One (Cup) for the Dagger…

Chicago comes back with two goals in 17 seconds, wins its second Cup in four seasons, and denies us all two more days of winter. Ah well. A heck of a Stanley Cup Final either way.

Tim Thompson does good work.

A long wait (about 100 days) now ensues. Business looms shortly: Arthur Staple reported today that most of the Islanders’ Group II guys received the qualifying offer that makes them restricted free agents. He said in other tweets that Shane Harper won’t get one (no surprise), to make him unrestricted; he wasn’t sure about Brandon DeFazio, and at the moment, I’ve got nothing either way, either.

Qualifying offers, according to the transition rules for this season in the new CBA, have to be submitted by July 2. The buyout period begins Wednesday night. Draft on Sunday; free agency July 5.

Elsewhere: John Vazzano and Kyle Verbeek were taken by Danbury in the Federal League draft. Julie Chu is one step closer to Olympics No. 4. John Torchetti is off to Moscow:

TEAM Old New
HER Mark French (5/17)  Mike Haviland (6/18) 
TOR Dallas Eakins (EDM head, 6/10)
IOW John Torchetti (CSKA, 6/24)

And RIP, Bobby Bland, Gary David Goldberg and Richard Matheson.

Michael Fornabaio