Islanders News: Getting to know Greiss

As a follow-up to the earlier piece on Semyon Varlamov, yesterday the Islanders official site added a bit on the Islanders’ offseason free agent acquisition getting to know his new goalie tandem-mate, Thomas Greiss, as well as the goalie coaching braintrust credited with turning around the Islanders’ net guardianship last season:

Greiss said they had dinner with Director of Goaltending Mitch Korn and goaltending coach Piero Greco, and added in Greissian fashion:

“We talked there for a while, just dressing room stuff. He seems like a great guy. I’m looking forward to the season with him.”

To which the story adds, from Thomas Hickey:

“I think Greisser has a good rapport with everyone and especially other goalies. I think that’s unique. They seem to get along really well.”

More pertinently, among the things Varlamov referenced — quoted in both stories — was an eagerness to learn new things after eight(!?) seasons in Colorado:

“I am very excited to start working with them and learn something new,” Varlamov said. “I’m 31, I’m still open to learn something because the league is changing, the game is changing, so goalies need to come up with some new ideas.”

I know that goalie-guru aspect is what the Islanders, and fans, are kind of hanging their hopes on as the team replaced a Vezina finalist goalie with one who’s had some rough recent years. But if your hope is that the Islanders goalie coaching braintrust can indeed make a difference, then the first given is that the incoming goalie has to believe in that process too.

We’ll see how it all goes, but at least...it’s happened before?

That’s about it for “new” on the Isles, though there’s this with the Nassau county executive saying she’s “hustling behind the scenes” to get more games moved to the Coliseum.

Elsewhere

• The NHL revealed its All-Star Game Weekend logo for this year and SPOILER ALERT it includes a star as well as expected musical references for the home of the Blues/a home of lotsa blues. [Icethetics]
• Who is the best team in the Central? A debate. [NHL]
• The Blue Jackets Zach Werenski: among the many unsigned RFAs, though he says not to worry. [Cannon]
• Likewise, the Flames’ captain says the team and Matthew Tkachuk will “figure something out.” So there. [NHL]
• Stellio Mattheos is being treated for testicular cancer. [Canes Country]
• After teams like the Islanders succeeded last year, more teams are going to the dogs. [NHL]