Tsyplakov’s stock rises, Engvall’s dips.
The opening of the NHL season is fast approaching, with the Sabres and Devils in Prague to kick things off Friday. The Islanders, of course, aren’t there yet — Friday is the day of their final preseason game.
Islanders News
- With one preseason game left, still some work to do. [Newsday]
- Things we “know” through five preseason games: Maxim Tsyplakov is learning, Pierre Engvall looks scratchy, Ilya Sorokin is still out. (But “he’s fine,” remember?! “Zero concern.” Ah, Lou…) [Athletic]
- Is Engvall scrambling for a spot in the lineup? [Newsday | THN]
- With more skill added in Tsyplakov and Anthony Duclair, Patrick Roy is aiming to have two balanced PP units this season. We all wish him luck in this endeavor. [Post | THN]
- At yesterday’s practice, following the late Kyle Palmieri winner over the Flyers the night before, not much was different. In his media scrum, Patrick Roy was asked what he wants to see from Maxim Tsyplakov: Be hard on pucks, make good puck decisions, track wisely on D coverage. [Isles]
- Takeaways from that preseason win, by the way. [Isles]
- Figure Bo Horvat gets the A vacated by Cal Clutterbuck. [THN]
- Um…yay? “UBS Arena and Delaware North Unveil Exciting New Food and Beverage Offerings Ahead of the 2024-25 New York Islanders Season” [Isles]
Elsewhere
- Cam Neely strongly implied that RFA Jeremy Swayman has been offered a $64 million deal, which elicited a rare and strong denial from the goalie’s agent. Yay, chaos! [NBC Boston] What comes next in that messy situation? [Sportsnet]
- This weekend will be “a hockey holiday for the whole country” of Czechia. [NHL]
- Artemi Panarin left a preseason game injured again. [Post]
- The prognosis for Patrik Laine is 2-3 months after that knee-on-knee hit. [NHL]
- The one media conglomerate selling its stake in the Leafs to the other media conglomerate probably kills whatever remote chances there were of a second team in Toronto. [Athletic]
- Governors’ meetings rumblings: Again, no rush on expansion, no immediate cap floor requirement for the Blue Jackets and the next CBA talks might start early? [Sportsnet | Athletic]