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Islanders News: Trottier wanted a day with the Cup and he got it

I know the ‘95 Devils officially started that tradition, but I wonder if they got the idea from Trottier.

By Steven E. Smith

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NHL: FEB 21 Red Wings at Islanders
Walking onto the ice on which he laid the foundation of a Hall of Fame career.
Photo by Gregory Fisher/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It’s Thursday already? Wow, the week is flying by.

Back in 1980, after the Islanders won the Stanley Cup for the first time, the Cup was sitting, probably at the Coliseum, waiting for the parade the next day. Bill Torrey planned to take it back to his house for the summer after that.

But Conn Smythe Trophy winner Bryan Trottier wanted a day with it.

Islanders News

  • So, he got his day with the Cup. Torrey let him sneak it out, and Trottier woke up the following morning with the Cup at the foot of his bed. Trots tells it better than I do. [Newsday]
  • Former Islander Billy MacMillan had retired and become an assistant coach when the Islanders won that first Cup in 1980, but he still remembers it like it was yesterday. [Journal Pioneer]
  • The Islanders cracked the Return to Play Super 16, checking in at no. 14. [NHL]
  • Construction on the Belmont Park arena has restarted as the Racetrack opened, albeit without fans. [Newsday]
  • PHOTOS: Here is an updated look at the construction’s progress as of two days ago. [Newsday]

Non-Islanders News

  • Pierre LeBrun surveys the options that may be available to the 7 teams for whom the season is over, since it is possible they will not have played hockey from March 2020-January 2021. [The Athletic]
  • Ducks GM Bob Murray says he let his young players get away with too much and vows to hold them accountable next season. [NHL]
  • ESPN checked out who the likely NHL Awards finalists will be, who the “hipster picks” would be, and who is likely to be snubbed.
  • Down Goes Brown took time to examine players who were frequently traded in the NHL and to build rosters from the guys for whom they were traded. A pretty fun exercise. Some Mike Milbury trades found their way in there, of course. [The Athletic]

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