This article is part of our The Daily Puck series.
Around the Rink
With just one playoff berth in the last seven seasons, most of the attention surrounding the New York Islanders in recent years has been transferred from the ice to the owner's box.
After being previously burned by the expensive long-term deals doled out to Rick DiPietro and Alexei Yashin earlier in his tenure, owner Charles Wang has shown an increased unwillingness to spend, directly contributing to the team's misfortunes. And with the quality of the on-ice product rapidly declining, attending games at the team's decrepit arena, the Nassau Coliseum, became far less appealing for Islanders fans.
However, it appears those dark days could finally be coming to an end.
On Oct. 1, the NHL approved Wang's sale of the franchise to former Capitals owner Jonathan Ledecky and investor Scott Malkin, with the duo set to take over a majority stake in two years. The impending deal had been in the works for quite some time, and perhaps motivated the Islanders to loosen the purse strings this summer, with the team committing long-term deals to goalie Jaroslav Halak and veteran forwards Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolay Kulemin.
And it's likely the invisible hand of the new ownership that prompted the team to make the NHL's splashiest move of this past weekend: bringing in defensemen Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy in deals with the Bruins and Blackhawks, respectively. For all the wealth of young talent the Islanders have at forward (John Tavares, Kyle Okposo, Ryan Strome, etc.), it's the team's struggles on the blue line that proved to be its downfall in 2013-14. Boychuk and Leddy may not be Norris Trophy contenders, but both are responsible blue liners that should help make life considerably easier for Halak, who himself represents a vast upgrade in goal over the aging Evgeni Nabokov.
Though the Islanders will move to Brooklyn and the state-of-the-art Barclays Center next season, the team at least looks poised to give its Long Island fans a happy send-off in 2014-15. With a roster that looks improved in nearly every facet from a season earlier, the Islanders have a legitimate chance to claim a playoff spot in the weakened Eastern Conference. A deep postseason run probably isn't in the cards given the Islanders' lack of depth compared to some of the other Eastern powers, but after all the tumult that has enveloped the franchise since the turn of the century, simply making the playoffs would go a long way in creating further optimism for the future of the franchise.
Projected Goalie Starters (all times Eastern)
Canadiens (Carey Price) at Maple Leafs (Jonathan Bernier*), 7:00
Flyers (Steve Mason) at Bruins (Tuukka Rask), 7:30
Canucks (Ryan Miller) at Flames (Jonas Hiller*), 10:00
Sharks (Antti Niemi) at Kings (Jonathan Quick), 10:00
*Confirmed Starters
For updates on the projected goalies later in the day, check out our Projected Goalies Grid.
Injury News For Teams Playing Wednesday
Canadiens
Lars Eller, C (lower body) -- Practiced Monday and pronounced himself ready to play in Wednesday's opener.
Maple Leafs
David Booth, LW (lower body) -- Placed on injured reserve Monday and is expected to miss the next three weeks.
David Clarkson, RW (face) -- Recovering from fractured orbital bone but expected to be available Wednesday.
Cody Franson, D (knee) -- Placed on injured reserve Tuesday and will miss Wednesday's season opener. Hopes to return to action Saturday vs. the Penguins.
Flyers
Wayne Simmonds, RW (lower body) -- Probable for Wednesday's opener.
Bruins
Gregory Campbell, C (abdomen) -- Was placed on Bruins' non-roster injury list Tuesday and is considered out indefinitely.
David Krejci, C (undisclosed) -- Was placed on injured reserve Tuesday and will miss at least the first three regular-season games.
Canucks
Kevin Bieksa, D (upper body) -- Game-time decision for Wednesday's game.
Tom Sestito, LW (neck) -- Has dealt with neck soreness the last few days.
Flames
Corey Potter, D (shoulder) -- Was placed on Flames' non-roster injury list Tuesday.
Sharks
Tyler Kennedy, LW (upper body) -- Placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
James Sheppard, LW (knee) -- Placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
Kings
Marian Gaborik, RW (undisclosed) -- Confident he'll be available for Wednesday's opener.
Hot
Nikita Kucherov, RW, TB -- While preseason games should be taken with a grain of salt, it's difficult to completely dismiss Kucherov's production during the Bolts' exhibition schedule. He led all players in the preseason with six goals and seven games, good for an astounding plus-9 rating. The 21-year-old was only a bit contributor for the Lightning last season and will probably open outside of a top-six role in 2014-15, but he's never been short on offensive upside. Even if he averages around 15 minutes of ice time this season, there's still a decent chance he'll double the output (nine goals, 18 points) he provided as a rookie.
Tyler Toffoli, RW, LAK -- Toffoli carried over an excellent showing for the Kings during their Stanley Cup run into a phenomenal preseason, scoring four goals and posting a plus-6 rating in five games. He's set to open the season on the Kings' second line with Tanner Pearson and Jeff Carter, reconnecting what was arguably the team's most effective trio during the playoffs. With a featured role in tow this season, Toffoli could emerge as a 50-point player.
Cold
Evgeny Kuznetsov, C, WSH -- Despite entering the preseason as the frontrunner to claim the second-line center gig, Kuznetsov disappointed for much of camp, ultimately losing out on the job to 2013 first-round pick Andre Burakovsky. The talented Russian hasn't looked especially comfortable at center, particularly on the defensive end. As a result, Kuznetsov will likely be relegated to a bottom-six role to begin the season, with reduced ice time headed his way as a byproduct. He remains worth holding on to in most formats because of his immense talent, but he no longer looks like the odds-on favorite to claim the Calder Trophy.
Michael Hutchinson, G, WPG -- Even after their acquisition and subsequent waiving of Peter Budaj over the weekend, it appears the Jets will enter the season with Hutchinson as their backup in goal. That being said, there doesn't seem to be a lot of conviction in their support for the 24-year-old netminder, who was abysmal throughout the preseason. Over four appearances (three starts), Hutchinson went 1-3-0 with a 3.73 GAA and .882 save percentage, while showing little of the poise he did in his three-start run with the Jets late last season. Hutchinson was set to enter the season with an outside chance of displacing the disappointing Ondrej Pavelec as the Jets' starter, but if he continues to struggle in his first few appearances, it's quite possible he'll be back in the minors before long.
Recommended Pickup
Ryan Spooner, C, BOS -- After it looked like he would begin the season in the minors upon being sent to Providence last week, Spooner returned to the Bruins a few days later to give them some bodies for their preseason finale. He was expected to be sent back down after the game, but the young center ended up earning his stay with his best performance of camp, scoring two goals and an assist in the 6-1 victory over the Islanders. With the news Tuesday that David Krejci (undisclosed) would open the season on injured reserve, Spooner should have a shot at centering one of the team's top three lines for at least the first three games. While Spooner won't have the luxury of playing next to an elite sniper, the Bruins' forward ranks are about as balanced as any group in the league, which should allow the 22-year-old to keep the offense humming when he's on the ice. Moreover, with opponents likely to play their best trio against the Patrice Bergeron line, Spooner could often find himself playing against inferior competition.
