The NHL is trying to settle into its brief mid-summer quiet period, but there are major names still out there (trade requests) and arbitration hearing season is also around the corner.
In the post-July 1 dust-settling, Elliotte Friedman’s latest 32 Thoughts podcast made waves among several fanbases (15 minutes on the Ducks losing control, the Blues are still active), among them the Isles. One point was that the Islanders did receive “calls” about Bo Horvat and Mat Barzal, but in the rising cap — and now, with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet — those contracts are suddenly bargains after Danny Briere singlehandedly rewrote the league salary scale.
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Rob Taub sums up Friedman’s nuggets and non-nuggets (or scan to the 2:34 mark to listen) on the Isles:
My favorite part is “I thnk they’ve decided none of these defensive prospects are being blocked. At the end of this year, they’ve got, look at all the guys who are coming off the last year of their contracts. Defense, not so much, but…”
This is our concern, Dude.
So, non-news amid the wait for non-news, but reiteration that Mathieu Darche is treating this coming season as the transition season that last season never quite became.
It’s a few days old, but various Swedes praise Malte Gustafsson’s potential. [Post]
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Elsewhere
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Recent acquisition from the Devils, Simon Nemec signs a five-year deal with the Flames. [NHL]
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The Canucks call Jamie Oleksiak “a big body who moves very well” and he calls the Canucks “too good an opportunity to pass up,” so I’m not sure who’s gaslighting whom. [Sportsnet]
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The Panthers are happy with their dramatic offseason. [NHL]
