BUFFALO — NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman watched Wednesday night’s Islanders-Bruins game with team owner Scott Malkin at UBS Arena. Among the topics discussed was bringing either an All-Star Game or an NHL Draft, or both, to the new facility.
The situation remains the same, though. To host one of the league’s marquee events, the area around UBS Arena needs to be developed further, specifically with a generous amount of hotel rooms in addition to retail options.
“We want to bring league events to UBS,” Bettman said Thursday at KeyBank Center, in town as the Sabers retired goalie Ryan Miller’s No. 30 and inducted him into their team’s hall of fame.
“But everybody is agreed that we want to bring it to the finished product, which is the surrounding area. Once they finish the developments surrounding it, it’s going to be terrific and we’ll bring our events. The plans are there and they’re committed to doing it. So it’s just a question of getting it done.”
But Bettman acknowledged there is still no set timetable to start or complete that construction.
Dufour sent down
William Dufour, one of the Islanders’ top prospects, was returned to their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport on Thursday after being recalled on Wednesday and making his debut in the 4-1 loss to the Bruins.
Dufour, 20, logged just 6:48 and was benched at 11:00 of the second period after turning the puck over on each of the Bruins’ first two goals.
“We’ll just continue his development,” said coach Lane Lambert. “Any game is a tough spot, potentially. I thought he made a couple of plays but he also did some good things. From his standpoint, he’s now been-there, done-that and gone through Day 1. Right there is a step in the right direction and it puts him ahead of the game next time.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
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