Daily Links

Islanders Daily: Salo’s Growth in Year 1, Penguins Finances, Giroux Mistake?

Published

2 years ago

May 23, 2022

Did Robin Salo impress in his first season with the New York Islanders, his first season in North America? Did Claude Giroux make a mistake choosing the Florida Panthers? Should Calgary Flames forward Milan Lucic face discipline for steamrolling Edmonton Oilers netminder Milan Lucic?

These stories and more in today’s daily links!

For Robin Salo, it was an exciting season and a learning experience for sure. He got a chance with the New York Islanders when Ryan Pulock went down with an injury, playing 21 games for the New York Islanders where he averaged 16:41 minutes per game. There is room for improvement on the defensive side of the puck for sure but a strong first season for New York and Bridgeport, writes Stefen Rosner. Could he be in the New York Islanders starting lineup in 2022-23? (NYI Hockey Now)

The Pittsburgh Penguins entered the offseason with more questions than answers. Quickly, general manager Ron Hextall signed Bryan Rust to a six-year deal, at a discount. Dan Kingerski breaks down the financial situations of the Penguins in his latest. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Could Mark Recchi, one of the key players that helped the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup in the 2010-11 season, return to coach at least one of his former teammates in current Bruins winger Brad Marchand? He could really help the Bruins power play, writes Jimmy Murphy. (Boston Hockey Now)

As the 2022 Trade Deadline neared, Philadelphia Flyers captain Claude Giroux decided that the Florida Panthers was where he wanted to be. The President Trophy winners are currently down three games to none to the Tampa Bay Lightning. This was not the expectation when Giroux was dealt to them writes Sam Cardichi. (Philly Hockey Now)

The light is flickering on the Florida Panthers season and it will all come down to Monday night. If the Panthers can find a way to beat the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 4, the season continues and Florida returns to Sunrise for a Game 5. If not, that’s a wrap on the season, a playoff run that had such high hopes. (Florida Hockey Now)

Upon returning to D.C. in September for the 2021-22 campaign, Evgeny Kuznetsov was a man on a mission for the Washington Capitals. Fast forward to breakdown day, and although he is disappointed with how his team’s year ended, he admits that he did in fact accomplish one of his main objectives for this season: he found the smile in his game again, writes Sammi Silbler. (Washington Hockey Now)

Imagine if the Montreal Canadiens could pick first and second overall to begin the 2022 NHL Entry Draft at the Bell Centre on July 7? That may not be as much of a pipe dream that many Montreal Canadiens fans or any fans would see it as. It appears that the New Jersey Devils are still open to possibly moving the 2nd overall pick in order to improve their roster in the present term, and the Montreal Canadiens would be wise to inquire writes Jimmy Murphy. (Montreal Hockey Now)

Playing for Sweden at the IIHF World Championship, goaltender Magnus Hellberg is hoping to make a good impression. Hellberg, who ended up finishing the 2021-22 NHL season with the Detroit Red Wings, is an unrestricted free agent. He’s seeking to convince the Wings to ink him to a new deal. Getting scored on by a linesman does not help. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Jack Johnson will play in place of the injured Sam Girard in Game 4 Monday night in St. Louis, sources tell Colorado Hockey Now. The Avs will lose Girard’s speed out of the defensive zone on breakouts, but gain some toughness in the corners and in front of the net with JJ writes Adrian Dater. (Colorado Hockey Now)

The trio of players representing the Vegas Golden Knights at the 2022 IIHF World Championships in are Finland entering the final stretch of the tournament. Zach Whitecloud, Nicolas Roy, Logan Thompson, and the rest of Team Canada have two games remaining in round-robin play. (Vegas Hockey Now)

Artist Elena Valdés made 37 sequential drawings of a dramatic James Reimer save…then got it animated! On Apr. 14, the San Jose Sharks goalie stopped the Blackhawks’ Alex DeBrincat with a desperate windmill glove save at the goal line. It’s a must watch. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Calgary Flames’ heavy hitter knocked over an opponent on Sunday night, but will the punishment fit the crime? Watching the play in real-time, it sure looked like Milan Lucic took a heavy run at Edmonton Oilers goaltender Mike Smith. “I don’t really know what happened,” Smith said after the game. “I was out playing the puck and all of a sudden I’m getting buried into the boards.” (Calgary Hockey Now)

When Vancouver Canucks Head Coach Bruce Boudreau was hired in early December, the first guy he called to come along as an assistant coach was Scott Walker. Sunday, the organization officially announced Walker would not be back. Boudreau had already revealed this information as a guest on the Toronto-based Bob McCown Podcast on Friday. (Vancouver Hockey Now)