Top Shelf – Islanders Daily 9/12/13

Apr. 15, 2013; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Two officers of the NYPD stand outside the arena before the game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center on the day of the bombings at the Boston Marathon. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Brooklyn will officially welcome the New York Islanders to Barclays Center this morning, as the team will travel via the Long Island Railroad from Garden City to Atlantic Terminal. Once they step off the train in Brooklyn, they’ll gather for a team photo in front of their future home before heading inside and hitting the ice.

The publicity surrounding today’s training camp has been widespread, and with good reason: marketing an NHL franchise in a location that hasn’t ever played host to professional hockey is a key component of establishing the Islanders as Brooklyn’s future team.

Media coverage of the event—including the train to the game, the photo op, the guided tour of Barclays Center, and the team’s practices—will be ongoing throughout the day. Eyes On Isles will have you covered as we report from Brooklyn.

Of note to the fans is the Isles training camp roster, seen here. The mix of rookies, veterans and PTO candidates should make for an interesting day on-ice; until now, the team hasn’t practiced as a full group. Today’s training will be split into two sessions, one at 10:45 a.m. and one at 12:00 p.m.

It’s been a long offseason, but the light at the end of the tunnel is getting closer.

-Mike (@MichaelWillhoft)

In Case You Missed It

NHL Preseason Power Rankings (Eyes On Isles)

Homegrown Islanders Believe There Will Be a Carry-Over From Last Season’s Breakthrough Success (Newsday)

Kicking Tires: Thomas Vanek to the Isles (Isles Optimism)

How the Metro Can Hurt: the Rangers and Their New Non-Torts Coach (Lighthouse Hockey)

New York Islanders Training Camp Preview (WFAN)

Philadelphia Flyers’ Baffling Offseason Continues With Cleary Saga (Bleacher Report)

Two Minutes For Tweeting

The Alex Pietrangelo contract talks continue to drag on in St. Louis, a pleasant reminder to Isles fans that GM Garth Snow has already locked up his homegrown talent.

Err on the side of caution: assume there’s a transfer at Jamaica because there’s always a transfer at Jamaica. Even if there isn’t.

We’re closer than ever to the start of NHL preseason and the Islanders are set to take the ice at Barclays Center later this morning.

Two ways to get taller: 1) eat your vegetables; or 2) play for the Islanders.

As always, thanks for reading us at EyesOnIsles. Keep it right here for all of your NHL 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.