Islanders News: Arbitration dates, Leddy locked, Montoya gives back

It always feels quiet until the Islanders announce a cap deal.

No overnight breaking news, so if you had to guess, which would you say is the next shoe to drop: A Johnny Boychuk trade, a bottom six (re)signing, or one of the two remaining key RFAs agreeing to terms?

We know Ryan Pulock’s next deal will be sorted one way or another by mid-November, but Mathew Barzal can likely afford to wait till mid-winter to see which way the cap and pandemic winds are blowing. If he wants to.

Islanders News

• If you missed it, here’s Lou Lamoriello’s full, very-Lou presser on the Toews trade, where he touched on other topics like arbitration filings and Andy Greene and Cory Schneider. [Isles]
• The NHL/NHLPA salary arbitration hearing dates are set. Josh Ho-Sang’s will be Oct. 30, Ryan Pulock’s will be Nov. 6. Oh, and Devon Toews’ will be Oct. 31...{sniff sniff} [NHLPA]
• Arthur Staple discusses the latest Islanders news that rocked us the past few days. He also says he’s “been told quite adamantly Nick Leddy is not getting moved. Barry Trotz loves the guy.” (Come for the hockey talk, stay for the enthusiastic promo of some fantasy/gambling site that we probably also hawks because we live in a plutocracy.) [No Sleep Till Belmont podcast]
• The Islanders did announced some further minor business, re-signing Grant Hutton and bringing in Flames and Bruins AHLer Austin Czarnik. [Isles | Newsday]
• Cool story and chat between Al Montoya and young Islanders fan Dario Rodriguez, on the occasion of National Hispanic Heritage Month:

The Islanders are proud of these hats, produced to benefit the Islanders Children’s Foundation. (I just wanna say that there are few things I’m right about in this world, but two of them are on the mistake of the RBK Edge jerseys — so many teams have returned to their pre-RBK looks — and the beauty of the lighthouse shoulder patch, which was savored and featured here back in the early, um, Lighthouse days):

Elsewhere

• The Canadiens have a little issue with the news that negotiations are stalled with Brendan Gallagher. [Sportsnet]
• Thank Bossy some team has finally respected Alex Pietrangelo with the money and term and full no-move protection he deserves. It was “definitely disappointing” to have to take gobs and gobs of money to leave though. [NHL]
• Shame that Vegas had to deal away two key players to make it happen. Nate Schmidt opens up about being one of the casualties. (And also offers this money quote on new teammate Quinn Hughes: “His hips swivel. That’s how he shakes and bakes on the blue line. As much as I want to do that, I don’t have it. I don’t think anyone has that...” [Sportsnet | TSN]
• Amused by Brian Burke’s take on Vegas, in a discussion of free agency winners and losers: “This is going to get very old. This is almost the cycle of a junior team where you come in, you build for two years and then you replace everybody. That’s not how it works in the NHL...” [Sportsnet]
• Taylor Hall is a much-needed win for Buffalo. [TSN]
• Like watching Rangers vs. Flyers: Senators owners sues some tabloid columnist for defamation. [TSN]
• Somehow Patrick Marleau will play a 23rd NHL season. [NHL]
• Former captain and gold medalist Meghan Duggan retires from hockey. [NHL]