When I was dispatched to Montreal for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, I had only one — and only one — name on my mind. Driving up the Thruway, then the Northway and into Canada with New York Times Islanders beat man, Allan Kreda, we spent several hours in debate. After all, there were several […]
Regarded as the heir apparent to Derek Stepan as the Rangers top center, Mika Zibanejad now will be preparing to prove he’s worth every dollar of his newly-minted contract. Celebrating a five-year, $5.35 million annual pact, the 24-year-old Swede virtually bubbled over the prospects of his second season as a Blueshirt. “I’m super-happy,” Zibanejad exulted […]
Exactly a month ago, we all were sitting around wondering about a lot of uncertain hockey things and beings. The Big Three questions followed: 1. Which Met Area sextet would woo the hottest free agent defenseman in Kevin Shattenkirk? 2. How would Devils General Manager Ray Shero make his team better? 3. And what about John […]
By: Leo Scaglione Jr., Pinch-Hitting For The Maven It was fitting that thunderstorms rolled through New York and New Jersey yesterday when NHL free agency opened. If you didn’t know better, you would think the local hockey clubs – Rangers, Islanders, Devils and Sabres – were responsible for the lightning and thunder. But, alas, they […]
By: Chris Boyle Follow @ChrisBoyle33 Every move the Islanders make seem to be with an eye on July 1, 2018 and John Tavares’ impending free agency. Tavares is a do-everything center, but even that ability has seen the Isles’ captain reach the second round of the playoffs just once in the first eight seasons of […]
The biggest free agent signing in National Hockey League history took place 41 years ago; and when The Maven says “big”, that means LARGE. You may have heard of him since some folks believe he was — sorry, Sir Sidney — the greatest player of all-time. None other than Bobby Orr. Talk about “Free Agent […]
By: Leo Scaglione Jr., Pinch-Hitting For the Maven Sure, the Devils seized headlines by owning the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. In case you didn’t know, they selected second-ranked North American skater Nico Hischier, who suited up for Halifax (QMJHL) this past season. The wait is over…With the first overall pick in […]
By: Leo Scaglione Jr., Pinch-Hitting For the Maven The New York Islanders’ headline move on day two of the 2017 NHL Draft had nothing to do with a pick, at least none of which will be used this year. It was their trade with the Calgary Flames in which they dealt 26-year-old defenseman Travis Hamonic and […]