NYHN Daily: Defensive Struggles for Islanders, Story of Addiction & More

The New York Islanders are 0-2-0 to start the season and are not back in action until Tuesday. The defense, the strength of the Islanders, has been a weakness early on. Drugs played a role in the death of Jimmy Hayes, as the family hopes that sharing the news can help save others.

These stories and more in today’s daily links!

The bread and butter for the New York Islanders has been their defense. But through two games thus far, the defense has been a problem and is in need of a spark. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders fourth line has not been the same without Matt Martin. Martin started the season on Injury Reserve after having ankle surgery this past offseason. Especially with the struggles early on, the Islanders desperately need their identity back. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders have not started their 13-game road trip the way they hoped. While there are many more miles to be traveled, this road trip allows for more team building to be done given the less restrictive COVID-19 guidelines. (Newsday)

Former NHLer Jimmy Hayes passed away this offseason, shocking the hockey community. The Hayes family has revealed that the drugs Fentanyl and cocaine played a role in his death and have shared that information with the world in an effort to help save others from addiction. (Boston Hockey Now)

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-assigned defenseman P.O. Joseph to Wilkes-Barrie/Scranton of the AHL. He did not get into any of the Penguins regular-season games so far, as this move must mean that Mike Matheson is set to return. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Florida Panthers forward Jonathan Huberdeau reached a milestone in their win over the New York Islanders on Saturday. With his assist on Sam Bennett’s second goal of the night, Huberdeau picked up his 500th career point. He became the first player in franchise history to hit that mark. (Florida Hockey Now)

Throughout the NHL, most teams are salary-cap strapped. The Toronto Maple Leafs did not even have the cap space to sign a netminder to replace an injury the other day. But for the Detroit Red Wings, they have no salary cap concerns at this time. (Detroit Hockey Now)

The leading goal scorer from 2020-21, Auston Matthews, is set to return tonight against the New York Rangers after working his way back from a wrist injury. This injury was an issue all of last season, fighting off the pain and continuing to play. Now he is back healthy and ready to go. (Toronto Hockey Now)

A big week is looming for the Vegas Golden Knights. They have three games in five days, all at home, against three quality opponents. And they’re going to be without their top two scorers. Will forward Nicholas Roy, along with a few other forwards, be ready to return from injury this week? (Vegas Hockey Now)

Nathan Mackinnon was unable to start the season with the Colorado Avalanche after testing positive for COVID-19. But Mackinnon will have to wait a little longer, as he continues to test positive which disallows him from traveling with the team. (Colorado Hockey Now)

In the San Jose Sharks game on Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, Brandon Dillon laid a hit on Tomas Hertl. The two are really good friends, with Dillon having played for the Sharks from 2014-2020 before being dealt at the NHL Trade Deadline. Dillon shared words about Hertl and the UFA’s importance to the Sharks. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The son of Vancouver Canucks general manager Jim Benning was attacked outside a nightclub early Sunday morning. The Vancouver police are investigating. There have been no comments by the family, besides the sister’s Instagram post about the incident. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

Daryl Sutter, head coach of the Calgary Flames, told the media that Rasmus Anderson was his best defenseman in the opening game. Anderson, however, was given a double-minor for elbowing and roughing. While he avoided a suspension, he was fined by the NHL for his antics. (Calgary Hockey Now)

In the lone Sunday game in the NHL, the Ottawa Senators defeated the Dallas Stars 3-2, thanks to Chris Tierney’s two power-play goals. Connor Brown picked up three assists while netminder Filip Gustavsson stopped 32 in the win. (NHL)

New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko has been placed on Injury Reserve after an upper-body injury occurred in the loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday. Mike Hoffman, who signed a UFA deal in Montreal this passed offseason, could make his debut either Tuesday or Thursday. (NHL)

Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk, who held out from camp and preseason, due to contract negotiations, is set to make his season debut Thursday. (TSN)