Playing Out The String For New York/Notables

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/29/2014 06:59:00 AM | | | | | |
Olympics-Not interested. Amateurs should only be participating, but this is when the players act like the league in their sense of entitlement.

Vanek comments on if it were Penguins-The Islanders got the favorable review against Pittsburgh on Thursday in the third period on the 4-5 goal, even if Kris King's explanation was as insulting as television ratings release of Stadium series games or announced sellout on Wednesday.

I like Vanek, however when he was traded he was outspoken, it did not play well then or on Saturday.

Hold the lead for another thirty seconds, problem solved.

Outdoor Game-Not interested. New York should be hosting the Canadians in the Heritage classic featuring only NHL Dynasties. It's the fake Yankee Stadium funded by taxpayers. (Same as the taxpayer funded monument in Queens)

A twice convicted felon (Steinbrenner) got paid, Bernie Madoff's pal, Fred Wilpon got paid all via taxpayers. 

The Cuomo family defend everyone getting taxpayer money with Mario Cuomo celebrating outside of court with Wilpon. (just not the New York Islanders)

The House that Ruth built (dramatically remodeled 1973-76) was reduced to rubble five years ago. 

Only thing more phony will be shaking hands afterward with a team they play again------FRIDAY.

I guess Friday is when the Msg people will be allowed to comment (like Barclay's game/practice they went AWOL) again as did Msg network in terms of live practice coverage.

So after all the Ranger media salesman for years telling everyone they must host an outdoor game, now the spin is they never could to keep their taxpayer handout?

Go figure someone would have reported that over the years. Any neutral site or European home game should have made the tax money forfeit long ago.

The Rangers were the home team against the Devils, in Halifax in November of 1993 in a neutral site game.

It really screams these tiny updates on Islanders at Barclay's Center are just that with no credible confirmed league information with quotes. 

Looks like Andrew MacDonald's burned out, and Hamonic is hurt, sadly I wrote this was coming in November, what's Capuano to do? 


Kevin Poulin took a team from ten under to three under, on a team with no experienced top four defenders, the sixth goal against the Bruins means he's not ready?

Please stop. 

This team almost had it's longest road winning streak in decades with Poulin  in net.

Visnovsky's return, great news, he's signed for next year you keep him healthy-No Olympics. 

Five games under, Islanders now need to play eighteen games over to have any chance at a playoff spot, and they have not had two days off since 1/8. (unlike most teams)

Sorry, however the rest is simply playing out the string. (it's been that way since November)

Do not know where it will go with Vanek or MacDonald, however I expect both traded at the deadline, unless resigned front-loaded. (which Islanders cannot do)  

Wang went to court on 1/28 for opening arguments on Marriott foreclosure, after again hosting the kids for the Lighthouse Tournament.

Charles Wang's Marriott Hotel Heading To Foreclosure Hearings

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/18/2014 07:39:00 AM | | |
The Marriott Hotel is going to court for a foreclosure hearing that Charles Wang is contesting via court documents.

Wang in 2006 spent twenty two million dollars to renovate the hotel built in 1982.  He purchased it in 2005 for ninety million dollars, and partnered with Scott Rechler later in it's ownership as part of the Lighthouse Project. In 2010 Wang bought back Rechler's share after doing more renovating which was announced on the Islanders website. 

In 2006 the Town of Hempstead's Industrial Development Agency approved a 10-year property tax abatement program for the hotel. If foreclosure is approved and the hotel is sold, the abatement will not transfer, said Fred Parola, executive director of the Hempstead IDA.

There was a 2011 lawsuit against Charles Wang/parties over some broker fees that went back as far as 2008.

NYIFC Comments: 
I remembered the article on this last year almost to the date (1/26/13) the time line for the renovations included 2007-08.
 
Yes I know, that's sixty four million for Vanek (8years/8 million) where he's going to want forty million in the first three years front-loaded) so he losses no money in a possible future buyout, another 25-30m for Andrew MacDonald. (also front-loaded)

And come July there will be five other teams (some corporate) more than happy to give it to both of them less the eighth year for Vanek.


I guess those eight dollar tickets just don't pay the bills like they used to along with decades of Wang being one of the few owners not to receive a taxpayer funded arena or exemption for owning the Islanders.

At least he got a tax abatement on the hotel.


If Wang losses the hotel (via bankruptcy/default/foreclosure) or if it's sold off he likely losses the walk of champions connecting abatement to the Coliseum or the area between where Bruce Ratner plans to renovate to another party which could explain why a plan was not filed with the TOH by Ratner to date.

Ratner's final plans are detailed. I added in who controls what to scale.


















Wang losing the hotel means, he also losses revenue from NHL/other teams visiting, plus whatever savings to house his players there, to say nothing of his investment which could impact his financial ability to run the Islanders.

It's a story worth following because if Ratner follows through on his plans which he said was on schedule this week, the Coliseum is closed, and begins renovations in Sept 2015, or as soon as Smg's lease expires.

Someone else in the future may own the land between where Ratner's planning to renovate. 

With the Coliseum closed for renovations there is no NHL/AHL business to be conducted there. There is no one booking the hotel for events.

This also gives Wang less reason to house an AHL team there in the future or bring the Islanders back to a renovated facility, with those promises made by Bruce Ratner as part of his verbal agreement which he can walk away from at any time.

Ok, Wang contested, and there will be a hearing. We'll see. 



New York Badly Needs To Rebuild Forward Depth

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/16/2014 08:04:00 AM |
I understand Brock Nelson, Casey Cizikas, Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, John Tavares, Matt Martin, Frans Nielsen & recently demoted Ryan Strome were all drafted by the Islanders and/or saw some time in their system.

Colin McDonald was signed out of Bridgeport but was an AHL veteran.

Andrers Lee, (who's not an eighteen year old) Alan Quine, Johan Sundstrom, John Persson would be the next level. Mike Halmo who was not drafted has had a good statistical season.

Kirill Kabanov in his first full healthy year has not impressed statistically. Jason Clark the same.

Beyond that the organization has 2013 picks Taylor Cammarata, Viktor Crus Rydberg & the folly of Kirill Petrov ever signing next summer when another contract is over.

That's the end of the drafted/signed forward prospects in the teams system unless qualified David Ullstrom returns.

For most organizations the key to continued success will be in how it develops, who steps in to replace the depth lost. The clock is ticking on Okposo's contract, on Vanek's time with the Islanders unless management offers him a huge front-loaded contract (expect Nelson to replace him on wing), on Grabner's five year deal, and eventually on Tavares contract.

The three years left on Nielsen's contract after this year will go quickly.

********************************************
On defense the Bridgeport depth chart thinned out with Pedan's injury, with Wishart's blood circulation surgery, with the Islander callups.

Mike Dalhuisen has been sent to the ECHL, Mark Cantin is in the final year of his three year deal.

Obviously with Reinhart, Pulock there is top flight help coming in this department. 

There is room for the Islanders to sign their defenders under 5/31 deadline in: Jesse Graham, Loic Leduc, Adam Pelech.

 I believe those rules also apply to Ville Pokka.

Realistic Playoff Contention For New York ? Almost Impossible

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/09/2014 06:08:00 PM |
11-1-2 is what got New York from two games under five hundred to seven over & the final playoff seed a year ago.

Eleven out of twelve games that defense gave up two goals or less 3/24/13-4/16/13. 
In the last eleven games the 2013-14 New York Islanders have given up three or more goals eight times.

That kind of defense does not get it done, as much as Calvin deHaan has impressed.

The forty eight game/whatever was one thing, this is something much different/more difficult. 

This time the club is six games under (without it's starting goaltender again) even with it's recent run of overdue wins a byproduct of some poor opposition goaltending. (Boston, Minnesota, Toronto, Rangers)

This time there are two more teams (Detroit/Columbus) to compete against them who both would have won the eighth seed outright a year ago in this conference.

The math never lies. It's going to likely take 95 points (at least twelve-fourteen games over) to win the eighth seed because simply by head to head games the teams ahead of them play, the Islanders have no room for anything but winning.

 Nothing short of that (and much more) brings them even into the conversation beyond a footnote.

If it makes you feel better to go by the past with a 15/15 conference and claim, weak conference so 92 points, that likely still is not enough with sixteen teams for eight spots. 

Nice to finally see some defensive chemistry, and a team showing mild signs of being able to close out a game or two, it's not even close yet to the run of one goal allowed games during 11-1-2.

Or even the beginning of what it's going to take. 

One regulation win at home since November? This team has to almost win out at home now. 

I do think Poulin/Nilsson can give them a high enough level of goaltending. 

We have seen the past second half runs (Capuano's interim season) as a sign of a defense built to last that never carried over, even though the group is young, the past has to be acknowledged.

Here's the reality:
From this point on the club must play at least eighteen games over five hundred likely even better.

And for those who find the number eighteen formidable the Islanders are 1-18
(Colorado overtime win) in games where they scored two or less goals.

I hope I'm wrong but see that reality as almost impossible.

On 11/15/13: The numbers were the same with the club only three games under five hundred.



New York Islanders Meet President Reagan With Stanley Cup

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/05/2014 03:05:00 PM | | |
Given how I really hate leaving updates about New York Islander Fan Central as the latest entry very long: 

I was asked (via e-mail) about the image of the Stanley Cup Champion New York Islanders meeting President Ronald Reagan, and where I got it from? 

Not sure, I replied it was one of many found over the years, and likely in a media guide or yearbook.

Turns out it was the 1983-84 media guide.

But I found something else I wished to share with everyone.

The complete transcript of the Islanders meeting President Ronald Reagan which I had never seen. 

I have read things like Mike Bossy again being cut out of the picture, or how Reagan took a few questions, and was met with some political questions.

 Remarks on Greeting the New York Islanders, the National Hockey League Champions


The President. Well, I think we know why we're gathered here, and that's to congratulate the Islanders from New York who won the Stanley Cup. [Pointing to a table next to the podium] And that's the Cup. And they have won it four times consecutively, four times in a row. The record, held by the Canadiens, a Montreal team, is five times in a row. And it would be awfully difficult for me to wish you the good luck of breaking the record when, in order to do that, you would have to beat the Washington Caps again. [Laughter] And there are two representatives of the Caps here with us.

But I do want to congratulate all of you on that and express my appreciation for your coming here to be congratulated. And would you please convey those congratulations, also, to your teammates, because I know they're not all here. But we're delighted to have you here as our guests. Sorry that we haven't got ice. [Laughter]

Team member. We've had enough. [Laughter]
Mr. Torrey. Mr. President, on behalf of the team, I'd like to give you this rug that was handmade by an Eskimo woman in Canada and given to the team.
The President. Made by an Eskimo woman in Canada?
Mr. Torrey. Yes.
The President. Handmade. Hey, I'm delighted.
Mr. Torrey. We'd like to have you show that prominently, particularly when your friend Sonny Werblin comes to visit you. [Laughter] We want to be sure he sees this. [Laughter]
The President. As a matter of fact, I'll just ask him to sit down with me on the rug— [laughter]
—and we'll talk things over.
Mr. Torrey. Thank you very much.
The President. All right. Thank you very much.
Mr. Torrey. My pleasure.
The President. I'm pleased to have it.
Mr. Smith. [Presenting the President with an autographed hockey stick] Here's a little something from our teammates that I want to give you. And they say, if you have any trouble with Congress, feel free to use it on them. [Laughter]
The President. There are some here who are on the way to a vote, and I hope that they're going to vote right. [Laughter]
And I understand that you're the one who has the motto, being the goalie, that "The puck stops here." [Laughter]
Mr. Smith. Well, sometimes, not all the time.
The President. [Laughing] I accept this, but I'll remind you of something. Maybe you already know that years ago, when Notre Dame's football teams were really at the top of the list all the time under the great Knute Rockne, there was a Carnegie investigation as to the overemphasis on athletics. And at one of the hearings where Rockne was defending football, one of the professors on the commission asked him if it was necessary to have and make so important a game so violent as football. And Rockne asked him what he would suggest. And the professor said, "Well, what about hockey?" [Laughter] And Rockne said that he had once suggested that at Notre Dame, but the president of Notre Dame said that "Notre Dame would never adopt a game that put a club in the hands of an Irishman." [Laughter]
And you have done so— [laughter] —right now.
Well, I thank you all again. And congratulations. It's wonderful to have you here. Thank you very much.
And to those Congressmen.—
Reporter. Are you going to win the vote on MX?
The President. Hopeful.
Q. Are you going to come talk to us afterwards?
The President. Well, I don't know. We'll have to see what takes place. You know, I have to look at the schedule.
Q. If you win, you will; if you lose, you won't? [Laughter]
The President. I just want to know that all the Congressmen who are here are hurrying back, because I understand that the vote is due, very quickly now.
Q. Shoot the puck.
The President. What?
Q. You wouldn't turn down our invitation to come talk to us, would you, Mr. President?
The President. If I can choose the subjects, no. [Laughter]
Q. Shoot the puck.
The President. I'm the goalie. The puck stops here. [Laughter]
Q. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 4:39 p.m. in the Rose Garden at the White House. Bill Torrey is the team's general manager, and Bill Smith is the goaltender for the Islanders.


Sonny Werblin for those wondering ran Madison Square Garden, and demanded their yearly taxpayer exemption check to keep from moving in 1981, which is now up to seventeen million dollars a year for whoever owns the Garden. 


New York Islander Fan Central Announcement

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/05/2014 12:14:00 AM |









Sorry everyone. I dislike writing these entries as much as most like seeing them, however out of respect it's important to keep everyone informed when changes are made.

1.  Wordpress blog deleted for New York Islander Fan Central.
Simply put it was taking several attempts (sometimes over a few days) to import a new entry to the Wordpress website. I wanted a generic site for folks who only have IE browsers to have a place to access entries who were unable to do so here. This is a compatibility issue between blogger/IE for all blogger hosted websites.  

Even the prospect blog has this issue for year's with no posted messages.  

I have contacted Google many times about this hoping for a solution. 

My advice would be find a browser more compatible with the blogger platform, to my knowledge IE versions 7,8,9 are the problem. 

2. Disqus comment system removed.

That means all comments back to 2012 were deleted. My apologies, but it's more important to have a comment system that works. For a few years they were turned off.

Even now most entries receive responses by e-mail.

I added some 1981 playoff images of sweeping the Rangers to make up for it.

Okposo Did Not Deserve USA Spot/New York Deserves Better Than Msg's Howie Rose Disrespect

New York Islander Fan Central | 1/04/2014 12:44:00 AM | | |
We all like Kyle Okposo.
He had four goals in forty eight games during the 2013/whatever.
American Colin McDonald had three more goals, and only seven less points. (17/24)

Okposo's team is currently dead last in whatever this division is called, despite his numbers. These spots are not decided on part of one season. When team USA hockey sat down last summer to construct a roster the notion of discussing Okposo being included would be comical based on four goals in forty eight games.

The past matters.

Of course Okposo represented team USA/Islanders well for years.
If he puts together five years like his first half he'll be on the next team if there is one.
**************************************************************
Olympic Amnesia? 
Does anyone have any memory of the past?

The New York Islanders had Rick DiPietro, Mark Parrish, Jason Blake representing team USA in 2006, Peter Laviolette was the head coach. No Rangers were on the team. 

That would be the 2005-06 NHL season, the one the Islanders missed the playoffs for the first time since 2000-2001. The one Mike Milbury resigned, and Steve Stirling was fired.

Or the one the Rangers returned to the playoffs after eight years. 

The notion team USA was biased for/against the Islanders (or any franchise) is absurd. 

The NHLPA did not hijack the Olympic teams from amateurs until 1998, many of those clubs were comprised of same former amateurs who turned pro.
****************************************************************
When Will Howie Rose Time End With This Franchise:
Too bad Jiggs McDonald could not stay with the team a few more days.

Was the mini winning streak making Howie Rose so unhappy so he had to come out in the snow, and play the disrespect card, telling us how many opposing fans are in the stands all night long?

Never mind Charles Wang just ate the cost of 13,000 tickets out of pocket for future games while corporate teams never give fans any free tickets, and get taxpayer money to finance their payroll.

Long ago Joe Micheletti said Wang doing this cost him about five hundred thousand dollars. (end of Wang infomercial)

Butch Goring did not play the franchise respect card with Okposo (to make his point) or the team, he is a former Islander head coach who was fired (under Wang) in the last twenty years.

You know how quick the announcer would be fired in Columbus, Florida, and most other franchises for doing what Rose did?

Anyone who's read this website knows I have been very critical of Howie Rose in the past, and would be thrilled with his dismissal. In 2003 the NY Post reported Islanders wanted him out, but we know who hires/fires announcers, and it's not the New York Islanders so he stays. (Maybe Kenny Albert has passed him on Rosen replacement list)

Howie Rose has called Islander games for the Dolan family since 1996 when it was still Sportschannel, and they were just getting started operating Msg with ITT. (after owning the Isles cable rights since 1978 which is how Charles Dolan was able to start Cablevision to amass his fortune) 

Mr Rose is one of the big reasons for disrespect for close to twenty years between his many games off,  quick/constant references to any opposing fans at the Nassau Coliseum (never acknowledging Islander fans at MSG) an absence of doing anything for this franchise besides calling games, and quickly leaving afterward.

Google Rose name, he's pictured more at Msg recently (for renovation) than the Nassau Coliseum, he never met a Ranger interview he did not want to give. 

Howie Rose somewhat snobbish list of what he considers NHL outposts are also insulting to this franchise, and many others. Nashville's David Poile is team USA's general manage, one of his so-called NHL outposts. 

Sam Rosen runs downstairs, and interviews Cablevision's head coach on television after every game, when was the last time Rose went near the Islander locker room beyond telling the fans there should never be a morning skate?

Rose is off air five ten minutes after games. Goring goes downstairs to work with Peter Ruttgaizer on postgame, he's starts the pregame from the ice with an interview. 

Rose never talks up this team, playoffs or not between baseball references. He writes nothing/almost never does an interview unless it's Mets/Ranger related. He went to one Islander Casino night, showed up for one Referendum/Lighthouse rally. 

A lot of franchises did not make the playoffs in 2002, 03, 04, 06. Many franchises have never won anything do not put a twenty year referendum of league perception on a telecast.

Never mind Mr Rose true feelings coming out in Atlanta years earlier when he got caught on camera.

On 5/11/13 New York was eliminated from the NHL playoffs.
On 5/23/13: Mr Rose was out selling his book, and talking about his favorite NHL team.
It was not the New York Islanders.

 
 
Howie Rose is one of the biggest symbols of the teams struggles since 1996.

On Feb 6th 2013 he made clear he wants to remain with the Islanders the rest of his career even though he works for Msg here.

If you’re wondering about the chances of Rose ever succeeding either Sam Rosen or Kenny Albert for a Rangers “dream job,” think again. Rose was taken aback in being asked about that:

“I’m not going there, man. I’m with the Islanders for 18 years. I think the work I’ve done here speaks to the committment I’ve made here,” Rose says. “I’m the Islanders play-by-play voice. I’ve actually done it longer than anybody in the franchise’s history. My goal is to do every last hockey game of my career for the Islanders. It’s really a tired subject, I think.”

Beyond one stirring moment, on his short list of possibilities to eclipse that June night from 19 years ago involves his childhood favorite:

“Well, I’ll let you know if I ever get to make the final call of the Mets winning the World Series,” Rose admits. “I still think that’ll be the topper for me.”
“That would be the opportunity for me that would really be the icing on the cake of my career,” Rose says. “More than just the icing, it would be the taste, the flavor, the substance, everything if I actually got to announce the Mets are World Champions.”
Notice there is nothing on the Islanders winning the Stanley Cup as being something special for his career, he'll be gone doing Mets games long before.

He's been "faking it" long enough, our fans deserve someone who feels likes Mr Rose does about the Rangers, and Mets, he'll never be that person for our team. 

It's time for the New York Islanders to publicly request a change.