he may not be wrong, but it’s a bold call either way. [NHL]
• Another one to bookmark despite the decent chance he’s right: William Nylander says he’s ready to “dominate” for the Maple Leafs this season. [NHL]
• Mike Babcock likes to manage his stars’ minutes, wanting them to hover around the 19-minute mark. Not a bad idea in the regular season, don’t wanna burn them out, but he only gave Auston Matthews 18:48 in Game 7 against the Bruins this year despite falling behind in the first period. That wasn’t a wise decision, to be sure. But it’s a common trend in the NHL, for some reason. [The Athletic]