The New York Islanders have moved an additional seven games from Barclays Center to Nassau Coliseum during the upcoming season, taking the total to 28 of the team’s home games. That announcement comes just following the ceremony to break ground at the new Belmont Park arena today, at which Governor Andrew Cuomo kicked off the $1.3 billion redevelopment.
The new arena is expected to be ready for the 2021-22 season and will hold 19,000 people. After years of uncertainty, the Islanders organization is finally getting some structure and stability off the ice and will try to emulate that once again on it under head coach Barry Trotz and GM Lou Lamoriello.
- The Buffalo Sabres have promoted former NHL forward Kevyn Adams to senior vice president of business administration, according to Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet. The position isn’t associated with the hockey operations department, but will keep Adams in the organization after serving as GM of the Harbor Center previously. Adams played 607 games in the NHL over a lengthy career that included winning a Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He retired in 2008 and also served as an assistant coach with the Sabres in the past.
- The Toronto Maple Leafs are headed to Montreal to take on the Canadiens this evening, but one player who was supposed to make the trip won’t be going. Michal Neuvirth was scheduled to play part of the game as he continues to battle with Michael Hutchinson for the Maple Leafs backup role, but will be replaced by prospect Joseph Woll. Head coach Mike Babcock told reporters including Kristen Shilton of TSN that Neuvirth “wasn’t feeling up to playing” tonight, after missing time recently with minor injuries. Minor injuries could seemingly be permanently discussed when it comes to Neuvirth, who hasn’t been able to stay consistently healthy throughout his career and now finds himself missing crucial time in his pursuit of a roster spot. The 31-year old goaltender is just on a professional tryout with the Maple Leafs, with cuts coming in the next few days for the team.
- Though he finally signed today, Brayden Point won’t be on the Tampa Bay Lightning roster anytime soon. GM Julien BriseBois told reporters on a conference call that Point had hip surgery earlier this summer and is not expected to be back in the lineup until late October. While it’s obviously bad news that he won’t be ready for opening day, this may actually give the young forward enough time to get his game right after missing most of training camp already. The Lightning will have to make due without him for now and hope he can come back at full-strength in a few weeks.
Grateful he is signed thou will not see any action until end of October. and when return to lineup have noted Johnson will center 3rd line in some site line projections. Good move for Tampa on signing and hope they can play well til Point can return to form.
$1.3M does not seem like much,
Wouldn’t be much of a rink would it. Fixed.