Nassau Coliseum won’t see any ice until the end of October, and possibly later. (Photo: Joe Shlabotnik/flickr)

By now you’ve probably heard this, but it’s been pretty much made official today: there will be a shortened NHL season.

The league has cancelled the first two weeks’ worth of games, which is six games’ worth for the Islanders. These games include the season opener against Pittsburgh, their home opener the next day and a road trip to Florida to play the Lightning and Panthers. The Isles are set to start their season now on October 26 at home against the Maple Leafs — that is, if there is a deal made in the next couple of weeks. Something tells me there won’t be.

Stay tuned, though… I promise there will be some good stuff coming up soon.

Mark Streit is suiting up for a team in his native Switzerland during the lockout.(Photo: Robert Kowal/flickr)

With the lockout curtailing hopes of starting another NHL season on time, some Islanders players have made job moves elsewhere.

Captain Mark Streit is heading back to his hometown to play for SC Bern of the NLA in Switzerland, as confirmed by the club. Also on the move was newly-minted Isle Lubomir Visnovsky, to play for SC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL, and Jesse Joensuu to Assat of the SM-liiga in Finland.

According to EliteProspects.com (which has an updated list of all lockout transactions),Frans Nielsen is also rumored to be heading to Finland, and there has been talk of Evgeni Nabokov entertaining offers from the KHL, but nothing’s set in stone yet. Stay tuned.