Islanders News: Pelech files for arbitration; what term for Cizikas, Sorokin?
At 98, we all arbitrate. | Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
How many years for Casey? And Ilya Sorokin says the ‘Russian card’ threat is not a thing. As the days go by and the NHL’s most prolific insiders return to their cottages, all of Islanders country continues to wait on the details of expected re-signings while wondering what, if any, extra move Lou Lamoriello might be working on, for which wide knowledge of his available cap space would be a detriment.
It’s wild how everyone takes as an essential given that:
UFAs Casey Cizikas and Kyle Palmieri will be back
RFAs Adam Pelech, Ilya Sorokin and Anthony Beauvillier will reach deals
Other stuff will happen that might be exciting, you just don’t get to hear about it yet
Is recent Devil and UFA Ryan Murray in the cards for the hole on left defense? Maybe.
Is Vladimir Tarasenko a trade target? Perhaps, but Doug Armstrong is in no hurry and no Eiche-like complaining from agents that “we expected our demands would be met by now” is going to change that.
More on those and other topics here:
On the 31 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman speculates that Lamoriello is indeed working on a bigger trade-type deal, and also guesses that Cizikas may be agreeing to a long-term deal (six years even?) to keep his cap hit low and his Mr. Islander credentials intact. [31 Thoughts pod]
Anyway, we do know that Adam Pelech is among the NHLers who filed for arbitration. So that puts some time pressure on the Isles to either reach a longer-term deal before the hearing or subject themselves to the mercy of a one-year extension at arbitrator’s terms.
A rundown of the top 10 UFAs still out there has more of the same: Palmieri and Cizikas are big prizes but since there are no links or rumors about them it’s assumed they’re off the market and in the Isles fold. [Sportsnet]
More of the same about those in this one, following some talk of Jack Eichel’s agents complaining that they wanted their dinner delivered sooner. [Fourth Period]
Prospect-gazer Corey Pronman watched the recent prospect showcase and his review of Islanders pick Aatu Raty’s “revenge tour” included this: “He was competing hard and showing his skill, which helped him stand out and keep the puck. His skating isn’t great and it will limit him at higher levels, but there was a lot of buzz among scouts...” [Athletic]
Discussing Raty and the offseason news, including chatting with Brian Compton. [Hockey Night NY on Twitch]
Behold, more photos of signage and the (center-hung) scoreboard at the new [Bank of some sort] Arena rising at Belmont. [Isles]
History time: Recent “This Day in Isles History” bits take on a new flavor thanks to last summer’s bubble. [Bubble exhibition vs. Rangers | Opener vs. Panthers]
Going further back, here’s Stan Fischler on Mark Fitzpatrick, one of a long line of Isles goalies who were previously Kings. His young career took a turn with Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome. [Isles]
New York Metro Blind Hockey (NYMBH) was named the New York Islanders Community Star of the Week. [Isles]
Not filing for arbitration? Anthony Beauvillier and Ilya Sorokin, who (via translation) says he expects a new deal will agreed to soon, no worries:
Ilya Sorokin says in an interview with a Russian news outlet he hopes to have a new deal agreed to within the next few weeks #Isles pic.twitter.com/DYzovRChrH— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) August 1, 2021
Ilya Sorokin: True Long Islander. #Isles pic.twitter.com/838PcaxWMD— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) August 1, 2021
I love this sentence from Ilya Sorokin on answering the media in English this past season We need that answer on a t-shirt, like immediately @YesMenOutfitter pic.twitter.com/O6ozdKeQP4— Rob Taub (@RTaub_) August 2, 2021
Elsewhere
Heh:
(1/3)"Everybody says this is about the Capitals, and that is a factor, but I think this is more about the Islanders. They got pushed around ... it's more than Wilson."@FriedgeHNIC on Ryan Reaves, #NYR— Phil Kocher (@PhilKocher) August 2, 2021
It is, most certainly, all quiet on the Tarasenko front. [STL Today]
Here’s the full list of players filing for arbitration. [NHL]
Pierre-Luc Dubois demanded a trade out of Columbus and the Jets stepped up, but they’ll need more from him in his second season in Winnipeg. [TSN]
Catching up with Pat Falloon, who was a 2nd-overall pick of the expansion Sharks — I remember hoarding his rookie card — but had a career derailed by injuries, before happily settling into farming. Butch Goring was his junior coach in Spokane. [Athletic]
The Kraken must be new at this CBA thing. They had to revise their Phillip Grubauer contract a bit to make it comply. [TSN]
Evander Kane responds to the allegations that he gambled on hockey and abandoned his daughter. This is going to get messy. [Sportsnet]
Mark Giordano’s departure from Calgary leaves a hole in the lineup and in the community, where he and his wife were active. [TSN]
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