Even if you wanted to blow more assets for a lost season, the cap space isn’t really there.
The break has begun! The NHL now shuts down for a couple of weeks to make room for a “best on best” (sort of) international tournament among four teams that get together today and begin games Wednesday and Thursday.
(Oh, and something-something-Super Bowl if that’s your thing…congrats to the victors and commercial junkies.)
Meanwhile, the Islanders — outside of Team USA’s Brock Nelson — get a traditional all-star/bye kind of break, which should allow several of them time to advance their injury recovery.
Speaking of which…
Islanders News
- Mat Barzal reportedly had a “procedure” occurred on hisleft knee, the one that took that shot that sent him out of the lineup. There were musings over how Barzal’s $9.15M cap hit would sure make room for a nice big-ticket addition or two if he went on LTIR, but if he came back before the end of the regular season, they’d have to recreate that cap room. Pierre LeBrun said the normal recovery is six weeks, which would be after the trade deadline but well before the end of the season. [Newsday | Post]
- The Skinny: “Max Tsyplakov has six assists in the last six games to move himself into the top five among rookies in both assists and points.” [Isles]
- Five big questions for the Islanders at the break. [THN]
- With a trip through Winnipeg and Minnesota, Brock Nelson received some back-home well-wishers as a sendoff to the 4 Nations. [Post]
Elsewhere
- What the hell is the 4 Nations anyway, and when and where does it happen? Montreal and Boston, first game is Wednesday, simple round-robin format with a championship game. [NHL]
- After missing 47 games, Drew Doughty has been named to Team Canada to replace Alex Pietrangelo. [NHL]
- Meanwhile, Quinn Hughes has missed four straight games and has decided to skip the 4 Nations. [Sportsnet]
- More rough news for the Canucks, Thatcher Demko is hurt again, though they say it’s not the same knee and it’s not serious. [NHL]
- Why separating Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner could work better for the Leafs. [Sportsnet]
- The Canadiens have gone the opposite way of the Islanders, losing 8 of 9 to put them self in sell mode. (But wait, they’re only two points behind the Islanders…) [Sportsnet]
- Can Elias Pettersson recapture his elite form? He’s got one point in four games since they traded his archrival. [Sportsnet]
- The Ducks had custom tees and crocs for John Gibson’s 500th game in net. [NHL]