This just in: After consultation with Senator Kamala Harris’ office, the Kings have decided to trade Ilya Kovalchuk.
What on earth to make of that statement regarding playoff scheduling the Islanders released in a late Friday afternoon news dump, presumably in coordination with the NHL?
What league voluntarily calls attention to the fact the arena in which one of its franchises is playing 20 home games this year and could play all 41 for the next couple of seasons during the Belmont construction process, “does not qualify as an NHL major league facility?”
Well, see, I’ve answered my own question: the National Hockey League, of course.
The three paragraph announcement that the Islanders would play their potential first-round playoff home games at the Coliseum before shifting to Barclays for the remainder of the tournament was almost steeped in self-contempt.
There were no direct quotations attributed to the NHL or to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has played a pivotal role in the Belmont/Barclays/Coliseum saga. Yet the statement refers to the decision having been made following consultation with the Governor’s office.
And, in what would be viewed as a gratuitous insult if it were lobbed from the outside, here are the organization’s (allegedly) very own words: “Should the team qualify for further rounds of the playoffs, any Islanders home games will take place at Barclays Center, reflecting that the Nassau Coliseum does not qualify as an NHL major league facility.”
Otherwise, as long as it isn’t Rounds 2-4, for goodness sakes, it is perfectly fine for the team to play in a minor league facility.Are the Islanders and the league still lobbying? Is this a hint that Belmont could be in jeopardy and that ownership/the NHL is serving preemptive notice that the franchise would not remain on Long Island, playing out of the Coliseum for the long term? Or, was this an attempted preemptive strike to mollify those folks who resent having to go to Brooklyn? Was this a don’t-blame-us?
No one labors under the impression that the Coliseum is anything more or less than it is: a barn that does not have the necessities to be a 21st Century major league sports venue. On second thought, it is a good thing that the NHL pointed that out.
As talks continue, you should know that contract length is every bit as important to both the Rangers and impending free agents Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello as the money and cap hit. Both players are seeking longer-term deals they almost certainly would command if they get to the open market. Management, for obvious reasons, would like shorter-term deals.
It is still a much better bet the Rangers will trade both players rather than re-sign them. And if these negotiations do not come to fruition and either/both are dealt, the likelihood of a July 1 reunion would seem remote, indeed. No one is taking less on July 1 than he is on, say, Feb. 25.I’d certainly expect the Penguins to be in on Zuccarello as they have an obligation to put themselves in their best position possible to win again with Sidney Crosby, Evegni Malkin and Kris Letang. They just don’t have a lot to give, though the Rangers would sure covert their No. 1.
Judgement can not be fairly rendered on the Bruins’ rental of Rick Nash, because the concussion changed and ultimately ended it all. Boston gave up fair value for No. 61.
Would be no surprise if the Islanders, with a bushel-full of futures run by a man who always believes in the present (oh my, I am almost beginning to sound like Lou Lamoriello), are in on Artemi Panarin, Mark Stone and perhaps even Mike Hoffman.
Wonder if Lamoriello is up for a reunion with Kovalchuk, who has two years at $6.25 million remaining on the free agent contract he signed with the Kings last summer when management operated under the delusion the team would be a contender.
I’d suggest that his addition would immediately and dramatically improve the Islanders’ power play, ranked 27th in the NHL, but then you’d remind me that the Kings are ranked 28th (and with Drew Doughty), so maybe not so much.
Lamoriello, too, is always interested in A) Improving blue line depth that is necessary for a deep playoff run; and, B) Adam McQuaid-type players.
So why not the actual McQuaid, who is believed under scrutiny by Tampa Bay?
If one needed greater evidence why the NHL should never expand in any way to allow four additional teams into the playoffs (or the play-ins), then the Sabres are The People’s Exhibit A.
Because if 10 teams from each conference made the playoffs, the Sabres, who have not won consecutive games in more than two months, would currently be a postseason team despite winning fewer than half their games (28 of 57) following Friday night’s embarrassing performance in losing to the Rangers.
No offense, though, to the fine folks in Buffalo, who love their Sabres and were betrayed badly by a previous ownership. It’s most certainly not their fault.
The NHL has long been a lower-the-bar league but only the most dexterous can limbo under a stick that low.
This is the Nikita Kucherov whose brilliance knocked the Rangers out of the 2015 playoffs, a clear Hart Trophy front-runner who has ascended to elite and marquee status after having given notice for years.
And this is Steven Stamkos at his most dangerous, playing either the best hockey of his career or his best since his 60-goal, 2011-12.
Finally, this Rick Tocchet candidacy for the Jack Adams seems to be going about as well as Howard Schultz’s for the presidency.