The Islanders open training camp — which are now shorter than past camps per the new CBA — with news that Mathew Barzal will not skate for all of it “due to aggravation of a prior injury that has caused some inflammation.”
So we are starting the season with Barzal out, and on Health Watch. That’s, that’s a bummer, man.
Islanders News
- Here is the Isles’ PR statement announcing Barzal’s status, which amusingly includes the uncharacteristic and unattributed line, “There is nobody more committed than Mathew to getting his body to the level where he thrives on the ice.“ [Isles]
- Here’s the full training camp roster. No alarms and no surprises, please—oops, too late. [Isles]
- The beatwriters try to add a bit more context on Barzal. [Newsday | Post]
- Andrew Gross also got the ol’ “5 questions” treatment as the Isles begin camp. [Newsday]
- Or call it a “bevy” of questions from Sears. [Post]
- Kashawn Aitcheson spent some time this summer training with Bo Horvat, the new captain who will presumably one day be cashing some on-ice checks that Aitcheson writes, so to speak. [Isles]
- The Islanders are doing another season of their docuseries (more on that below). [Newsday]
So yes, On The Island, Season 2 has begun. This one covers Kyle Palmieri’s offseason recovery and the Single Malte draft. (Does not cover Anders Lee’s departure, alas.) The prospects’
interactions with kids is pretty heartwarming, too. The title references a scout who’s been here nearly 50 years, who’s dad (passed away in 1979) helped convince Bill Torrey to pick Mike Bossy (How have we not heard this before? Have we heard this before?). Also, Eric Boulton looking like your beer league teammate and Trent Klatt like Ray Liotta:
Elsewhere
- Ooooh the drama in Winnipeg escalates, as Connor Hellebuyck does not report to camp, gets suspended. (Come on, man. Understand that your position and the huge contract you signed just a couple years ago might take a while to trade.) [NHL]
- In totally unrelated news, fellow trade requestor Dylan Larkin will miss the start of Red Wings training camp due to an injury with “no timeline.” [NHL]
- Gabriel Landeskog is old school, says he’s not sure all these trade demands are good. [Sportsnet]
- The Leafs have enlisted a couple former first-overalls, a future free agent and a robot, to help mentor Gavin McKenna. [NHL]
- But one of them, Auston Matthews, is totally committed to the Leafs, I swear. [NHL]
- Here’s the jukebox treatment on why Matthews is still a Leaf and will be one forever, I swear. [Sportsnet]
- Brent Burns has a new beard and is 57 games away from matching Phil Kessell’s ironman record. [NHL]
- A general primer on the Houston or Austin expansion situation, including info on the multi-club owner. [ESPN]
