The Only Acceptable Logo Change For NY

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/31/2014 11:00:00 AM | |
Please note, highlight, bold, and underline the words very rough draft if responding and disregard the black background from twitter.

Looking back it's the one mistake from the 1972-73 logo but to be fair John Alogna's iconic design was done on the shortest notice for those who remember the stories behind it.

Mr Alogna's design did not have four strips as subtle as this change was incorporate in the return from the darker blue version. 

Do I feel any change must be made at all? No. We have football teams in New Jersey with NY on their logo calling themselves New York with the Red Bull. 

The real design work done here was on the Nassau Coliseum roof being integrated into the NYIFC design here with some other subtle changes.





New York Notables: NYIFC Unplugged

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/28/2014 12:47:00 PM |
I wish to start this entry by thanking all my visitors whether we agree or not.

For me this is only about the New York Islanders and I want for nothing else but another Stanley Cup or four straight. 

My hope is folks never read these entries and leave with the notion I'm lecturing or talking down to anyone. 

My sincere apologies to anyone who has ever felt that way.

8/20/12: Thirty NHL Teams One Day All With Financial Losses/NYIFC Update

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/26/2014 07:17:00 AM |
30 Teams One Day, All With Financial Ownership Losses

Seems like a good day for a repeat of an entry almost two years old.

Some of the stories have advanced forward since the days before another lockout as more teams have gotten even more taxpayer money/past bills forgiven, and of course new facilities (Detroit/Edmonton) with virtually no media attention. San Jose wants/needs more money from Ed Snider's Flyers for cable rights.

The Arizona Coyotes may have to fight for their agreed to taxpayer handout.

Dolan's yearly check from NYC taxpayers goes up to fifty four million dollars while a few of our fans operating from the Kate Murray/Jay Jacobs playbook beLIEve Charles Wang should still pay for an arena?

Mike Illitch robbed Detroit blind for those who have followed entries here since with no national/NHL media criticism. He did not even pay his bills for cable money back to the 1980's.

The Florida Panthers want/need more taxpayer money with their latest owner in place less than one year. 

This 2012 entry was written two months before Charles Wang announced his deal with the Barclay's Center with many of the faces on that stage gone or departing.

Our fans do understand the New York Islanders were never a primary tenant at the Nassau Coliseum beyond doing repairs for Nassau County since day one in 1972-1973.

Montreal Gazette Article On Josh Ho-Sang/PK Subban Outstanding

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/24/2014 06:20:00 PM | | |
Folks, simply put this is the one article you read this weekend or this summer. I rarely link to many general articles here anymore.

It's also why bloggers should stop acting like they are the professional media, who will link to anyone/anything to gain followers to sell themselves. 

Jack Todd came off the exact opposite of Pat Hickey's blind, unreasoning assaults on the Islanders, and some things he flat out made up which were contradicted by the media in Canada & Scott Gomez himself about coming here in a trade a few years ago.
Speak up for yourself, as Ho-Sang did, and the sizable Cro-Magnon segment of the hockey media (the ones who haven’t liked anything since Clarence Campbell was king) will try to crush you. Show a little flash and dash, as Subban did during his rookie season, and cretins from Mike Richards to Don Cherry are lining up to slap you down.
For a public entity such as Hockey Canada to refuse to invite Ho-Sang to camp is another matter. What’s the harm in taking a look at the kid who led the Windsor Spitfires with 85 points last season in the Hockey Canada camp environment? In making your own decisions, rather than relying on gossip and innuendo?
Gossip? Innuendo? New York Islanders? Anyone have a teams entire draft to sell Aaron Portzline?

Would I have posted today if Ho-Sang was not a New York Islander? No, however I have seen this perception article/coverage for many Russian/European players for years. Jagr got this kind of media treatment outside of Pittsburgh until he signed with Cablevision.

And any knowledgeable fan of the New York Islanders understand Casey Cizikas, and their former second rounder Corey Trivino finished up their college/junior careers with some real baggage.

Mr Todd does a fabulous job here describing the kind of players teams/NHL want.

Ho-Sang will never get any coverage in New York unless it is negative.

Jack Todd just wrote the best article of the summer by a mile.


Bridgeport/Stockton Signings

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/22/2014 12:44:00 PM | | | | | | | | |
Ct Post 8/20: Michael Fornabaio had Howard Saffan's comments on the sale of the Islanders and what this means in the long-short term.

Some of these signings were written about here already because the newspaper writers/players/management confirmed them. The depth charts in Bridgeport/Stockton reflect most of these players will be assigned to the Thunder.

 Philippe Trudeau played four games with Bridgeport last season.


NYIFC Exclusive Interview 7/28/2008 With John Rolfe Of Sports Illustrated About Their Coverage Of The New York Islanders

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/21/2014 08:39:00 PM | | |
Alan Muir of Sports Illustrated is excellent criticizing the New York Islanders  which is the seemingly the only coverage the publication has the financial resources for. I have reasonable criticism of today's logo also, however his comments today in my view are over the top unprofessional.

In July of 2008 I did an exclusive exchange of e-mails with John Rolfe of SI, who told me flat out how their "Islander Follies" is done and maintained, along with things about the coverage back then.

I think 8/21/14 is a good time to revisit this, and it was a pleasure exchanging e-mails with John Rolfe in 2008. 



So What Happens Next? The New York Islanders Play The 2014-15 Season

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/20/2014 11:10:00 AM | |
Ultimately everything sooner or later turns to games on the ice, and this is without a doubt a critical season for the current product on the ice with its management.

The historical factors with it being the final full season at the Nassau Coliseum also play a big peripheral part of 2014-15 for the fans.

The management/players have to worry about winning hockey games, nothing else.

The folks in Plainview have to act as a team, and tone down the LI mantra once and for all which also seemed defiant/unprofessional about welcoming Halak to Long Island when most of his contract has him at the Barclay's Center.

That's what happens next beyond Charles Wang's legal response ordered by a court in 20/30 days to Barroway's lawsuit which no doubt will be leaked by a newspaper. 

Owners come/go everywhere, they will again with this franchise.

It's fair to say Charles Wang knew what he was doing, no one anywhere (myself included) felt anyone would come along with this amount of money to buy the club for the privilege of losing millions, and having their personal reputation ruined like all past/present team owners.

It's also not unreasonable to think the league helped him find a buyer(s).

Off The Ice:
Off the ice there are over a dozen things that have to be resolved, it may take even longer than two years but we can run through them here to get an overall blueprint.

Mr Barroway's agreement with Charles Wang give us many of the details below of what is likely to happen with whoever the next majority owner(s) will be. 

1. The new owner(s) have to be approved. Who's to say that's on the board of governors agenda in December? That could take a full calendar year, and if Andew Barroway's pending litigation drags on who knows how long this stays off the NHL agenda until it is resolved?

That could take years pending appeals.

1A. If a court awards ownership of this team to Barroway at the hand-shake deal price he has to be approved by the board of governors instead. This is a man who helped another NHL team secure financing, and spent his own money, so he will not be seen as unfavorable by the board unless he decides to sue them.

2. All these men then have to get their financing in order, it might take them over two years to pay Charles Wang enough money to become majority owners.

2A. Gentlemen, meet Bruce Ratner, your new landlord at the Barclay's Center. The people not speaking about anything right now as Mr Ratner is selling his ownership stake in the Nets to someone.

(could that be new Islander minority/majority owner one with past Wizards basketball ownership ties?)

This would mean the iron-clad lease is no longer iron-clad and as breakable as the one in Atlanta.

2B. Do new owners want two NHL home arena's with Coliseum home games as Mr Ratner promised?  (pending unlikely Dolan/NHL approval)

Yes, some of the those same people who have stayed home since 1989 who made it very easy for politicians to say no to any owner with any plan now think boycotting the team at Barclay's will drive them back into a downsized whatever/Coliseum in 2017 to again play before less than 10,000 for almost every game beyond opening night.

Good luck with that fiction.

I suspect the NHL is done with Nassau County forever so congratulate the politicians for making all of this possible, and those who were so dedicated to staying home. 

2C. The Bridgeport 2021 lease/Wang's ownership/management of Webster Bank Arena.
2D  Do these owners want an AHL team at all much less at the Nassau Coliseum?
2E. Wang's promises on name/logo/branding all are the decisions of the next owner sooner or later.
2F. Dolan/Msg total control of all television/Newsday content with no full time media elsewhere, and the NY Post ownership stake in Msg also creating perception from afar because they will not spend to hire a full time professional writer covering games.

I guess Forbes can hire a full time beatwriter now that their own board member proved Michael Ozanian's guesswork on the value of teams (especially the New York Islanders) is a total scam.

Ozanian for years made this big display of downplaying Islander financial losses because of the television contract he never referenced with the Devils who have a similar deal. 

3. Many of our fans want a public dismissal of Garth Snow/Jack Capuano/staff win or lose.

Win or lose a new majority owner(s) want their own people. The Caps former part owner was around when Charles Wang retained Mike Milbury and he made the playoffs at a big prospect price, but a far bigger price in fan support.

New owners usually want to change old perceptions, not everyone is as loyal as Wang, who could have fired Milbury day one, and been seen as a hero to many.

A full house-cleaning is not easy because many owners do not have ties to qualified people, as we see inexperienced former players hired to jobs as team president's all over the league.

Want George McPhee to be the next Islander gm because the new co-owner was there when he was hired in Washington? How about Wayne Gretzky because the other new owner referenced him?

3A. Worse case Snow is assigned to another position in the organization in a figure head role, as many former general managers are unless 2014-15 is a disaster on the ice.

Finally Charles Wang for what he is to be paid will have to transition to a minority owner, and take a big step back from whatever his involvement has been.

Folks claiming what he does (or does not do daily) are wasting your time because that's an internal matter. 

Charles Wang Sells Minority Stake In Team For Now---Pending League Approval

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/19/2014 02:46:00 PM | | |
Scott Malkin & Jonathan Ledecky

Washington Times: Why Jonathan Ledecky Sold his stake in Caps 6/21/2001

Jonathan Ledecky also is on the board of Forbes Magazine that has taken quite a few digs at Islanders under Michael Ozanain's reign of misinformation.
Jonathan J. Ledecky has served as a member of our Board since January 2011 and as our Non-Executive Chairman of the Board since February 2012. Previously, Mr. Ledecky served as our Interim Chief Financial Officer (from February 2012 until July 2013) and as our Chief Executive Officer (from January 2011 to February 2012)  

NYIFC Comments:
I will update this entry as more information on the new minority owners become available or I add some background.

Nothing leaked however it's hardly a shock Wang found another buyer pending Andrew Barroway not winning his lawsuit/forcing a sale to him which could completely void today's news.

Minority owners transitioning to majority status were here before in the 1990's or more known as the infamous gang of four who never bought out John Pickett entirely. Two of which are currently heading for prison.

No doubt a former co-owner of an NHL team should not face huge road blocks in the approval process, but is he Steve Gluckstern who can be a good #2 without funds to own in Phoenix, but a disaster under Howard Milstein who cut the budget to nothing?

NHL vetting/approval are never a lock. I would like to research more why Jon Ledecky left Ted Leonsis/Capitals.

Enough historical references.

For the next two years/perhaps longer this is still Charles Wang's hockey franchise as majority owner.

Two years is an eternity. Not having funds to pay Wang as they claim a larger stake in the franchise could stop everything at some point.

Josh Ho-Sang Rips Into Hockey Canada, Talks NY/Training Camp

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/18/2014 06:11:00 PM | |




D Keith Seabrook Signs With Bridgeport

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/16/2014 04:02:00 PM |
wevancouver.com: Reports Keith Seabrook who did not play last season anywhere, and who is coming off a year in Italy prior to that recently signed with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

His inactive twitter account describes himself as an ex-professional hockey player.

Seabrook is at this event with the Stanley Cup for a tournament, his brother plays for the Blackhawks.

NYIFC Comments: 
Everyone saw the depth chart for the organization, seems to be no place in Bridgeport for Seabrook or the other twelve defenders under contract.

Stockton with it's recent signings list four defenders.

Bryan Trottier Interview: "Al Arbour Going Through A Little Tough Time With Dementia Right Now"

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/12/2014 09:04:00 PM | | |
Buffalo Sabres new assistant head coach Bryan Trottier gave an interview today where he disclosed Al Arbour is going through a little tough time with dementia right now, among other past Islander related subjects. 
(4:15 mark in audio)

NYIFC Comments:
Horrible news. Thoughts and prayers to Mr Arbour/Claire and family.

A very informative interview that was started about his time as a New York Islander with an interesting story behind a not so flattering image of Trottier.

Best of luck to Bryan Trottier. I wish management had considered him over Greg Cronin.

Bettman's Past Comments Reflect Barroway Lawsuit: "Has No Merit"

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/12/2014 11:01:00 AM | | |
Has no merit is the Islanders response to this lawsuit.

Folks know here I try and find direct quotes not to waste your time. I will play no favorites here and go where the quoted information takes me.

Gary Bettman owes Charles Wang nothing, and will not protect him to this degree where he opens himself/league up to a lawsuit from Mr Barroway which the fellow BOG members will not be happy about.

Why did Barroway not sue the NHL/Bettman with Wang? 

If Barroway alleges that an agreement to sell the team was made in on 3/10/14 why is Gary Bettman directly quoted as saying the exact opposite not only on 4/24/14 but on 6/4/14?

Bettman did not give some vague statement because the league was not ready to announce a done deal, he flat out said it's Wang's decision and is under no league pressure to make a decision or sell the team.

Bottom line Gary Bettman is directly quoted saying there is no sale/no pressure for Wang to sell long after this supposed done deal was made, that does not sound like a man who received faxed documents about an an agreed sale on 3/10/2014 with specific details of the closing provided. 

Done deal 3/10/14? No. 

I'll see if I can find more quoted updates.

And of course there was Howard Dolgon's mystery buyer a month after this supposed closed sale on 3/10/14? Did Mr Barroway  not read the papers like the rest of us and immediately pick up the telephone and demand what's going on here, we have an agreement from 3/10/14 which was not in any of these lawsuit papers?

Howard Dolgon was speaking almost daily. The updates with his quoted comments were posted here.

Why did Mr Barroway not file his lawsuit on 4/19/14 or shortly upon after learning of this? 



Wang Hit With Ten Million Dollar Lawsuit By Andrew Barroway For Backing Out Of Sale's Agreement Per Court Documents

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/11/2014 05:15:00 PM | |
Updated 8/12/14:
courts.state.ny.us: Lawsuit pfd file in full 

Updated 8/11/14-10:50pm:
Cablevision which owns Msg/Newsday has published the Barroway Lawsuit which includes e-mails between team officials about a completed sale in a 95 page document.
 
NY Daily News released quotes in a lawsuit by Andrew Barroway in court documents against Charles Wang that he backed out of a sales agreement along with other allegations.

The NHL considers this a private matter, does that mean it's not their business eventually? 

NYIFC Comments:
I'm reading this information so updating as I go. 

The lease at Barclay's is binding on new owner. 

1-Barroway wants the team regardless of lawsuit at the agreed to price.
2-The lease terms per court documents are binding at Barclay's Center.
3-The agreement included the sale of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
4-The 2010 sublease is still in effect.

5-The documents claim the team owns the parking lot, that is not correct. No mention is made of the Marriott or connecting abatement. 

NHL/private matter=no binding agreement for them at this time.

Now we know that an Andrew Barroway does exist given nothing but his total silence to date, and quietly formed a company called NY Ice.

Bottom line what Mr Barroway claims/alleges in court documents is only one side of the story so we have to see where this goes next if anywhere at all.

As for Charles Wang he has every legal right to make every penny he can from a potential sale unless he made a binding legal agreement to sell. 

No shock the NY Daily News (via Ranger salesman) which rarely covers occasional home games of course is writing the story. This is the only kind of story fringe outlets assign a writer to cover about the New York Islanders anymore. Not Tavares/players/prospects or games.

Jeff Vanderbeek got the Devils some negative press too for not having money so he had to sell, a lot more coverage than their teams games receive also. 

Mr Barroway has a history of not purchasing teams he enters negotiations with for what little that's worth here.

Not taking sides but if Barroway wants the team and had an agreement, demand the team immediately, and speak outright of your plans as the new owner.

Note/Updated-Agreement contained a confidentially clause where neither side can discuss anything so Barroway/Wang cannot speak to anyone.

Howard Dolgon spoke daily on the record for a third party daily but with no agreement.

Charles Wang either eliminates this distraction or he finds a buyer to replace him as owner, it's hardly a  shock his time as owner is winding down, it's something that's been expected for a few years.

This is not something the franchise needs entering it's final season at the Coliseum in this manner.

New York/Bridgeport Depth Chart

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/09/2014 09:41:00 AM |
New York/Bridgeport have had many seasons where they go through fifty players, but for now there is the twenty three man NHL roster limit/fifty contracts.

Tradition here/NHL means Dal Colle/Ho-Sang are signed to an ELC no later than training camp as first round picks.

27 players under contract/23 roster spots.

New York:
Nelson-Tavares-Okposo
Kulemin-Grabovski-Bailey
Grabner-Nielsen-Clutterbuck
Martin-Cizikas-McDonald

Lee-Strome-Boulton-Conacher

Hamonic-deHaan
Visnovsky-Hickey
Strait-Carker-Czuczman
Brennan-Donovan

Halak
Johnson
*******************************
Bridgeport:
Collberg
Zolniercyzk
Clark
Persson
Sundstrom
Skille
Quine
Gallant
Mouillierat
Langkow
Phillips
Pereira
Halmo

Ness
Pokka
Reinhart
Pulock
Pedan
Mayfield
Pelech
Leduc
Graham
Vaughn

Poulin
Leggio

52 signed NHL/AHL contracts, not counting qualified players in Europe. Ville Pokka (or others) can play in Europe under a New York Islander contract, but cannot have a contractual agreement with two teams.

Charles Wang Speaks/Audio: Interviews On New York Islanders Future 2011/2012

New York Islander Fan Central | 8/06/2014 07:36:00 AM |

Charles Wang's past interviews 2011 pre-referendum on 7/26/11 & post Barclay's Center Press Conference 10/24/12 about real estate, politics, the teams fan demographics of where his season ticket holders come from and what his future plans were.
Very consistent in his words beyond exciting product on ice.

Unfortunately the interview with Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton on 4/15/2009 where many (including Newsday) made a big deal of Wang saying he regretted purchasing the club, but were not listening to him laughing/joking as he said it has been taken down but the page with the link is still available at Islanders website directing fans to the audio link.

The former Lighthouse website archives also has three links and an MP3 file to this interview that no longer is hosted by WFAN.