NYHN+
Off The Record: Mike Hoffman ‘Tentative Deal’, GMs Unhappy | NYIHN+

Did The Tampa Bay Lightning trade for Marian Gaborik and St. Louis Blues signing Mike Hoffman to a Professional Tryout circumvent the salary cap?
No, but plenty around the NHL, including some NHL General Managers were crying foul on Blues GM Doug Armstrong and Lightning GM Julien BriseBois Monday.
How many NHL rosters will look the same by the time the puck is dropped in 2021? Will the NHL Trade market really heat up? Will there be more PTO’s? Where will prospects play after the WJC?
For more insight on that and your usual dose of inside knowledge collected from NHL insiders, here’s the latest ‘Off The Record’:
1. Hoffman Has a Handshake Deal for Less than Expected
New York Islanders
Ilya Sorokin Was Not the Problem in the Islanders Loss to New Jersey | NYHN+

When the final buzzer sounded on Sunday and the New York Islanders second loss of the season was a done deal, there was a lot to not like about their game against New Jersey. One item that should not be too high on that list was the play of Ilya Sorokin.
The rookie netminder started in just his second career NHL game on Sunday in the Islanders 2-0 loss to the New Jersey Devils. While the effort wasn’t perfect, he did what you’d expect out of any goaltender on any given night. He gave them a chance to win.
Ilya Sorokin finished the night with 22 saves and a .917 save percentage, which was not a bad effort in only his second game in North America. It was by far a big improvement over his first start the weekend prior.
NYHN+
Off The Record: Like NBA Players, NHLers Can Force A Trade | NYHN+

Are NHL players about to follow the lead of NBA players and be able to force their way out of town with a trade whenever things don’t go their way? Are the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers on a collision course via the NHL trade market, and could Philadelphia and Florida be soul mates?
Two official and one implied trade demands by young NHL players, all under team control, were granted on Saturday. Make no mistake, it left a bad taste with some, as NHL insiders wondered if the NHL is about to become the NBA.
In the OTR today, the Keystone State Rivalry is alive and well on the NHL Trade market as the Penguins trade winds are blowing. Still, trade rumors are circulating that Philadelphia and Florida are perfect trade partners.
Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin is on a mission.
Could Gary Thorne be calling NHL games again soon? (Yes, please).
More on that in the latest ‘Off The Record’:
New York Islanders
Barzal Dazzles, Drives Isles in Win Over New Jersey | NYHN+

If there were any concerns about Mathew Barzal’s game because of his late arrival to training camp, the 23-year-old has quickly dispelled them with his dominant play on Thursday night.
It was Barzal’s three points (1g, 2a) along with linemate Jordan Eberle’s two goals that pushed the Islanders to a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils at Nassau Coliseum.
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