NHL News: That special feeling of relief

The crosstown rivals come back to reality, while Lane Lambert may find a new gig.

Fresh thread! The Stanley Cup final does not begin until…Saturday. So if you’re even still paying attention (I sure am, should be a fascinating series), you’re in for a full week of the same storylines shaken and turned upside down in hopes of them sounding a little different.

Islanders News

• Saturday’s long-awaited but inevitable result made Dan’s trip into the city delightful, and was also cause for an off-cycle episode of the Islanders Anxiety podcast. Mike apologizes for being off his game until the Panthers took out the trash. They also laugh at the flowery coverage of the Rangers’ “magical” run eliminating the worst playoff qualifier of this era and also the Canes. [LHH]
• Isaiah George’s junior career came to an end in the Memorial Cup final, so here’s looking back at his development as he prepares to turn pro. [Isles | THN]

Elsewhere

• Elliotte Friedman echoes the Lambert-to-Toronto speculation, while saying Mitch Marner may be a Leafs till the end of his contract, and whoever gets the GM job in Carolina will not have final say. [Sportsnet]
• Looking at mostly random “EDGE” stats for McDavid vs. Barkov. [NHL]
• Speaking of which, the Panthers know it will be a “big, big challenge” facing the best player in the world. [NHL]
• Original Panthers captain Brian Skrudland (he’s 60!) lives in Calgary, yet has divided loyalties in this final. [NHL]
• The Stars have a lot of veterans who’ve been playing a lot of years without a Cup. They’re gutted after falling to the Oilers. [NHL | Sportsnet]
• The Red Wings have signed Jakub Rychlovsky, the undrafted leading scorer in the Czech league last season. [Sportsnet]
• The NHL Draft Combine is on in Buffalo, and Macklin Celebrini met with the team that will draft him at #1 plus six other teams. [NHL]