Training camp scrimmages are just that, a far cry from real NHL competition.
Yet, under these unique circumstances of the league return-to-play plan, Islanders coach Barry Trotz must put more emphasis on evaluating the intrasquad scrimmages as he preps his team for a best-of-five qualifying series against the Panthers beginning on Aug. 1 in Toronto. His team has just a lone exhibition game against the Rangers on July 29 before the elimination games start.
“I was impressed,” Trotz said Wednesday after the Islanders’ first scrimmage since training camp opened on Monday at Northwell Health Ice Center in East Meadow.