Matthew Schaefer being listed among the NHL’s top 20 defensemen? Yeah, that’s a “duh” moment if you’ve been watching at all, but I swear the whole league is still snoozing on just how big this is. While this summer has felt like it’s dragging slower than molasses compared to last year’s wild management turnover and the endless Dobson Wars, this kind of recognition for Schaefer is the electric jolt we absolutely needed. Seriously, did everyone take extra long cottage holidays, even the national outlets? Maybe we all needed a breather after an Olympic year, but an 84-game playoff play-in season is on the horizon and it’s time to wake up!
Islanders Hopefuls and Off-Season Buzz
This isn’t just about Schaefer, though he’s a certified stud. Viktor Eklund is fighting for a roster spot out of camp, and you gotta love seeing a young gun trying to make that leap. That kind of hunger is contagious. And speaking of defensemen, Devon Toews is still on that top-20 list too, showing that some guys just keep doing their thing year after year. It’s also cool to hear Kyle Palmieri is loving life back on Long Island after his summer activities, with photos from a charity event popping up. On the flip side, the “story” behind Alexei Yashin’s turtleneck? Turns out, there’s not much of a story at all, which is kind of hilariously anticlimactic.
Around the League: Fresh Faces and Familiar Narratives
Beyond the established names, the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup gave us a glimpse of some seriously fun talent. Cooper McAslan and Jonah Neuenschwander are two names I’m hoping become household staples. The league would be way better off with more McAslan and Neuenschwanders, no doubt. Over in Toronto, the media is absolutely convinced that conditions are finally right for Auston Matthews to get his game back on track. We’ve heard that one before, right?
The Business of Expansion
Here’s a bit of news that’s somehow presented as groundbreaking, yet is actually just stating the obvious: media market data will heavily influence the NHL’s next expansion decision. Seriously? This has been the case for decades! If it wasn’t, we’d already have a seventh team in places like Quebec, Hartford, or Hamilton. Houston has always been lurking on the radar, and Atlanta is once again being floated as a candidate, mainly because it’s a massive, growing market and its previous NHL failure was clearly an ownership screw-up, not a lack of interest. So, who’s ready for some real action to heat up this supposedly “slower” summer as expansion talks start buzzing?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Lighthouse Hockey.
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