Islanders News: It’s season’s eve

The NHL season kicked off last night with two games, continues tonight with five more, and then the Islanders get started tomorrow in Raleigh against the Hurricanes.

As expected, Cory Schneider and Kieffer Bellows’ contracts were finally filed (or finally appeared on Cap Friendly, etc.), so we can expect one or both to swap into the 23-man roster that makes this road trip, now that Monday’s “official” roster has been registered for cap purposes.

Barry Trotz spoke about the road trip (Matt Martin and Semyon Varlamov are expected to travel but not play), expectations, and noted that there was “choppiness” around the franchise over the previous 20 years:

Islanders News

• On those heightened expectations, Trotz referred to the team’s approach as “unfinished business” after two conference final defeats. [Newsday]
• Staple on Anders Lee’s return (and return to form), Robin Salo’s promising camp, and more. [Athletic]
• ICYMI, this is the official roster declared for Monday’s deadline, though Cory Schneider and Kieffer Bellows’ contracts have since been filed. [LHH]
• And here’s our 100% totally accurate Isles season preview. [LHH]
• It’s that time again: Prospect Report! [Isles]
• Brendan Burke is off to a busy start, calling national games for Turner and continuing his MSG duties with the Isles. [Newsday]
• Rick DiPietro and Alan Hahn discussed the season, and some mild Zdeno Chara stories from back in the day. [ESPN Radio]
• (Yester)day in Isles history: Clark Gillies gives up the “C” and it’s passed to Denis Potvin, who very much wanted it. [Isles]

Horn’s here, dude:

Elsewhere

We have games! Last night’s NHL scores included the Penguins ruining the Lightning’s Cup raising (6-2), and the Kraken lost their inaugural game in Vegas. (Jordan Eberle had an assist.)

• It’s been almost 850,000 days between official NHL games in Seattle (bookended by global pandemics, incidentally). [Davey Jones Locker Room]
• Seattle’s arrival comes at the perfect time, and 31 other Thoughts. [Sportsnet]
• The Canadiens signed Nick Suzuki to an eight-year extension. [Sportsnet]
• The Senators, however, still can’t find common ground with Brady Tkachuk. [TSN]
• It’s not over: Nathan MacKinnon may miss the Avalanche opener due to Covid protocol. [NHL] And the Kraken were hit with five players on the Covid list. [Sportsnet]
• Auston Matthews will miss the first few games, after offseason wrist surgery. [NHL]
• ESPN now has lots of hockey staffers, who all made their picks and predictions. [ESPN]
• Vitali Kravtsov is still waivers-exempt and did not make the Rangers 23-man roster, but he didn’t want to report to Hartford, so the team told him he can talk to teams about a trade. [Post]
• Various players reflect on what it’s like to be on an expansion team, oral history style. Includes former Islander Adam Creighton, who was picked up by the original Lightning. [Sportsnet]
• Boone Jenner is the new Blue Jackets captain. [Cannon | NHL]
• The Jackets will also start the season with 18-year-old Cole Sillinger in the lineup. Is that really a good idea? [Cannon]