Islanders Slapshots: AHL Hire, Blue & White Scrimmage, Trade Talk

It’s officially draft week, Islanders fans. Make no mistake about it, it’ll be a fun week in New York and all across the NHL as the league gears up for the 2025 Draft and Free Agency.

Just today, the first big trade of the week went down between the Ducks and the Flyers. After over a year of constant rumors, Anaheim dealt Trevor Zegras to an all-too-happy Philadelphia.

Elsewhere, rumors continue to float and float, with seemingly every team making their first-round pick available “for the right price.”

No matter how you slice it, things are picking up.

Bridgeport Islanders Hire Rocky Thompson:

The New York Islanders kept with their newfound June tradition: Monday Morning News Dump. Two weeks ago, Bob Boughner and Ray Bennett arrived. Last week, the franchise hired Ryan Bowness as an assistant general manager.

This week, the franchise announced the hiring of Rocky Thompson as Bridgeport’s head coach, the 10th in their history.

From the press release:

“Thompson, 47, joins the Islanders following three seasons as Assistant Coach with the Philadelphia Flyers. Thompson’s Head Coaching resume includes a Memorial Cup Championship with the Windsor Spitfires (Ontario Hockey League) in 2017 and an appearance in the Calder Cup Finals with the Chicago Wolves (American Hockey League) in 2019. Before his time with the Flyers coaching staff, Thompson spent the 2020-21 season as an Associate Coach with the San Jose Sharks under Head Coach Bob Boughner, the newly named New York Islanders Assistant Coach. Thompson was the Head Coach in Chicago, the Vegas Golden Knights’ AHL club, for three seasons (2017-20). He compiled a 113-71-29 record in 213 regular-season games with the Wolves, including a 44-22-10 record in 2018-19 en route to the club’s Calder Cup Finals run.”

It’s a solid, experienced hire. He boasts excellent results with Vegas’ farm team back in the day. His familiarity with Boughner sure didn’t hurt him in the process.

Blue & White Scrimmage:

The Islanders are bringing back the rookie development camp in July next week, immediately following the draft. It will start on June 30.

The highlight will be the Blue and White Scrimmage, open to fans. The event will be held July 2 at 5 pm. Here is the link to purchase: https://x.com/NYIslanders/status/1937179182666269121

Trade Talk:

Smokescreen season is well upon us. In his podcast this morning, Elliotte Friedman described the Islanders’ situation as “There’so many rumors flying around the Islanders, you can’t keep track of them all. I’m trying to figure out which ones are real and which ones aren’t.”

It’s a must-listen, not only for the Islanders talk, but the excellent Matthews Schaefer interview to close it out.

The Islanders have their true intentions hidden. About half the roster’s been linked with trades this summer, with nothing close to concrete at this point. It’s almost similar to how Lou Lamoriello operated things, except instead of a cone of silence, it’s an orchestra of noise without a clear direction or path for what it is the plan is.

In the mid-afternoon, Frank Seravalli went on the record and said he’s unsure of if the Islanders are even trying to trade back into the top 10 to try and land James Hagens:

https://x.com/jlazzy23/status/1937243014268895512?s=46

This is just my opinion, based on everything I’ve heard and seen to date: I think the Islanders will be trying to land Hagens. He’s slipped so far down the draft boards. From a clear top-three pick just weeks ago, to today, where Bob McKenzie ranks him #7. The opportunity is there, it’s just a matter of executing something.

Memory Lane:

Four years ago today, the Islanders knocked off the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 6 to force Game 7. It ultimately became the swan song for Nassau Coliseum, ending with a massive celebration and beer all over the ice.

On the ice for the overtime goal: Anthony Beauvillier, Josh Bailey, Brock Nelson, Nick Leddy, and Noah Dobson. Four years later, all except Dobson are gone.

Truly a perfect moment:

https://x.com/drive4five_/status/1937069529563357277?s=46