NHL

Islanders’ Vanek, MacDonald still dangling

The same Islanders team that played in Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the Panthers at the Coliseum was all accounted for on the plane to Winnipeg after Monday’s practice.

Forward Thomas Vanek is dangling as the league’s best available player on the rental market, and yet is expected to go right up to the deadline before general manager Garth Snow trades the pending free agent to the highest bidder. Snow is looking for a return of a first-round pick, in addition to another high-level pick and/or a prospect.

Also on the plane was Isles defenseman Andrew MacDonald, right alongside Vanek near the top of the list of available rentals. MacDonald recently shot down a four-year, $16 million offer from Snow, and is likely at the end of his Islanders career.

Tuesday’s game in Winnipeg against the Jets is the start of the team’s four-game trip through western Canada.