SAN JOSE, Caif. — A year ago, the Islanders prospect pool was widely rated as among the worst in hockey.

While no extension has been agreed to as yet, the two sides are close enough that it's believed they can work something out in the coming days.

It’s easy to forget this time of year: There’s still a hockey season going on and still hockey games to play.

The head vs. heart calculus which has tugged at the Islanders’ decision-making, or lack thereof, over the last month finally hit an inflection point.

For all the words spilled over what the Islanders should do with Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, that is — in theory — the easy part of this process.

If this final game before the trade deadline doubled as the final game in Islanders colors for Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, then it was a good one.

All eyes are rightly on Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri, but those are not the only two players teams will be checking in on for the remainder of this week.

Anthony Duclair, who missed time earlier this year with a suspected groin injury, was made a healthy scratch as the Islanders were blown out.

The record says it, the standings say it and the Islanders’ play on the ice Monday shouted it to the pinwheel ceiling at the Garden: Sell, sell, sell.

Brock Nelson has a lot of reasons to be feeling sentimental right about now.

Sorokin, who’d stopped the puck off Jonathan Marchessault’s shot, got credit for his first career goal.

With the NHL waiting to see if Lou Lamoriello will fold and become a seller, his potential Islanders trade chips offered a reminder of their values.

Mike Reilly’s recovery from heart surgery has taken the next step forward.

The Islanders have given this core every chance, and then some.

Noah Dobson never has missed an extended period of time with injury before this, but at least he had plenty of teammates to lean on for advice.

The Rorschach test that is Islanders hockey offered on Thursday night the same sort of picture it’s been giving ahead of the trade deadline.

It was more than a little eye-catching to see Patrick Roy, one of the NHL's greatest goalies, standing in the crease with Ilya Sorokin giving some tips.

Barring any last-minute setbacks, Noah Dobson looks ready to come off long-term injured reserve and into the Islanders lineup against the Bruins.

It’s never a good thing when the head coach has to stop practice and lay into the team.

Brennan Othmann played his first game of the season with the Rangers as the Blueshirts remained without Chris Kreider for a second straight match.