The New York
Islanders announced that 6’3, 204# defenseman, Luca Sbisa, has
agreed to terms on a one-year contract today. Sbisa, 28, had 14 points (2 and 12) in
30 games (and 4 playoff helpers in 12 games) last season for the Vegas Golden
Knights in their Stanley Cup appearance. Sbisa was invited to Isles training
camp on a PTO this summer. Isles D, Dennis Seidenberg was also invited back to
camp on a PTO. I would imagine the always reserved Lamoriello and defensively minded
Trotz have seen something in Sbisa they feel could break out with the team, add depth to the system,
or it wouldn’t have been done.
In 495 NHL
games (PHI, ANA, VAN, LVK), Sbisa collected 18 and 84 for 102 regular season
points along with 8 points (1 and 7) in 32 career playoff games overall. Sbisa
played in the WHL during the 2007-08 season for the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
“We picked
this team because they’ve been straightforward with us from the start,” said
Sbisa, an alternate captain with Vegas. “They were really interested, and I
like the fact that it’s a new coaching staff. It’s going to be the best chance
to crack the lineup. It’s a really good group of defensemen, a lot of young
guys are battling for the same thing.” – Newsday
Per Isles
release, on the international stage, the Italian born Sbisa represented
Switzerland at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, two World Championships and two
Junior World Championships. He also played for Team Europe at the 2016 World
Cup of Hockey tournament.
Per Andrew
Gross, “Barry Trotz said earlier today it’s still too early to say whether #Isles will carry seven
or eight d-men. Right now, with Sbisa signing one-year deal, I’m guessing
eight: Pulock, Pelech, Leddy, Boychuk, Hickey, Toews, Mayfield, Sbisa. But
still time for changes until Oct. 4.
That would
mean 13 forwards. My guess there: Beauvillier, Barzal, Bailey, Lee, Nelson,
Eberle, Martin, Cizikas, Clutterbuck, Filppula, Komarov, Kuhnhackl, Johnston.
Ladd starts on IR. But we’ll see...”
Sbisa signing
probably means the Isles indeed start with 8D. Per Staple, “Toews is
waiver-exempt among the 8D.” Unfortunately, that means he will probably be the
odd-man out of the Isles line-up despite a strong camp appearance. Especially
because as a bottom D, Sbisa, whose metrics are far from great, will be the
reason for it. Sbisa blamed injuries for his decline and limited ice time last
season.
But
accountability is the motto, so maybe Sbisa is a stop-gap move based on what
the brass has seen in camp so far and it will give the younger guys time to
sharpen their skills at the pro-level before coming to the Island (or
Brooklyn).
Anyway, I’ll
try and have a 2018-19 Isles season primer up later this week.
Thanks for
the support, especially over my unplanned hiatus of the last month or so.
Isles Notes:
Per Brian
Compton, “Lou Lamoriello told me Belmont is still "100 percent" on
track for 2021 after attending a recent meeting. Says he was "more excited
leaving it than going in."
9/14:
Jacques Lemaire was added as a special assignments coach and Ken Gernander
hired as a scout.
David Conte,
who worked in the Devils' organization for 31 years, including 22 as director
of scouting, and worked last season as a pro scout for Vegas, has been hired by
Isles as a special assignment scout. – Gross
NHL farm
system rankings: No. 5 New York Islanders
Robin Lehner
opens up about addiction and bipolar diagnosis. “Hopefully it helps someone,
either in the game or someone out there.” – Lehner
IDA approves
tax breaks for Islanders' $10 million Coliseum upgrade plan.
Per Eric
Hornick, “Isles have started a season without a captain only once in their
history; no captain was named for the 1996-97 season; Bryan McCabe got the C in
September 1997.”
Rumors:
IslesBlog,
“Per @TheFourthPeriod, the #Isles have Panarin high
atop their wish list and have had talks with CBJ dating back to June.
Lamoriello
has been looking to acquire an impact player this off-season and he’s expected
to continue his attempts at exploring the market.”
Per Rob
Taub, “No matter what number the #Isles are on Artemi
Panarin’s list, the fact they’re on there definitely shows players want to play
here whether it’s Brooklyn or Long Island.”
NHL Notes:
Could the
NHL and NHLPA be heading towards another lockout?
