Top Shelf : Islanders Daily 6/24/2013

Jun 22, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks right wing

(88) scores a goal past Boston Bruins goalie

(40) and defenseman

(44) in the second period during game five of the 2013 Stanley Cup Final at the United Center. The Blackhawks won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Middletown, N. J – As is customary when the Stanley Cup finals draw to a close, the trophy itself has traveled to Boston where it will be on hand tonight for game six. If the Chicago Blackhawks defeat the Boston Bruins, we will reach the conclusion to the 2013 season and officially enter the off-season. If the Bruins conjure up some magic and force a decisive game seven, that would be held on Wednesday night back at United Center.

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to send confusing signals as to their organizational plan yesterday, sending Matt Frattin, Ben Scrivens and a 2nd round draft pick to the Los Angeles Kings for coveted goaltender Jonathan Bernier. It creates unnecessary drama in the Leafs crease, as James Reimer played so well in the playoffs but one has to wonder where his future now lies with the team.

For the Islanders, it takes a wanted asset off the market and most likely signals the potential re-signing of Evgeni Nabokov for another tour of duty on the Island. With the market for goaltenders not strong to begin with and the chances of signing Mike Smith seemingly slim to none, the only other trade chip might be Roberto Luongo, still in limbo in Vancouver.

Today, two of our staff writers, Eric Bordin and Mike Ristano, take a look at the Reimer trade and what it means in the crease down the road specifically for the Islanders. Our report card series also continues as we draw closer to the end of June and the NHL entry draft to be held in Newark on Sunday afternoon.

Links

• Time is running out to get in on our fan contest (EOI)
• He was on the roster so he gets a report card…Marty Reasoner (EOI)
• Ben Strauss on how the Blackhawks have dealt with Zdeno Chara (NYT)
• Kings say goodbye to Bernier (Mayor’s Manor)
• Cleanup begins at the Saddledome (Faceoff.com)

Around The Twitter-Sphere

• Daniel and I agree on this point. The new writer for WFAN.com points out that if Snow was in on Bernier, he at least has had conversations with Vancouver about Luongo. If they take DiPietro off our books, all the better.

• Rave reviews coming in for Snow’s unwillingness to meet the Kings ransom for their unproven 24 year old goaltender.

• That’s two that I am in perfect agreement with on this Monday morning. I have been screaming this from the rooftops ever since it was first mentioned. Given his status, Ryan Miller’s stats, play and attitude have been nothing but mediocre during his career.

• The tension level on both sides of the Stanley Cup final are sure to be raised to astronomical heights this evening. Chicago trying to win the trophy and the Bruins looking to stay alive in front of their home fans.

Around The NHL

• Chicago at Boston, 8:20pm EST, TD Bank Garden – game six of the Stanley Cup finals with the Blackhawks leading the series 3 games to 2.
• Each team has two very big question marks heading into this game. For Boston, star center Patrice Bergeron is widely speculated to be dealing with some sort of lower back injury which some have speculated is to his spleen. Head coach Claude Julien announced yesterday his top pivot is day to day but I honestly see very little chance of him suiting up tonight for a pivotal game. A huge blow that would be to Boston’s chances of staying alive in the series.
• For Chicago, Jonathan Toews is apparently good to go from reports that came in yesterday after suffering a still un-announced injury that kept him glued to the bench for the entire third period of game five. My personal speculation was it could have been a head injury, which is the worse kind at this time of year, and although all signs point to him playing, it all depends on how he feels today when he awakens and takes the morning skate.

-AG