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Islanders Preseason News: Bridgeport assignments, ‘fresh coaching staff’

I’m not a “create a 10,000-word blog post out of one throwaway scrum sentence” kind of guy — at least not as much so in my advancing age — but am I alone in raising an eyebrow at Mathew Barzal citing “fresh coaching staff” among his many reasons for wanting to stay on Long Island long term?

It was an interesting point — granted, one of many — in his post-contract-signing press availability (which, as Dan said, belongs in the Islanders Hall of Fame). It will probably give ammo to the Barzal vs. Trotz truthers. At minimum, it’s at least another minor hint that for all of Barry Trotz’s attributes, the grind was starting to grind a little too hard.