Islanders News: Countdown to camp

Before you know it, the prospects will be in town for weighing and physicals. Training camp is almost here.

Islanders Reading

• Fun Q&A with Barry Trotz on the approach to year two, and roster spots there for the taking in camp. [NHL]
• We riffed on the latter topic here. Coaches and GMs say the right things but change is hard. [LHH]
• Semyon Varlamov on the pressure of replacing Robin Lehner, whose #40 he’s taken: “I never met the guy but he had an incredible year.” [Newsday]

Islanders prospects report for rookie camp this weekend, but Bode Wilde probably won’t be on the ice. (The source tweet was removed, but same info is in Andrew Gross’ Newsday link above):

Elsewhere

• Niklas Kronwall has announced his retirement, which means another headshot criminal is now off the streets ice. [WIIM]
• Stop me if I’ve said too much about what the Plager brothers meant and mean to St. Louis, but this is cool: Original Blue (and longtime employee) took the Cup to his brother’s grave site. [Blues]
• Phil Kessel gets along well with Rick Tocchet, but is confident the coach will treat him just like any other gutless puke. [NHL]
• The NHL’s rookie orientation program is all about keeping young players from making really bad choices. [Athletic]
• Long read: How the CWHL fell apart. [SB Nation]
• Heavens, I can’t count the number of flying [Averys] I don’t give about Mitch Marner, but I guess it’s karmic justice that Leafs fans have had to deal with this saga all summer long. Kyle Dubas sat down for an intimate one-on-one with Bob McKenzie to reveal that...they still want to sign him before camp. Good talk, Russ. [NHL | TSN]
• THAT MEANS THEY DON’T WANT TO TRADE HIM, YOU KNOW. [TSN]
• MORGAN RIELLY ALSO SAYS THE LEAFS WOULD LIKE TO HAVE MITCH. [TSN] Glad we’ve got all that covered.
• It was a quiet summer in Winnipeg, where there were high expectations but now the pressure is mounting. [TSN]
• After a rough season, Devante Smith-Pelly’s old teammates are confident he’ll land somewhere. [Sportsnet]
• And speaking of unsigned guys, John Tortorella for one will be “disgusted” if Zach Werenski isn’t signed for the start of camp. [NHL]