Imagine honoring a legendary player while gearing up for another intense showdown—that's the Islanders' world today, blending nostalgia with high-stakes hockey action! But here's where it gets controversial: amidst this celebration, the NHL is buzzing with blockbuster trades that could reshape franchises forever. Stick around to dive into the drama, and you might just question if these deals are game-changers or risky gambles.
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Today marks a special moment for the Islanders organization as they honor Pat LaFontaine with induction into their Hall of Fame at the start of the game (which kicks off at 3:30 PM), even if they're not retiring his iconic #16 jersey—despite others like your Simons, Ladds, and Berubes having worn it since. To top it off, they're facing the Lightning for the third time in just two weeks. Yet, while all eyes are on this matchup, the broader NHL landscape is exploding with major trade announcements from Friday that are stealing the headlines.
We'll get to those juicy trades in a bit, but first, let's soak in the excitement: a tribute to an absolute legend and, fingers crossed, a sweep over the Bolts.
For more on Islanders Goal picks, check out this link: (https://www.lighthousehockey.com/post/F6dssfi8Mnn3).
Islanders News
Our lead writer on Islanders Anxiety, Dan, is a die-hard #1 fan of LaFontaine and will be in the house today. As for me, my feelings about LaFontaine are a bit more mixed: I adored him as a player, but back when he walked out and demanded a trade (which, looking back, makes total sense), I felt a pang of betrayal. (Brent Sutter's trade around the same time really stung too, though I was more forgiving of the other Sutters except Darryl.) Still, getting Pierre Turgeon in return—back in an era when huge, even swaps like that were more the norm—and seeing Turgeon become a cornerstone of the explosive 1993 team, it really mended things for me. Let's bring back some memories and revel in the glory: As LaFontaine's dad put it after his debut, when Bob Nystrom had his back against the Leafs, 'Now you know why they win.' Here's a deep dive into his story, including reflections from his mentor Bryan Trottier (with a fantastic photo of the duo) and teammate Patrick Flatley on his influence. [Isles (https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/pat-lafontaine-s-legacy-through-the-eyes-of-bryan-trottier-and-patrick-flatley)]
Moving to today's lineup changes, Bo Horvat is sidelined for now (and beyond, it seems), but Jonathan Drouin is expected to return to the ice. [Newsday (https://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/islanders-jonathan-drouin-h5dn0pgq) | Isles (https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/isles-day-to-day-horvat-misses-practice-drouin-to-return-vs-lightning) | Post (https://nypost.com/2025/12/11/sports/bo-horvat-exits-early-with-leg-injury-in-islanders-latest-big-blow/)].
Looking ahead to tonight's game: The team's strong special teams play has been a big factor in getting December off to a solid start. [Isles (https://www.nhl.com/islanders/news/game-preview-islanders-vs-lightning-dec-13)]
For updates on injuries in the system, Ethan Bear and Isaiah George are both out for extended periods in Bridgeport. [THN (https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-islanders/latest-news/latest-on-islanders-depth-defenseman-ethan-bear)]
And here's a fun detour into 'Weird Islanders': A chat about Mathieu Schneider, whose career spanned 10 teams. (It's odd to remember how brief his time with the Isles actually was.) [LHH (https://www.lighthousehockey.com/ny-islanders-podcasts/43381/weird-islanders-the-podcast-episode-76-mathieu-schneider-guest-joe-buono-kirk-muller-weird-isles-all-stars)]
Elsewhere
Only two games hit the ice yesterday (https://www.nhl.com/scores/2025-12-12), and none directly impacted the Islanders, but the day was dominated by earth-shaking news from two colossal trades—one involving a goalie who's as unpredictable as they come, and the other snagging the hottest name in the trade market.
For example, the Oilers (or perhaps just Stan Bowman) think they've found the fix for their goaltending woes in... Tristan Jarry? I'm intrigued, but is this a bold move or a desperate reach? [NHL (https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/trade-coverage/stuart-skinner-brett-kulak-traded-to-pittsburgh-penguins-by-edmonton-oilers-for-tristan-jarry)]
Digging deeper, why did the Oilers pull the trigger on this? (Or better yet, why on earth did they roll the dice on Jarry instead of sticking with Stuart Skinner?) [Sportsnet (https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/why-oilers-chose-to-roll-the-dice-on-tristan-jarry-over-stuart-skinner/)]
In the same deal, the Penguins bolstered their defense, which might mean waiving Matt Dumba. [TSN (https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/penguins-to-waive-dumba-in-wake-of-adding-kulak-in-jarry-deal/)]
Over on the other coast, Bill Guerin went all-in for Quinn Hughes, trading away a first-round pick plus three recent first-rounders. [Athletic (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6886000/2025/12/12/bill-guerin-quinn-hughes-trade/)]. And this is the part most people miss: While it's a tough blow for the Canucks, they knew Hughes wasn't going to extend his contract, so they acted fast to get value. [Athletic (https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6885808/2025/12/12/vancouver-canucks-quinn-hughes-trade/)]
The Sabres are apparently exploring options to replace Kevyn Adams as GM. About time! [Sportsnet (https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/report-sabres-discussing-replacing-gm-kevyn-adams/)]
Victor Hedman is set for elbow surgery but aims to be ready for the Olympics. [TSN (https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/article/lightning-d-hedman-to-have-elbow-procedure-expected-to-be-ready-for-olympics/)]
Laurent Brossoit, working his way back through the AHL, is making empty-net goals look effortless. [Sportsnet (https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/icehogs-laurent-brossoit-scores-goalie-goal-in-ahl/)]
Steve Yzerman admits it's tough selecting an Olympic roster—and we're not even talking about getting his team into the playoffs once this decade. [NHL (https://www.nhl.com/news/topic/olympics/yzerman-can-relate-to-team-canada-gm-armstrong-when-it-comes-to-picking-olympic-roster)]
These trades have sparked heated debates among fans—do you think the Oilers just made a savvy investment in Jarry, or is it a colossal mistake that will haunt them? And with Quinn Hughes moving to Vancouver, is this a rebuild in disguise for the Canucks, or a short-term setback? Share your thoughts in the comments below; I'd love to hear if you agree, disagree, or have a completely different take!
