Also: Do you want a Pageau trade? Or buyout? Or nothing?
It’s a hot June and we’re just waiting for the Cup to be awarded and the draft/free agency drama to follow, so the New York Islanders have dropped their preseason schedule.
It is as sexy and captivating as usual: a couple games each with the Devils, Flyers and Eastern Conference final-losing Rangers. They start Sept. 22-26 with games every other day on the road before finishing up with three at home.
When will Mitch Marner make his preseason debut? (I kid…I kid.) Will J-G Pageau be there?
Expect the regular season schedule to drop later this month.
Islanders Stuff
- Mailbag! Staple answers the questions everyone has, but it’s the Lou cone of silence so there’s not much out there; he (Staple) does thing Pageau is the most likely to move via trade. [Athletic]
- A J-G Pageau buyout doesn’t really make sense. [THN]
- Buyout watch: 12 NHL buyout candidates, including Pageau. [Athletic]
- And now, a blast from the past: Behold the 2015 Isles preview, when optimism was fresh…
Meanwhile, elsewhere:
- Bourne: The Oilers have one win; here’s how things need to go if they are to continue an unlikely comeback. It involves the usual factors like injuries to key players (quite possible with Barkov, Tkachuk and Bennett right now) and a downturn by Bob Rovsky. [Sportsnet]
- Oh look, one win and we’re already in “how the Oilers are beating the Panthers at their own game” territory. Okay. [Sportsnet]
- The “whirlwind” around Mitch Marner continues to be…nothing. [TSN]
- In which Mike Grier accidentally leaks the worst-kept secret in the upcoming draft. [Sportsnet] Grier did say Logan Couture trade rumors are hogwash. [TSN]
- The Flyers would like someone to take Cam Atkinson. [TSN]
- Some ex-Oiler coaches are in the mix to be the next ex-Blue Jacket coach. [TSN]
- My favorite line about former blogger (and really insightful analyst…he used to post passing metrics at Broad Street Hockey and sometimes here)-turned-Canes GM Eric Tulsky is that “he has 27 patents.” [TSN]