The season’s end and new beginnings are ever nearer.
The Stanley Cup final continues tonight for Game 3 in Florida while the draft inches ever closer.
Islanders News
- From the prospect combine, the top 2025 draft prospects are asked questions about themselves and the Islanders, since the Isles are in position to pick anyone they want. [Isles]
- Man, Matthew Schaefer has to go over the tragedies he’s endured — the losses of his mom, and his billet mother — with media a lot, and probably again and again. But he handles it and channels it well. [Newsday | THN]
- Hoping Anthony Duclair is recovered and ready to go for next season. [Newsday]
Elsewhere
- Speaking of the draft, two NHL writers have the first four picks going the same way (Schaefer-Misa-Frondell-Desnoyers) before their opinions diverge. [NHL]
- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is a gametime decision tonight. [NHL]
- Peter DeBoer pays the price, and it fits his pattern: Man, for a team that was looking so good, then crashed so hard, symbolized by a rash and very demonstrative pulling and then blaming of his goalie as the season slipped away. [Athletic]
- The NHL is going for viral/heartstring moments with its award announcements this postseason, so Washington’s Adams winner had the trophy announced and delivered to him by his wife and kids. [NHL]
- Just what every fan wants: An article praising Brad Marchand and Corey Perry, who combined to score the final two goals in Game 2. [Athletic]
- So they’ve added a second assist to Gordie Howe’s final NHL goal, assisted by his son Mark — and now, by current broadcaster John Garrett, too. It pays to have a platform. [Post]