It’s here! The New and Improved (teehee) New York Islanders finally begin the 2022-23 season tonight, at home — a place they didn’t see till near-U.S. Thanksgiving last season.
Their opponent, the formidable Florida Panthers, look a little different but still daunting. Gone are Jonathan Huberdeau and MacKenzie Weegar, among others. Joining the fray is head coach Paul Maurice (hmmm...) and agitating power forward Matthew Tkachuk.
Tkachuk, of course, drew the ire of many an opponent while toiling for Calgary in the Pacific Division. He’s a tremendous player, but if you grew up from birth around NHL rinks, received constant NHL-expert coaching (and opportunity) as a youth, and had a path to juniors paved with— well, what I’m saying is you better at least make the pros.