Islanders News: Belmont arena vote today; Oliver likes hockey

Look, I don’t want it to seem like I’m using Lighthouse Hockey’s great political clout within the grand halls and smoky backrooms to improperly influence decisions that affect the electorate. But: If the Empire State Development board sees fit to approve the Islanders’ long-awaited areener project today...let’s just say we can make it worth their while by naming a whole section of the site after them.

Most Important ESD Decisions Ever News

• Belmont arena final(?) hurdle today: “The six-member board of Empire State Development, the state agency overseeing economic development in New York, meets in midtown Manhattan at 3 p.m. and is expected to vote on final approval for the project.” [Newsday]
• You know how we’ve had a lot of (non-hockey) history discussions in comments lately? I’m guessing the single-focus Oliver Wahlstrom wouldn’t be into that. After experiencing one year of college, he wants one thing, and that’s hockey. [NHL]
• Assuming all goes well, here’s Jon Ledecky again saying to expect a groundbreaking event after Labor Day:

Elsewhere

• Revisiting buyout recycles of the past and present (LOLEhrhoff). [ESPN]
• Don Waddell will probably still be GM of the Hurricanes despite not having a contract, because owner Tom Dundon finds contracts in the hockey business “weird.” Which, I mean I get that, if you totally ignore the high-risk high-reward job security in this business. [NHL]
• You know who really wants to return to the NHL? Andrei Markov. [Montreal Gazette | NHL]
• Finally some good news for Blue Jackets fans: Zach Werenski is expected to sign before camp. [NHL]