Former Kraken Defenseman Signs With KHL Team
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Yahoo
41 minutes ago
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CONFIRMED: Nicklas Bäckström Is Back In Sweden
Swedish center Nicklas Bäckström, 37, has signed a contract to play for Brynäs, the SHL club announced at a press conference on Monday morning. The contract is for one year plus an option.
Yahoo
an hour ago
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Barzal & Branding: Why Player Promotion Is Vital for NHL Markets Like Long Island
It's no secret that the New York Islanders have struggled to land top-flight free agents. While success on the ice plays a massive role in accomplishing that, Long Island isn't a place that many players really know much about. When players think of New York, especially if those players are from across the Atlantic Ocean, their first thought is New York City, because that's all they know -- completely understandable. The New York Rangers, as an original six franchise that frequently appears on national television, play a significant role in this, which means the Islanders must work even harder to market their franchise. Once players get to Long Island, whether they knew about it or not, they very rarely leave. Josh Bailey, Cal Clutterbuck, and Thomas Hickey are just a few recent players who, after their playing days came to a close, remain. But, going back to the glory days for the franchise, the likes of John Tonelli, Butch Goring, and Bobby Nystrom still reside on Long Island. So, how do the Islanders do a better job marketing their franchise as a true hot-spot destination? The easy answer is you just give Islanders star forward Mathew Barzal a microphone and ask him what he loves about being on Long Island. On Tuesday, Barzal did his first-ever podcast interview, outside of 32 Thoughts, when he jumped on the ForePlay Pod with his bud, Isanders' super fan Frankie Borrelli. When the conversation about the Islanders' future started, Borrelli paused before thanking Barzal for committing to Long Island, as he's currently about to enter the second season of an eight-year extension worth $9.15 million. Borrelli asked Barzal why he ultiamtely decided that this is where he wanted to be long term. "And another thing too, is like, it's underrated on the island," Barzal said. "Like, people don't, and I think we've said it so much, but it really is. I mean, the other day, we go play on one of the nicest golf courses in the world, and then Chris Stapleton is 10 minutes away, and all the boys stick around. But even aside from that, UBS Arena is incredible. Our practice facility is wicked. It's tight. You're 30 minutes, 40 minutes from the city, the best city in the world." Barzal bragging about Long Island is nothing new. When he signed his contract, he spoke about the fans and the beaches and the city, all that good stuff. But now, with Lou Lamoriello out, having the ability to go on podcasts and promote the Islanders franchise and the way of life here could play a part in landing free agents. As mentioned previously, especially in hockey, the chance to win is the biggest advertisement. And while the Islanders may not be a Stanley Cup contender yet, Barzal's high praise for the prospect pool and his excitement about the team's potential in the next three years is an advertisement that might attract some free agents to consider the Islanders. No. 1 overall pick Matthew Schaefer, by just the way he talks and carries himself, on top of the on-ice talent that he is, should help in marketing the Islanders as a premier destination. Having Mathieu Darche at the helm now, someone who understands the importance of transparency, the importance of marketing, and the importance of fan engagement, is vital in everything we've just discussed. Until the Islanders do land a coveted free agent, talk is cheap. However, unlike years past where the Islanders are salary-cap strapped, Darche's decisions this past offseason actually have the Islanders in a good spot come next summer, especially if he trades a player or two on expiring deals by the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline or makes some cap-clearing moves at the 2026 NHL Draft. Islanders Will Have Money To Spend Next Summer But How Much Is The Question? The New York Islanders' contracts are all but finalized. Under Lamoriello, the Islanders never truly had the money to be competitiors in the free agent market. The Hockey Hall of Fame executive did his damage around the trade deadline, landing the likes of Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri, and Jean-Gabriel Pageau over the years. But, especially with salary caps rising and more teams having money, getting pending free agents to agree to premature extensions is only going to get harder. Branding matters and Barzal is doing the best he can to make sure people know that Long Island is a slept-on spot. Stay updated with the most interesting Islanders stories, analysis, breaking news and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story. PHOTO: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Meet Arsenal's new striker Viktor Gyökeres
Arsenal's new signing Viktor Gyökeres says that after so much talk - he's ready to hit the ground running. The Swede's move from Sporting Lisbon was confirmed last weekend - becoming Mikel Arteta's fifth new signing of the off season. He spoke to CNN exclusively ahead of what could be his debut against rivals Tottenham on Thursday.
