NHL Legend Patrick Roy Named Islanders HC After Lane Lambert Firing
Jan 20, 2024
QUEBEC CITY, QC - OCTOBER 27: Patrick Roy, head coach of the Quebec Remparts, looks on during his team QMJHL hockey game against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan at the Videotron Center on October 27, 2021 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Mathieu Belanger/Getty Images)
It's a new era on Long Island.
The New York Islanders announced Saturday that head coach Lane Lambert had been "relieved of his coaching responsibilities" and that the franchise had named Hall of Famer Patrick Roy as the new head coach.
#Isles News: New York Islanders President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Lou Lamoriello announced today that Lane Lambert has been relieved of his coaching responsibilities. Patrick Roy has been named Head Coach of the New York Islanders.
The Islanders are currently 19-15-11 and sit in sixth place in the Metropolitan Division. Lambert was in his second season as the team's head coach and finished with an overall record of 61-46-20.
Roy is considered to be one of the best goaltenders of all time. He played 19 seasons in the NHL, winning 551 games, five William M. Jennings Trophies, three Vezina Trophies and four Stanley Cups with two franchises.
His experience in hockey doesn't just come from his excellence on the ice as he notably served as the head coach and vice president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche from 2013-14 to 2015-16, compiling 130-92-24 overall record and leading the Avalanche to a playoff appearance. He also has had two stints as a head coach within the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Roy provides experience and expertise and will take over a team that has been successful in recent seasons. The Islanders have reached the playoffs in four of the past five seasons while contending in the competitive Metropolitan Division. The highlight of this stretch was the team's run to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2019-20.
The Islanders currently sit six points outside the final Eastern Conference Wild Card spot and will need a spark in order to qualify for the postseason. It looks like the Islanders believe Roy can provide that spark, especially with the All-Star break fast approaching.
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NHL Rumors: Ilya Sorokin, Islanders Agree to 8-Year, $8.25M AAV Contract Extension
Jul 1, 2023
ELMONT, NEW YORK - APRIL 28: Ilya Sorokin #30 of the New York Islanders looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Six of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at UBS Arena on April 28, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Mike Stobe/NHLI via Getty Images)
Ilya Sorokin is staying on Long Island for years to come.
The New York Islanders announced Saturday that they have signed the star goaltender to an eight-year extension that will begin during the 2024-25 season. It is worth $8.25 million annually, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
#Isles Transaction: The New York Islanders have signed goaltender Ilya Sorokin to an eight-year contract extension, which will go into effect at the start of the 2024-25 season.
The Islanders selected Sorokin in the third round of the 2014 draft and he has emerged as one of the best goaltenders in the NHL since making his debut during the 2020-21 campaign.
During his 2020-21 rookie season, Sorokin posted a 13-6-3 record, .918 save percentage, 2.17 goals-against average and three shutouts in 22 games.
The 27-year-old emerged as New York's starter during the 2021-22 season and he posted an impressive 26-18-8 record, .925 save percentage, 2.40 goals-against average and seven shutouts in 52 games.
Sorokin put together a Vezina Trophy-worthy 2022-23 season, posting a 31-22-7 record, .924 save percentage, 2.34 goals-against average and six shutouts. However, he finished second in Vezina voting behind Boston's Linus Ullmark.
The Islanders finished the 2022-23 campaign fourth in the Metropolitan Division with a 42-31-9 record before falling to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Sorokin will be among the NHL's highest-paid goaltenders when his contract kicks in during the 2024-25 season, joining Tampa Bay's Andrei Vasilevskiy ($9.5 million), Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky ($10 million) and Montreal's Carey Price ($10.5 million).
While Sorokin is locked up for the foreseeable future, the Islanders must make some upgrades in other areas this summer if they hope to contend for a title in 2023-24. They'll have $3.8 million in projected cap space to do so, according to CapFriendly.
Kyle Okposo, Sabres Agree to 1-Year, $2.5M Contract as Captain Avoids Free Agency
May 24, 2023
WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 15: Kyle Okposo #21 of the Buffalo Sabres looks on against the Washington Capitals during the second period of the game at Capital One Arena on March 15, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Kyle Okposo is staying in Buffalo.
The Sabres captain agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with the franchise on Wednesday to avoid hitting the open market this summer.
THE CAPTAIN IS BACK‼️
We have re-signed Kyle Okposo to a one-year contract worth $2.5 million.
Okposo has spent the last seven seasons of his career with the Sabres. After nine years with the New York Islanders, he agreed to a seven-year, $42 million deal with Buffalo ahead of the 2016-17 campaign.
It's no surprise the veteran forward agreed to terms to remain with the Sabres for another season, especially after general manager Kevyn Adams said after the 2022-23 campaign that the franchise hoped to re-sign him.
"I can't say enough good things about him as a person, what he's done in the locker room, the way he carries the message from Donny [Granato] and the coaching staff through to the team, his selflessness, to be able to mentor and bring along players," Adams said.
"I see it over and over again, day after day, players are down, whatever's going on in their life, they're talking to him. And I just think it's we're lucky to have him."
Okposo has been a key leader in the locker room for the Sabres and has played a big role on offense over the years. In 455 regular-season games across seven seasons, he has notched 91 goals and 132 assists for 223 points.
During the 2022-23 season, the 35-year-old tallied 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 75 games while playing alongside Zemgus Girgensons.
With Okposo locked up, the Sabres can shift their focus to their other free agents. The franchise is expected to have nearly $17 million in cap space this summer, per CapFriendly.
The 2023 NHL Draft Lottery will be held
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Islanders Keep Hopes Alive as Fans Praise Mathew Barzal in Game 5 Win vs. Hurricanes
Apr 26, 2023
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - APRIL 25: Mathew Barzal #13 of the New York Islanders celebrates with teammates after a goal during the second period against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game Five of the First Round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at PNC Arena on April 25, 2023 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Josh Lavallee/NHLI via Getty Images)
The New York Islanders aren't done yet.
The Isles staved off elimination on Tuesday night with a 3-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of their first-round Stanley Cup Playoffs matchup at PNC Arena to force a Game 6 at their home rink.
New York came out hot in the first period on a goal by Pierre Engvall at the 10:27 mark to take a 1-0 lead entering the second period.
Brock Nelson added to the Isles' lead after a shot from Engvall took a weird bounce off of Sebastian Aho's face before Nelson knocked it in at the 3:16 mark of the middle frame.
Hurricanes forward Paul Stastny got Carolina back into it with a goal at the 13:10 mark of the second period, but the Islanders restored their two-goal lead on a beautiful tally by Mathew Barzal just under five minutes later.
The Islanders took a 3-1 lead into the third period, but the Hurricanes continued to chip away at the deficit. Aho tallied Carolina's second goal of the night to put his team back within one at the 10:28 mark of the final frame.
However, that was all the Canes could muster as the Islanders put the clamps on defensively to close out the win.
After the game, fans praised Barzal and the Islanders for forcing a Game 6 and keeping the team's title hopes alive:
Barzal looks like Barzal tonight. Skating with a pupose. #Isles
The Islanders display the pedigree they built in 2020 and 2021 and extend the series to Friday. That was an ELECTRIC final few minutes and a terrific job of PBP by Brendan Burke. Whew.
If the Islanders are now going to force a Game 7, they will need players like Barzal to continue firing on all cylinders. That said, Ilya Sorokin's impact in goal should not be understated, as the potential Vezina Trophy candidate stopped 27-of-29 shots in the win.
The Islanders and Hurricanes will meet in Game 6 at UBS Arena on Friday.
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NHL Playoff Picture 2023: Updated Standings, Matchups After Penguins Eliminated
Apr 13, 2023
ELMONT, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: (L-R) Noah Dobson #8, Brock Nelson #29 and Pierre Engvall #18 of the New York Islanders celebrate Nelson's second period goal against the Montreal Canadiens at the UBS Arena on April 12, 2023 in Elmont, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The New York Islanders are going fishing for the Stanley Cup.
The Isles are back in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2021, clinching a playoff berth with a 4-2 win over the Montréal Canadiens on Wednesday night at UBS Arena.
New York will be one of the Eastern Conference's wild-card teams alongside the Florida Panthers.
YOUR NEW YORK ISLANDERS ARE HEADED TO THE STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/gLIbIdEvtK
New York's win also eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins from playoff contention. The last time the Pens missed the postseason was 2006, and they had held the longest playoff streak in the NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB.
It also marks the first time since 2006 that the playoffs will not include superstars Sidney Crosby of the Penguins or Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals.
While some of the matchups have yet to be determined, here's a look at the current Stanley Cup playoffs field following the Isles' victory.
2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket
Atlantic Division
Boston Bruins: 64-12-5, 133 points
Toronto Maple Leafs: 49-21-11, 109 points
Tampa Bay Lightning: 45-30-6, 96 points
The Bruins have locked up the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and home-ice advantage throughout the entirety of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Maple Leafs and Lightning are locked into a first-round matchup.
Metropolitan Division
Carolina Hurricanes: 51-21-9, 111 points
New Jersey Devils: 51-22-8, 110 points
New York Rangers: 47-21-13, 107 points
The Rangers are locked into the No. 3 seed in the Metropolitan Division and will be on the road in the first round to face the No. 2 seed, which will be either the Hurricanes or Devils.
Eastern Conference Wild Card
New York Islanders: 42-31-9, 93 points
Florida Panthers: 42-31-8, 92 points
The Panthers can lock in the No. 1 wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with a win over the Hurricanes on Thursday.
Central Division
Dallas Stars: 46-21-14, 106 points
Colorado Avalanche: 49-24-7, 105 points
Minnesota Wild: 46-25-10, 102 points
None of these positions have been locked up. The Wild and Stars each have one regular-season game remaining, while the Avalanche have two games remaining.
Pacific Division
Vegas Golden Knights: 50-22-9, 109 points
Edmonton Oilers: 49-23-9, 107 points
Los Angeles Kings: 46-25-10, 102 points
The Kings are locked into the No. 3 seed in the Pacific Division and will be on the road in the first round of the playoffs to face the No. 2 seed, either the Golden Knights or Oilers. Vegas will clinch the division with a win over the Seattle Kraken on Thursday.
Western Conference Wild Card
Seattle Kraken: 46-27-8, 100 points
Winnipeg Jets: 46-32-3, 95 points
Both of these teams are locked into their current positions.
Projected Matchups After April 12
Eastern Conference
A1 Boston Bruins vs. WC2 Florida Panthers
A2 Toronto Maple Leafs vs. A3 Tampa Bay Lightning
M1 Carolina Hurricanes vs. WC1 New York Islanders
M2 New Jersey Devils vs. M3 New York Rangers
Western Conference
C1 Dallas Stars vs. WC1 Seattle Kraken
C2 Colorado Avalanche vs. C3 Minnesota Wild
P1 Vegas Golden Knights vs. WC2 Winnipeg Jets
P2 Edmonton Oilers vs. P3 Los Angeles Kings
The 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs are slated to begin on April 17.
The Bruins are currently the betting favorite to win the Stanley Cup at +350 (bet $100 to win $350), per DraftKings Sportsbook. The Avalanche have the next-best odds at +650.
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