NHHN Daily: Lee Back in Mix, UBS Arena Sells Out & More

Happy birthday to our editor-in-chief Christian Arnold who celebrates his 21st birthday for a ninth-straight year. The New York Islanders will have Anders Lee back in the mix this season and his play will be crucial. The Islanders sold out their home-opener at UBS Arena within minutes.

These stories and more in today’s daily links!

There is no doubt that the New York Islanders missed their captain Anders Lee in the second half of the regular season and the entirety of their postseason run last year. The 31-year old will be back in the lineup when the 2021-22 season begins after suffering a torn ACL on March 11against the New Jersey Devils. (NYI Hockey Now)

The New York Islanders first game at UBS Arena is the hottest ticket in town.Tickets for the home opener on Nov. 20 sold out in just minutes after individual game tickets went on sale on Friday. The Islanders host the Calgary Flames that night in the organization’s first-ever game in the brand new arena. (NYI Hockey Now)

Zach Parise heard plenty of stories about his father’s time with the Islanders, but that was from before he was born. He says he doesn’t remember the 2003 NHL Draft so vividly anymore. “I forgot about the draft thing,” he said with a chuckle during his introductory Islanders video call on Friday. (The Athletic)

Sooner or later, the Pittsburgh Penguins will begin training camp. Waiting for the official announcement is a lot like driving through Duquense on your way to Kennywood; every stoplight and every delay elicits a groan but only grows the anticipation. Soon the hockey theme park will be open. But the Pittsburgh Penguins’ two biggest rides, Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are shut down for repair. Sorry folks, the moose out front should have told you. (Pittsburgh Hockey Now)

A good indication rookie goalie Spencer Knight is preparing to be part of the Florida Panthers when the season opens in October is that he already has a place in Fort Lauderdale. Still, Knight said on Monday after another development camp workout that his mindset is to keep working toward that goal. (Florida Hockey Now)

After somewhat of an unexpected turn of events, Ilya Samsonov and Vitek Vanecek led the charge in the Washington Capitals crease last season. This year, the Capitals are expecting, nay, they need strong seasons from their young duo as both are ready to vie for a starting role. Samsonov is the expected starter, but don’t count out Vanecek for that No. 1 spot, either. There will be a battle. (Washington Hockey Now)

Are you feeling old? Well, this should help. Here are 10 truths that will make Detroit Red Wing fans realize just how old they are. (Detroit Hockey Now)

Earlier today, a former Avalanche defenseman, Sylvain Lefebvre, lost his job as an assistant with the Columbus Blue Jackets for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine. Tonight, the same thing appears to have happened with another ex-Avs defenseman – Brett Clark. (Colorado Hockey Now)

Jasper Weatherby’s stock is certainly trending up. It was some surprise three weeks ago when the San Jose Sharks signed Weatherby, because the University of North Dakota standout had previously announced that he was returning to school for his senior season. (San Jose Hockey Now)

The Vancouver Canucks will conduct their rookie camp at the Rogers Arena starting this Thursday and Friday. The roster includes a goalie, three defencemen and eight forwards, including 2019 10th-overall draft pick Vasily Podkolzin, fresh off informal skates here, after two full pro’ seasons in Russia. (Vancouver Hockey Now)

It’s been 25 years since the United States shocked the hockey world by defeating Canada in the championship series of the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, winning the deciding game of the best-of-3 series 5-2 in Montreal on Sept. 14, 1996. (NHL)

Ryan Kesler is still recovering from resurfacing surgery on his left hip in February and said he understands he’ll never play in the NHL again. The 37-year-old also had resurfacing surgery on his right hip May 9, 2019. (NHL)

Auston Matthews will have the splint removed from his surgically repaired left wrist later this month and said he is optimistic he’ll be ready for the Toronto Maple Leafs season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 13. Matthews was expected to be out a minimum of six weeks after he had surgery Aug. 13. (NHL)

Ryan Donato signed a one-year, $750,000 contract with the Seattle Kraken on Monday. The 25-year-old forward became an unrestricted free agent after the San Jose Sharks did not extend him a qualifying offer. He scored 20 points (six goals, 14 assists) in 50 games for San Jose last season after he was acquired in a trade with the Minnesota Wild on Oct. 5. (NHL)

United States President Joe Biden, Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and NFL quarterback Tom Brady are among hockey fans being honored as part of a new display at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. (NHL)

With just eight days until training camp, the Ottawa Senators continue to negotiate with restricted free agent winger Brady Tkachuk. Bruce Garrioch of Postmedia writes it’s “believed” the Senators have offered an eight-year, $64 million contract to the 21-year-old. That offer would tie Tkachuk for the team’s biggest cap hit at $8 million with defenceman Thomas Chabot who signed an identical extension that kicked in last year. (TSN)

An American think tank that studies child sexual abuse and prevention is asking the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USPOC) to suspend Stan Bowman from his position as general manager of the U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team while he faces allegations that he helped cover up the sexual abuse of two Chicago Blackhawks players. (TSN)