Isles Fix Podcast Network

In the latest episode of “The Red Line,” co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports) reflect on a season of ups and downs and talk about potential next steps for the franchise.After recapping what went wrong in the closer-than-it-appeared series against Carolina, the boys talk about the cost of the Isles’ goaltending moving forward, Noah Dobson’s next contract, and how the team can get better. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line,” co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports) the boys feel vindicated and revel in the fact that, although there were moments of doubt, they were ultimately proven right about the playoff fate of the New York Islanders.In this episode, the boys celebrate by talking about the job Patrick Roy did to turn around this season. They talk about all the things that went right during the playoff push and how Semyon Varlamov became the team’s savior, the difficult first-round match-up against the Carolina Hurricanes, and a lot more. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

Good morning, Islanders Country.In the latest episode of “The Red Line,” co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports) can’t believe they’re talking about an Islanders team that controls their own playoff destiny with four games left to play after a 4-2 win over the New York Rangers, their fifth straight win. In this episode, the boys talk about the strong play at 5-on-5, but a penalty kill that is still scary. Plus, the sensational play of Semyon Varlamov, the need to stay aggressive with the lead, and Peter Laviolette and Rangers fans whining after the loss on Tuesday night at UBS Arena.Find and listen to Isles Fix podcasts on additional platforms:Listen, enjoy, and dive in.📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, Mathew Barzal has recorded six assists over the last five games. It is the first time this season Barzal has had an assist in five straight games (and is one game shy of his career high, set in 2021). Barzal has 41 points at home and 39 points on the road; he needs one more road point for his second career "40/40" season.🎥 ISLES REWIND: On April 11, 1975, playing in their first playoff series, the upstart Islanders shocked the rival New York Rangers when J.P. Parise scored 11 seconds into overtime at Madison Square Garden to give the Isles a 4-3 win.At the time, it was the fastest goal in NHL Stanley Cup Playoff history. Parise had been acquired on Jan. 5, 1975, from the Minnesota North Stars along with Jude Drouin, who set up Parise's game and series-ending goal.🔗 With playoff spot in sight, Islanders have been in postseason mode for some time by Peter Schwartz, WFAN.com “Fighting for a playoff spot is something that the Islanders have been used to in recent years and this season has been no different. In the midst of a season full of ups and downs, the Islanders made a coaching change, followed up a six-game winning streak with a six-game losing streak and have seen their playoff chances go back and forth”🔗 The Hot, Cold, & Suddley Hot Again Islanders Explained by Stefen Rosner, The Hockey News “Patrick Roy never got a training camp, joining the Islanders mid-season. But he's put his team through a training camp mindset and now has them playing winning hockey to get back into a playoff spot.”And we leave you with this…even the Biz was defending the Isles! Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates until the next newsletter.And please check out our newsletters about the Knicks and Mets, too. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line,” co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports) are lowering the white flag, at least for now, after three wins in their last four games have the Islanders one point out of a playoff spot heading into tonight’s game in Columbus.In this episode, they discuss Simon Holmstrom’s strong performance vs. Chicago, whether Roy should ride Varlamov or Soorkin, the upcoming schedule, Barzal, and Horvat finally getting back together, and Noah Dobson’s prolonged slump. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line,” co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports) are ready to waive the white flag and accept that they were wrong about the Islanders' playoff chances. This comes after the team was shut out 4-0 by the New Jersey Devils on Sunday at UBS Arena, their seventh loss in their last eight games (1-6-1) following their winning streak, which duped many of us into believing this season would be different.The Isles have been a mentally fragile team this season, and Ilya Sorokin has been unable to cover up for their mistakes. They also discuss the team’s 0-6-3 record in back-to-backs this season and discuss what changes could come in the final games of the season, even if it doesn’t change the ultimate outcome. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

Good Morning, Islanders Country.In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys are pleased to be talking about a team in playoff position. After their six-game losing streak ended in LA with Tuch in attendance, the Isles aim to rebound Thursday night in Buffalo. Plus, Phil talks about Mathew Barzal’s bad penalties, the need for Ilya Sorokin to steal a game, and Kyle Palmieri’s fantastic season. Meanwhile, Tuch talks about Isles playoff odds, and the guys take questions from their social media mailbag and talk about possible off-season moves.Find and listen to Isles Fix podcasts on additional platforms:Listen and enjoy.And we leave you with this…Joshua Ho-Sang dropped a rap album, unveiled a new app, and signed a contract with the Florida Everglade this week.Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates until the next newsletter.And please check out our newsletters about the Knicks and Mets, too. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys talk about the new team identity established by Patrick Roy, eliminating mistakes, Bo Horvat’s accountability, and Kyle Palmieri’s hot streak.The Islanders’ four-game winning streak ties their longest of the season and has them within striking distance of Philadelphia, Detroit, and Tampa Bay, while the teams behind them have seen their playoff hopes fading. It’s put them in a position where they are buyers before Friday’s trade deadline. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys are joined by Islanders beat reporter Stefen Rosner of The Hockey News to talk trade possibilities, the curious year for Ilya Sorokin, the latest line combinations and a whole lot more.After two impressive road wins in Dallas and Detroit, the Islanders return home with some momentum and the back and a playoff picture that looks more obtainable than it did just a few days earlier. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys ponder whether GM Lou Lamoriello should or would consider selling. The team has had missteps and has been unable to get the needed points boost with Patrick Roy behind the bench. Nevertheless, Phil and Chris persist and try to find a silver lining or two amongst the gloomy clouds. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys spent Valentine’s Day with each other to talk about one of the great loves in their life, the New York Islanders. Just as it seemed as if the team had some momentum, they fell flat against Calgary and Seattle. Do they still have a run in them? In this episode:- What went wrong vs. Seattle- Is it still the honeymoon phase for Patrick Roy?- Ilya Sorokin’s stellar play- The state of the Eastern Conference- Frustration with Pierre Engvall- Give a look to Ruslan Iskhakov? Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

Good Morning, Islanders Country.In the latest episode of “The Red Line” co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports) got together as Phil returned from Cancun just to record a podcast with Tuch. The boys discuss the defense being healthy for the first time and the team’s optimum lineup moving forward. Patrick Roy is willing to give Wahlstrom a legit chance to become an everyday player, structural changes that Roy has already made, Barzal unleashed under Roy, and we ended off by looking at the current playoff picture and the betting odds for each team.. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys are joined by “IsleStotle” (@rant_or_reason), an “Isles Twitter” personality that is an eternal optimist and has debated Dave and Phil on many occasions. They talk with their remaining anonymous guest about the hiring of Patrick Roy, the impact he can make on the franchise, and the outlook for the team for the remainder of the season.In this episode:- Lambert's firing was long overdue- Why did Lou zeroed in on Patrick Roy?- Players response to Roy’s hiring- Thoughts on the first two games- Kyle MacLean call-up- Predictions for the rest of the season Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In January, one paid subscriber will be selected as the winner of an Islanders-inspired Tee Shirt designed by AtheleteLogos of their choice.Good Morning, Islanders Country.In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys discuss how things have escalated from concern to the arrival of DEFCOM 1. Are the Islanders approaching the point where dramatic changes are necessary to make the playoffs? Dave and Phil give their take on the team’s most prevalent issues, lineup decisions, and, of course, the coach.In this episode:* Bad luck and Bad goals* The line combinations make no sense* Is Lane coaching scared?* Too many ‘burn the tape’ games* Kyle MacLean gets called up* Social Media Mailbag Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys hop on to discuss the impact Casey Cizikas's injury and Lane Lambert putting the lines in a blender, including separating Mathew Barzal and Bo Horvat.In this episode:* Were the Isles due for a slump?* Sorokin needs to steal one* Backup goalie depth* Why no call-up?* Phil and Dave give their line combos* Trade deadline targets Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys discuss how the Islanders have managed to collect points despite all of its flaws and injuries on the blue line. Does the coaching staff deserve credit, or has their success been only a product of the team’s higher-end players stepping up their game?In this episode:- Does the coaching staff deserve credit?- Is this team more talented than people think?- Has Lane Lambert improved as a coach?- Pelech is close to returning- What else does this team need?- Varlamov injury; Engvall scratched Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

Good Morning, Islanders Country.In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys gather their thoughts after the Isles were kicked in the mouth by the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team needs to respond Friday night vs. the Washington Capitals, but will they and will the defense hold up for the 15 remaining games before the All-Star Game.In this episode:* Level of concern* Mayfield close to return* No timetable for Pelech and Pulcok* The challenging road ahead* Sorokin struggles* Dobson is the team MVP Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys welcome Andy Francess (@AndyFrancess), picks, predictions, and parlays expert for OddsShopper Sports Betting to the show to share laughs and deep Isles thoughts.In this episode:* Prop bet Islanders strategy* Dissecting the Islanders’ playing style* Why the power play is clicking* Defenseman joining the rush* Holmstrom’s short-handed magic* How far can the Isles go?* Stanley Cup contenders. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys avoid the podcast jinx and deliver an extra-sized podcast of positivity after the Isles 4-3 win over the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, their fourth straight victory.In this episode:* Isles-Ducks recap* Fasching on the fourth line* Too many defensemen?* What if Zach Parise returns?* Social Media Mailbag Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys search hard for silver linings and discuss the coaching change that isn’t happening after an unacceptable 5-4 OT loss to the San Jose Sharks.In this episode:* Silver linings* Scoring isn’t the problem* Special teams have been outstanding* Gauthier needs more ice time* Holmstrom gets his assists* Are players overworked early in games? Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys attempt to pick up the pieces and make sense of it all after the Islanders’ latest third-period collapse against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night.In this episode:* Lane Looks lost* The team isn’t old and slow* The Mike Reilly acquisition is a good one* Deficiencies in defensive structure* A gutsy win vs. Ottawa* Woe is the shootout Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys got behind the mic immediately following the Islanders 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers.In this episode:* The Isles don’t play much from behind* Lane’s still here and riding a four-game point streak* Takeaways from the win vs. PHI* The tight Metro Division standings* The American Thanksgiving NHL landmark Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” (the number 1 hockey podcast in Ireland 🇮🇪) with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys are back trying to determine which Defcon level things are at with the Islanders after dropping their fifth straight to Edmonton.In the latest episode:* Reasons to be worried* Reasons not to be worried* Is it time to move on from Lambert?* What are the possibilities for a replacement?* What to do with Anders Lee?* Battling through adversityYou can listen to Isles Fix podcasts on additional platforms HEREListen and Enjoy! Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys are back after a disappointing week that has fans frustrated, losing patience and asking questions.In the latest episode:* Blown leads* Struggles in OT* Holmstrom making strides* Martin's diminishing role* Dobson’s hot start* Is Lane Lambert the right man for the job?Subscribe to Isles Fix, the only daily New York Islanders newsletter: https://islesfix.substack.com/ Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys are joined by a special guest New York Islanders beat writer Stefen Rosner (@Stefen Rosner) of The Hockey News, who joins them live from the LIRR (he wasn’t in the quiet car) to talk about the team through eight games as the calendar turns to November.In the latest episode:* Overreactions after small sample sizes* Lambert’s in-game line change decision* Mayfield making the trip to DC* Fasching drawing back into the lineup* A mixed bag for Barzal (Dave has a cat named Barzal)* Has “The Perfection Line” been even better than advertised? Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys talk about the Isles slump that hopefully doesn’t turn into a skid as they welcome the Ottawa Senators to UBS Arena later tonight. Plus, they talk about Simon Holmstrom showing off his shot, Ilya Sorokin’s great saves but not great results, concerns over Oliver Wahlstrom’s skating, the team’s penalty kill, and the impact Scott Mayfield’s injury has had on the rest of the defensive group. Listen and Enjoy! Good Afternoon, Islanders Country.After the Isles lost to the Avs, I switched over to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks slowly and painfully stun the Philadelphia Phillies in Game 7 of the NLCS. The 84-win D-Backs, a team that lost nine straight during the summer, had earned a trip to the World Series, the latest proof that the expanded 12-team playoff format is a crapshoot. It’s not the best team, but the team playing the best that matters.It serves as a reminder of the objective of this 2023-24 New York Islanders season. Just get in, baby. No playoff format, not baseball, and certainly not the NHL with its 16-team postseason tournament, will ever be completely fair after an 82-game regular season. That’s a good thing for the Islanders. As nice as it would be to have a 110-point season and win the Metropolitan Division, that's most likely not this team’s story, but it doesn’t have to be.So settle in and get used to feeling frustrated some nights and irrationally optimistic others. The same team that will give you hope will also fill you with despair. It’s just the way it’s gonna be - an unpredictable regular season that will hopefully end with a chance to partake in the crapshoot.SubscribedComing up, the Isles welcome another high-scoring team as their defensemen keep logging heavy minutes. Plus, Hudson Fasching’s mindset after being scratched, the 01-02 team stays red hot on the road and an ice projection show.Let’s dive in.📰 NEWS: The Islanders (2-2-1) were back on the practice ice on Wednesday ahead of their game against the Ottawa Senators (3-3-0) tonight at UBS Arena. According to Lane Lambert, defenseman Scott Mayfield skated on his own yesterday, but there remains no timetable for his return from a lower-body injury.It’ll be another defensive test for the Isles versus a Sens team that is averaging 4.17 goals per game so far this season. Ottawa has struggled in net, with Anton Forsberg having a .873 save percentage and Joonas Korpisalo sporting one at .872.“Former Future” New York Islanders trade target Vladimir Tarasenko is off to a great start with his new team, scoring three goals and eight points through six games. There are already six Senators with at least three goals this season. In addition to Tarasenko, Jake Sanderson, Josh Norris, Brady Tkachuk, Jakob Chychrun, and Mathieu Joseph all have three goals.Brock Nelson is the only Islander with three goals.◾️ For Newsday, Andrew Gross writes about the increased workload that the Islanders defenseman has been faced with Scott Mayfield remaining out of the lineup. Noah Dobson played 19:13 in the first game of the season, the only game Mayfield played in. Since then, he has topped 26 minutes twice.“I’m never going to complain about playing a lot of minutes,” said Dobson, who is averaging 24:12 of ice time. “It’s still early in the year. If we had three, or four guys playing 25, 26 [minutes] in March, it could probably tax on you a little more.”A big reason Dobson has played so much is that Lane Lambert does not fully trust Samuel Bolduc in most matchups, as he’s averaging just 8:49 TOI.“It’s not easy,” Bolduc said of the limited ice time. “But you just have to be ready all the time so when he calls my name to go, I’ll be ready. “It could be better, for sure. There are always things you want to do better in every situation. Be more assertive and think less on the ice, and I’ll be fine.◾️ In The Hockey News, Stefen Rosner caught up with Hudson Fasching, who has been a healthy scratch the last two games after starting the season on the third line. Fasching is very open about how"Obviously, you want to be out there. You want to be helping your team, but you try to have a positive attitude about it," said Fasching. "There's no reason to get down on yourself. You want to try and maintain your confidence so when you get another opportunity, you feel good about yourself and feel good about your game.”Rosner asked Lane Lambert what more he needed to see from Fasching, and although he conceded that he thinks the winger has more to give, it’s more about the internal competition amongst several players for opportunities."I don't feel any animosity from coaches or anything," Fasching said. "I mean, look, I'm so grateful that they gave me the opportunity to be here, and I think that's kind of my mindset is, just stay grateful and try to keep working hard.⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders host Brady Tkachuk and the Ottawa Senators later tonight at UBS

In the latest episode of “The Red Line” with co-hosts Phil Farber (@PhilzFacts) and David Tuchman (@TuckOnSports), the boys break down the Islanders’ win over the Arizona Coyotes and offer additional early impressions.In this episode:* Aho’s strong game on his weak side* Dobson contributes to PK* The PP looks confident* Is Lee-Pageau-Fasching the right mix?* A gimme shutout for SorokinListen and then dive in.📰 NEWS: Defenseman Scott Mayfield missing Tuesday night’s game meant that not only did Sebastian Aho have to step up into a bigger role, but it also meant the left-handed defenseman had to move over to the right side. The change, surprisingly, led to one of the more sound all-around games of his career. Per Rosner in The Hockey News, in 16:23 total minutes, 15:03 at even-strength, Aho recorded five shots on goal (tied with Mathew Barzal for team lead) on seven attempts, with a block, a hit, zero giveaways, and drew a penalty. Aho’s development into a trustworthy third-pair defenseman has been a pleasant surprise. It wasn’t a given that he’d be brought back before last season, and now it feels that losing him for any considerable time would be a blow to the team. It is just another example of how it takes a defenseman sometimes a bit longer to fully develop into a reliable part of the lineup.WORKOUT BUDDIES: When the Isles signed Zach Parise two seasons ago (and perhaps part of a third later this season), the organization assumed that his work ethic would have a positive experience on the rest of the team. It did, and it wasn't only his work ethic but also his workout routine that left an impression on Mathew Barzal.On the NHL Network's Player's Only segment with Mike Rupp and Thomas Hickey, Rupp brought up Parise's use of ARP (Accelerated Recovery Performance), a technique Rupp watched the 18-year veteran swear by both in New Jersey and in Minnesota."I do the ARP, too; he was my workout buddy during the season. He's psycho when it comes to it. I lay off it a little bit during the season, but he's full put the pads on the forehead and do all that stuff, but it's worked! He's played 18 years, 1,200 games, it worked for sure."⏭ NEXT UP: The Islanders finish up their opening three-game home stand when they host the New Jersey Devils on Friday night at UBS Arena. Face-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM EDT.📊 STANDINGS:◾️ This interactive diagram from FastModel Sports shows how the Islanders scored on the power play on Tuesday night. Noah Dobson drags aggressively to the middle as the Isles hustle to get into a 1-3-1 setup. Dobson sets up Barzal, who had gone into his shooting position for the one-timer. Pretty cool.📚 SOUND SMART: Per Eric Hornick in The Skinny, the Isles’ 1-0 win over the Arizona Coyotes marks the first time since 2014-15 that the Isles have opened 2-0-0 and only the sixth time in franchise history that they have done so; it's the first time they have ever done so by winning both games at home. In 2014-15, the team opened up 4-0-0 with a shootout victory over the San Jose Sharks.🎥 ISLES REWINDOn October 19, 2005, Miroslav Satan fired a wrist shot past rookie Henrik Lundqvist to help beat the New York Rangers 3-2 in a shootout at Madison Square Garden. Alexei Yashin also had a tally for the Islanders (3-3-0), and Rick DiPietro had 33 saves on the 35 shots he faced after missing the last two games because of a concussion. The Islanders went 2-for-8 on the power play and blew a two-goal lead in regulation before winning in the shootout.🔗 Islanders’ Noah Dobson Shows There’s More To His Game On PK by Andrew Fantucchio “Without Mayfield–whose 363 short-handed minutes leads the team over the last three seasons– the Islanders had no choice but to rely on Noah Dobson and his questionable history defensively.”🔗 The Bridgeport Report: Oct. 17, 2023 by Alan Fuehring, NewYorkIslanders.com “The Bridgeport Islanders showed lots of persistence and promise this past weekend, opening the 2023-24 regular season with a 1-1-0-0 record on the road. The Islanders beat the Rochester Americans in overtime on Friday night before falling to the Syracuse Crunch on Saturday.”And we leave you with this…Tom LoFaso wears an Isles jersey to every home game. And in honor of Matt Martin’s 900th game, pulled out a No. 46! Reebox Edge. Nicely done.Thanks for reading! Follow us on Twitter for regular updates until the next newsletter.And please check out our newsletters about the Knicks and Mets, too. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

Phil “Factz” Farber (@PhilzFacts) and Dave Tuchman (@TuchOnSports) are back to get you ready for the start of the 2023-24 season tomorrow night when the Islanders open their season against the Buffalo Sabres at UBS Arena.PROGRAMMING NOTE: For those who asked, you can now find the show on additional platforms, including iTunes, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and more.In today’s episode, Simon Holmstrom gets a shot with the top guys while Oliver Wahlstrom is still searching for his game. Plus, Pierre Engvall and his contract are looking damn good, Hudson Fasching earning his way, a new home for Ross Johnston, and early observations on the first slate of NHL games. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe

In the first episode of The Red Line, hosts David Tuchman and Phil Faber get you ready for the start of another season of New York Islanders hockey. Phil and Dave debate the narrative that the Islanders have "run it back" from last year, the ceiling for players like newcomer Julian Gauthier, and where they're still lacking on defense. Plus, their outlook on prospect William Dufour, the returning Oliver Wahlstrom, and where they'll finish in the Metropolitan standings. Get full access to Isles Fix at islesfix.substack.com/subscribe