Top Shelf – Islanders Daily 7/17/13

Jul 15, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; Robert Naeder of Staten Island arrives before the Home Run Derby in advance of the 2013 All Star Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Another day, another sweltering forecast for the New York area. With temperatures in the 90s again today, it’s making New York Islanders fans reconsider whether it’s worth putting up with heat waves like this one for the chance to see their team play home games during the winter.

The answer: yes. It’s always worth putting up with heat waves like this one for the chance to see the Isles play their home games.

And speaking of the 2013-14 NHL season, you’d assume the league would’ve announced the schedule for all 30 teams by now…but it hasn’t. So we’re forced to suffer through unbearable heat and humidity for at least a little while longer without the prospect of circling regular-season games on the calendar for next year.

Hopefully the NHL executives don’t wait too long to post the schedule, though. After all, league headquarters are located in the city. If the schedule isn’t announced soon, some intrepid researcher—which is basically a strung-out NHL fan with access to the Internet—will probably look up the address for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman’s office and march down there to give the league a piece of his mind.

NHL fans are widely considered passionate (read: “crazy”). If the league doesn’t want a fan riot on its hands, it’s in the best interest of everyone to release the schedule for next season. After all, I’m only thinking of public safety.

(Which is exactly how Isles fans are rationalizing their feelings right now.)

-MW (@MichaelWillhoft)

In Case You Missed It

Ashley March talks about Isles great Billy Smith (EOI)

Andy Graziano discusses whether the Isles are better now than they were last year (EOI)

Graziano brings you the Islanders’ preseason schedule (EOI)

Chris Triantafilis on why the Isles are done spending money on forwards (Isles Optimism)

Dustin Penner Leaves Kings, Returns to Ducks for One Year, $2 million (Los Angeles Daily News)

Hockey World Pays Tribute to Wayne Fleming (Toronto Sun)

Roundup: Former Southeast Division Teams Make Moves (Pro Hockey Talk)

Two Minutes For Tweeting

With next to no news in the NHL world, the release of the 2013-14 schedule takes on an almost mythical quality. And seeing as how it still hasn’t been released, I’m starting to wonder if it even exists anymore…

Since we don’t have a schedule for the regular season yet, I guess re-reading the preseason Isles schedule is kind of cool. (You’re right, it’s not. I’m trying to make the best of things, here.)

It’s a bit ambitious to already have the parade planned, but I like Tim Leiweke’s style: it can’t hurt to dream big, even if your team hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since ’Nam.

Pretty much, Pat. Pretty much.

Non-hockey-related, but still: if you’re dumb enough to run on the field at a professional sporting event, you deserve whatever happens to you at the hands of the security staff.

As always, thanks for reading us at EyesOnIsles. Keep it right here for all of your NHL offseason coverage and up-to-the-minute Islanders news. Be sure to check the menu bar at the top of the page for ways to connect with the EyesOnIsles staff; we’re always happy to talk hockey.