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NYHN Daily: Islanders Will Steer Clear of Kane, Bergevin Back & More

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It’s Monday, and while Mondays get a bad rep, the New York Islanders will be back on the practice ice this morning as their season resumes on Thursday…potentially. The New Jersey Devils have a handful of players in COVID-19 protocol, which forced the postponement of their game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday, so we shall see what that means for their game against the Islanders on Thursday. The San Jose Sharks are in the process of terminating Evander Kane’s contract and although the Islanders need a scorer, Kane’s behavioral issues and game style does not fit the Islanders’ game plan.

These stories and more in today’s daily links!

Keeping it on the Island

The Islanders and Evander Kane are not a fit. Despite behavioral issues, remember the whole “trading chances” thing that HC Trotz brought up regarding Oliver Wahlstrom’s game early in the season? The 30-year old has the same issue. (NYI Hockey Now)

The Islanders have had a tough season, and while many on the team have dealt with struggles, Brock Nelson has not played much hockey. Since Nov. 21st, Brock Nelson has played in just four games. He hopes that when the season resumes Thursday, he can stay in the lineup consistently. (Newsday)

Around the National Hockey Now Boards

If it wasn’t crystal clear prior to Saturday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Boston Bruins are clicking on all cylinders right now. With a group that’s largely passed through the COVID challenges and finally getting to a regular portion of the schedule, a juggled lineup of forwards once again helped lead the B’s to a 5-2 win over the Bolts at Amalie Arena. (Boston Hockey Now)

Ten wins in a row before the roster is healthy and pushing a team that doesn’t lose at home to the brink before wearing out in the third period. Such has been the last six weeks, even as the Pittsburgh Penguins have dealt with roster chaos all season. That is the impressive part of their charge into the thick of the Metro Division race when once they were so far behind, a wild-card seemed like the only chance to extend the season into the playoffs. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

Washington Capitals netminder Zach Fucale has not only been stellar between the pipes to start his NHL career, but he’s etching his name in the history books at the same time. The 26-year-old netminder took time on social media to react to the first three games of his NHL career, sharing a tweet to pay tribute to his followers. (Washington Hockey Now)

Florida Panthers general manager Bill Zito has shown he is not afraid to make a big deal whether it is in the offseason or at the NHL Trade Deadline. In the past 16 months, he has been on the job in Sunrise, Zito has transformed the Florida roster — and a lot of the changes have come through trades. With the Panthers coming into Sunday tied for the NHL lead in points with the Tampa Bay Lightning, it is all but assured Zito will be a buyer when the trade deadline comes in March. (Florida Hockey Now)

The Detroit Red Wings played one of their better road games, picking up a point in a 4-3 shootout loss to the Anaheim Ducks. But they lost their captain Dylan Larkin to an upper-body injury early in the second period. Coach Jeff Blashill said he didn’t have much information to provide on Larkin’s status. (Detroit Hockey Now)

According to TVA Montreal Canadiens reporter and analyst Renaud Lavoie, the Canadiens have interviewed former Montreal Canadiens and hall of fame goaltender Patrick Roy for the open general manager position with the Habs. “This meeting had been planned for a long time since Geoff Molson called Jacques Tanguay (President of the Remparts de Québec) to ask his permission to speak to Patrick Roy,” Lavoie said on Saturday (translated from French). (Montreal Hockey Now)

Perhaps the most important athlete in Las Vegas sports history returned to town last night. Marc-Andre Fleury and the Chicago Blackhawks took on the Vegas Golden Knights Saturday night and walked away with the 2-1 victory. Fleury made 30 saves in his return to T-Mobile Arena and also got a standing ovation from the fans after his video tribute. What’s the saying like again? Don’t cry because it is over, smile because it happened. (Vegas Hockey Now)

San Jose Barracuda head coach Roy Sommer says he got the call about terminating Evander Kane’s contract the morning of. “I don’t know what to say about it,” Sommer told San Jose Hockey Now last night. “All I know is I got a call that they were terminating his contract and that’s all I could tell you.” (San Jose Hockey Now)

Time to update the September Vancouver Canucks prediction attempts. The record is slipping. They weren’t your typical mundane set of NHL prognostications, it was a pretty decent variety pack, ranging from silly to perilous. And just when I thought I was looking smart, the calendar has brought another one of them to fruition. Or not. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

Evander Kane is many things. One of them is a productive NHL goal-scorer, and the Calgary Flames could use one (or two) more of those. But because of what else Evander Kane is, suggesting the Flames make an offer for the soon-to-be free agent isn’t simple. (Calgary Hockey Now)

League Business

The voting is done. On Thursday, the four divisional captains will be announced on Sportcenter. NHL.com writers voted and created their lineups for each division. Check them out. (NHL)

The NHL has postponed some more games on Sunday. Monday’s scheduled contest between the Edmonton Oilers and Ottawa Senators along with the Tampa Bay Lightning contest against the New Jersey Devils have been postponed due to COVID-19 issues. Edmonton will host Ottawa this upcoming Saturday at 10 pm ET, while the other contests has not been rescheduled. (NHL)

On Sunday, Marc Bergevin was named senior advisor to Los Angeles Kings general manager Rob Blake. Bergevin was fired by the Montreal Canadiens earlier this season and said that the time away was good but he’s ready to work again and is looking forward to working alongside team president Luc Robitaille and Blake, in doing what he can to help the Kings reach their objectives. (NHL

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