Daily Links
Islanders Daily: Lambert Gets His Chance, Breaking Down Trotz Firing & More
The New York Islanders officially named their head coach on Monday, as associate coach Lane Lambert has been promoted. Could Patrice Bergeron be leaving the Boston Bruins? We got two games on the NHL schedule Tuesday.
All this and more in today’s daily links!
It had been exactly a week since New York Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello relieved head coach Barry Trotz of his duties after missing the postseason by 16 points. And while coaching options were thrown around like a baseball around a diamond, Lamoriello’s eyes were on someone already under contract. And that was associate coach Lane Lambert. (NYI Hockey Now)
On Monday night, Stefen Rosner joined Anthony Stable on WGBB Sports Talk to discuss the firing of New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz back on May 9. Stefen gives his take on what led to the shocking event, who the potential candidates are, and the future of some of the players on the island. (NYI Hockey Now)
In Team USA’s second game at the IIHF World Championships, Kieffer Bellows scored his first goal of the contest. And it was a thing of beauty. (NYI Hockey Now)
On Saturday, the Boston Bruins were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7. Boston Bruins captain Patrice Bergeron, 36-year-old, is in need of a new contract and there were rumors swirling on him potentially heading home to Montreal. Bergeron, who has spent his whole career with the Boston Bruins, squashed those rumors as he said it was either Boston or retirement. (Boston Hockey Now)
It’s been 24 hours since the Pittsburgh Penguins did enough to win, but lost their third straight game, lost the series, and lost what was quite possibly the final chance for the core’s fourth Stanley Cup. Dan Kingerski breaks down why the Penguins are not advancing.(Pittsburgh Hockey Now)
When the Florida Panthers acquired defenseman Ben Chiarot from the Ottawa Senators at the 2022 NHL Trade Deadline, they knew they were getting a gritty defenseman that could help their backend. Colby Guy writes on Chiarot’s importance so far in the postseason. (Florida Hockey Now)
Former Flyers captain Claude Giroux and the Florida Panthers will meet Tampa Bay in the second round of the playoffs, a.k.a. the Sunshine State Showdown. The best-of-seven series starts Tuesday night (TNT) in Sunrise, home of the Panthers. (Philly Hockey Now)
Alex Ovechkin sports a wide smile as he reflects on the Washington Capitals’ youth going into next season. As he lists out the team’s prospects, he stops on Connor McMichael, referring to No. 24 by a rather unique — but not unknown — nickname. “McJesus,” Ovechkin says with a laugh. (Washington Hockey Now)
The Montreal Canadiens, a year after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, finished as the worst team in 2022. They will select first at the 2022 NHL Draft which will help them retool. But what are the Canadiens most pressing needs? Marco D’Amico dives in. (Montreal Hockey Now)
Johnny Gaudreau’s overtime goal against the Dallas Stars essentially means the Avalanche and St. Louis Blues get to get started one night earlier than they might have, with their own second-round playoff series. The Avs will play Game 1 against the Blues Tuesday night at Ball Arena, at 7:30. (Colorado Hockey Now)
After failing to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in franchise history, the Vegas Golden Knights have fired head coach Peter DeBoer. Assistant coaches Steve Spott and Ryan Craig have also been fired. The announcement was made Monday by general manager Kelly McCrimmon. (Vegas Hockey Now)
Roy Sommer has never seen anything like this San Jose Barracuda season. That’s Roy Sommer, 24 years as the San Jose Sharks’ AHL head coach, Wayne Gretzky’s teammate in the early days of the Edmonton Oilers’ dynasty, almost 50 years at the highest levels of hockey. (San Jose Hockey Now)
A playoff Battle of Alberta. The Calgary Flames and Edmonton Oilers will meet in Round Two of the NHL playoffs for the first time in 31 years. It hasn’t happened since 1991, when the Oilers beat the Flames in seven games. This year alone, it took two Game 7 victories in the first round to ensure it will finally take place again. (Calgary Hockey Now)
Tough Call: Whom should Vancouver Canucks fans root for in the upcoming Battle of Alberta. Quick note of clarification for some of you; no, they can’t both lose. This really comes down to deciding whether or not one wants to root for ex-Vancouver Canucks or not. Part of that might depend on how or under what circumstances that player departed. Did management boot him, make way for his departure, or did the skater see the writing on the wall? (Vancouver Hockey Now)