Mike and Dan recap the Islanders picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, look ahead to a shallow free agency pool and bring forth a new, delusional Master Leaf Theatre.
The Islanders didn’t make any big splashes in Buffalo but didn’t come away as one of the draft’s big losers, either. By focusing on defensemen – highlighted by first round pick Malte Gustafsson, who sounds like a Swedish clone of Adam Pelech – they went the safest route possible. Which is fine, but hardly ******* y. And while some fans wonder why so many of their defensive prospects shoot from the same side, the fact is there’s no guarantee any of these guys make the big club any time soon. We also discuss Matthew Schaefer’s entertaining performance at this draft and the re-signing of Tony DeAngelo to another safe, fine deal.
In the second half, we talk about some free agents we could see (and would rather not see) the Islanders take a run at. None of these older guys deserve any kind of term, but some might be helpful on shorter, more frontloaded deals. We also look at how some teams in the Metro Division got much better over the weekend, which is never not annoying, and serve up a Master Leaf Theatre that not only boosts the Boys in Blue and White but also changes the trajectory of the NHL and every American player in it. Cancel those plane tickets to Florida, fam.
REFERENCES:
Tony is back. It’s fine.
The Islanders didn’t make any big splashes in Buffalo but didn’t come away as one of the draft’s big losers, either. By focusing on defensemen – highlighted by first round pick Malte Gustafsson, who sounds like a Swedish clone of Adam Pelech – they went the safest route possible. Which is fine, but hardly ******* y. And while some fans wonder why so many of their defensive prospects shoot from the same side, the fact is there’s no guarantee any of these guys make the big club any time soon. We also discuss Matthew Schaefer’s entertaining performance at this draft and the re-signing of Tony DeAngelo to another safe, fine deal.
In the second half, we talk about some free agents we could see (and would rather not see) the Islanders take a run at. None of these older guys deserve any kind of term, but some might be helpful on shorter, more frontloaded deals. We also look at how some teams in the Metro Division got much better over the weekend, which is never not annoying, and serve up a Master Leaf Theatre that not only boosts the Boys in Blue and White but also changes the trajectory of the NHL and every American player in it. Cancel those plane tickets to Florida, fam.
REFERENCES:
Tony is back. It’s fine.
4 months ago
