Rosner Wrap: Pageau for Kadri? Huberdeau Future Flames Captain?

Mondays. Yep, they are tough, but you got this. I hope everyone enjoyed this past weekend and when I say enjoyed, I mean sat in front of the air conditioner as it was scorching hot on Long Island. It’s been quiet on the New York Islanders front, but if you are a New York Mets fan, could your weekend have gone any better? For Yankees fans, same old, same old, eh?

Could Jonathan Huberdeau become the next captain of the Calgary Flames? Sidney Crosby turns a year older but is still just as effective as he once was. New York Islanders stories as well in today’s Rosner Wrap.

NYI Hockey Now: If the New York Islanders bring Nazem Kadri aboard, someone must move off the island. If it’s centerman Jean-Gabriel Pageau, did the Islanders improve?

NYI Hockey Now: The Islanders made signings on Friday! Well, not Lou Lamoriello and the New York Islanders, but Chris Lamoriello and the Bridgeport Islanders. A pair of defensemen in Ryan MacKinnon and Vincent Sevigny and goaltender Henrik Tikkanen will play for Bridgeport this upcoming season. Get to know the three newest members of the organization.

NYI Hockey Now: “I think it’s going to put him in a situation to have more breakaways, more odd-man situations.” I chatted with Coach Jon Goyens, who gave great insight as to why Mathew Barzal could benefit from a movement to the wing. 

On the latest episode of The Backcheck, I interviewed QMJHL head coach Jon Goyens, who did some fantastic things during the pandemic along with top-flight coaches such as former New York Islanders head coach Barry Trotz. We spoke about the Nazem Kadri situation, Mathew Barzal playing on the wing and Goyens also provided tips for hockey parents.

NYI Hockey Now: Last week, the New York Islanders announced the hiring of John MacLean, also announcing that Brian Wiseman would no longer be part of the coaching staff after signing on the first week of July. Could his resurfaced past have anything to do with the change?

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Sidney Crosby, the bedrock on which the Pittsburgh Penguins built their three most recent Stanley Cup-winning clubs, turns 35 Sunday. Although Crosby’s game has evolved over the years, he’s no less valuable to the franchise — on and off the ice — that he was in the days when he had only a casual acquaintance with his shaving kit.

Philly Hockey Now: Lisa Feigenbaum has been thrown into a difficult situation — trying to get Philadelphia Flyers fans to watch a team coming off the second-worst season in franchise history — but she is undaunted by her task. Having spent eight years (2012-20) with the NBA’s lowly Sacramento Kings prepared her for her new job as senior vice president of ticketing for the Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center.

Washington Hockey Now: Heading into 2022-23, the Washington Capitals may finally have more answers than questions after adding a lot of depth throughout the lineup in the first 48 hours of free agency. However, there are a few things still up in the air, including Nicklas Backstrom and Carl Hagelin’s futures and Tom Wilson’s timetable, as well as the salary cap situations when those injured names come back on the books.

Florida Hockey Now: It has been an inevitability that most of the all-time marks in the Florida Panthers record book would belong to Sasha Barkov for quite some time. That timeline has sped up with franchise record-holder Jonathan Huberdeau no longer part of the team.

Montreal Hockey Now: The second week of August is upon us, the NHL trade market has quieted down and Jonathan Drouin is still a member of the Montreal Canadiens. Despite being the subject of numerous NHL trade rumours since last summer, Drouin hasn’t been moved and he’s looking forward to finally getting a chance to play for Montreal Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis on a regular basis.

Vegas Hockey Now: The Vegas Golden Knights basically only have one name left to re-sign in restricted free agency: Nicolas. Unfortunately for general manager Kelly McCrimmon that means two players, Nicolas Roy and Nicolas Hague. Minor league forward Jake Leschyshyn as well.

San Jose Hockey Now: What will the San Jose Sharks’ line-up look like on opening night? Here’s a way-too-early guess – consider that we’re still two months away from opening night on Oct. 7. Trades and free agent signings are still possible for the Sharks too.

Vancouver Hockey Now: Canucks of Tomorrow is assessing every prospect in the Vancouver Canucks system and what they are projecting to be in the future. We’ll be looking at the strengths and weaknesses of their game, as well as what the future holds for them if and when they advance through the Vancouver organization. Today, we feature Joni Jurmo.

Calgary Hockey Now: The Calgary Flames played last season without a captain. But they looked far from rudderless. With a leadership group that went well beyond the players who wore letters, the Flames came together under head coach Darryl Sutter last season. Could newly acquired Jonathan Huberdeau become the captain of the Flames?