Realty Check 2015-16 New York Islanders. ...It's Not Working Out

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/18/2015 10:19:00 AM |
I know how folks will respond. 

1. They did not lose a game in regulation for a month.
2. All teams have bad stretches.
3. They are in a playoff spot.
4. They got a bad bounce.
5. Colorado (insert other team or goaltender) was playing very well.
6. They are playing the ugly 2-1 games you always write and tell us they need to play.

Reality check/Counterpoint:
1. The goaltending stole a bunch of games or won some shootout/overtime games (Halak vs Flyers/Greiss vs everyone)  they got an incredible break in Colmubus with Jenner kicking in a puck that was going over the line, and Schneider was not very good on a lot of outside shots vs Devils, who were without top players.

Is Okposo getting an unassisted gift against Columbus progress? 

How come we do not see this team do what Florida did when they were injured/sick, and flat out take over a game? The Florida Panthers for the better part of a season and a half are never an easy team to beat, even though becoming the Florida Jagr's will ultimately be a step back.

2. When is this team going to have a good stretch where they simply outclass a team with the game in the balance? They broke Chicago's win streak last year and flat out wore them down as they did with a lot of games like the one vs Tampa they came-back last December.

Last year all I kept reading from opposing coaches is how hard this team is to play against, now it seems much easier. The Blue Jackets players were talking about how gassed the Islanders were when they pinned them in for long stretches a week ago.

3. Playoff spots come/go in a week in this league, it's going to be a fight for a spot to the final days if they are there at all.

4. When are they going to make the other team give them a bad bounce or work hard enough to force the other team to make mistakes that turns a game in the Islander favor?

5. Tired of writing that, it's time this team start outclassing teams and beating whoever is playing well, that's what good teams/true cup contenders do a fair amount of the time.

6. Simply put this team is not locking down it's competition in the third period, the blown leads or the other teams push always comes while our team basically does nothing to stop it or start their own beyond great goaltending. I do not see that as changing to a defensive system at the cost of some offense after writing about it recently, it seems more like they are tried, worn down and have little left in the tank.

Hanging on is not a defensive strategy, even when you win/lose a skills competition, and stave off regulation losses which cannot happen for long in this conference playoff format. 
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Bottom Line:  
The 2015-16 New York Islanders have a roster full of underachieving players, mediocre special teams at best, zero killer instinct or are simply outworked with games in balance far too often with the usual blown leads.

Has John Tavares ever looked this frustrated or ineffective? 

Why can't they make the opposition blow leads or fold under pressure in the third period? 
Can they even make changes without a penalty during the 3/3 skills competition? 
 
It's unacceptable when Anders Lee (a good skater who used to score on breakaways) has four goals being used like Mark Parrish, that Strome is a non-factor. Leddy, Hamonic should be progressing offensively, Boychuk should be scoring some goals, and visible. Kulemin have any goals in over a month? Cizikas?

Funny how the one guy who is playing better is Grabovski who is finally playing his career position after a year getting concussions as a winger.

How many line changes does it take with the revolving left wingers for Tavares? 

Sure we may continue seeing the team win this way, if they get in the playoffs (and win) no one will care.

But ultimately what's being built here or what are we seeing that indicates the New York Islanders are growing into a cup contender? I saw some signs last year that did not hold up vs Washington who were waiting to lose that series.

I wrote in May that there should be a coaching change, not sure a change now does anything and could influence some pending UFA to leave, but seriously if the team is just hanging on who cares?

The dynasty New York Islanders grew into a team that many felt could beat the opposition any way they wanted to play against them.

Can this group grow into a team that can win one single way against anyone? 

It's not working out.


Nets/Barclay's Center Sold To Prokhorov: Coliseum Update

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/16/2015 05:43:00 PM |

NYIFC Comment: Does not make clear if Prokhorov must sell together as one entity, or can sell Barclay's to one person & Nets to another. Mr Prokhorov now is financially responsible for the Islanders iron-clad lease at Barclay's center, and must pay teams majority/minority owners.

It's unclear if Wang's agreement where he has rights to live streaming all Barclay's events (besides Nets) changes here. ITV/Neulion coverage seems gone with team mostly using Msg content which could be Dolan, but likely not because practice coverage reports also diminished vs past format.

It also means Mr Prokhorov's people at Onexim Sports & Entertainment now entirely call the shots in terms of running the arena with a basketball team they already had an eighty percent stake in, along with running most of the Islanders business operations/team website.


NYIFC Comment: REIT goes beyond my knowledge or if Bruce Ratner can own any stake in Coliseum on 1/1/16 and continue renovations, but bottom line is Prokhorov can sell his 85 percent stake in Coliseum to someone who would control new arena lease & it's commitment to bring an AHL team to Coliseum as anchor tenant.

Jon Ledecky/Scott Malkin are not listed as minority owners of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on the teams website, only the Islanders. Sound-tigers website does reflect the changes in team president/personnel since last summer.

Charles Wang's Harbor Yard Sports & Entertainment operates Webster Bank Arena until 2021, provided a "Professional Hockey League" in that facility. Bill Finch who negotiated the agreement with Wang in 2011 is out as mayor.

No folks, once again Jon Ledecky/Scott Malkin/Charles Wang are not breaking their lease at Barclay's with whatever revenue they receive for the downsized moderately (90 mil) renovated Nassau Coliseum with no luxury boxes, and crowds under 10,000 on weeknights most nights since 1989 who want twenty dollar tickets, and a max payroll.

New York Notables: Status Quo

New York Islander Fan Central | 12/11/2015 10:04:00 AM |
All that matters is point total/standings. We all learned the lessons of December 2014 were not enough come playoff time.

2014-15 is long gone, this team has a different personality, better in some ways/worse in others. 

6-0-2 is very nice (necessary/must continue to remain in mix) I see some signs this team is attempting to convert to a defensive strategy like many of the divisional counterparts where they have low maintenance 2-1 wins, but it's been more about the goaltending than the team defense. 

And the goalies are paid to steal a few which Halak did in Philadelphia, who are playing well.

They still lose leads in third periods far too often to write I'm seeing true progress. Sure the refs robbed them in Ottawa but that happens. 

One thing for sure it does not reflect a disciplined team when you take bench minors in overtime because you cannot change properly.

Beyond that, given this teams shootout success no issue playing 3/3 very conservative.



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Honestly folks what would you have me write about the many, many peripheral subjects?

I seriously doubt anyone with ownership stakes in Barclays, Nets or Coliseum today will be here past two years or many of the people working for them now.

Someone has to pay the new Islander majority owners their lease money, who have a huge wave of home grown free agents to resign next summer. We have no clue what they will do.

The Nassau Coliseum re-opens 12/10/16 per it's scheduled events, it will never host an NHL hockey team full time again. 

No More Hiding For 2015-16 New York Islanders

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/27/2015 09:01:00 AM |
I do this entry every year so here is the short version.

The math never lies, it does change a little.

This is a conference where 16 teams fight for only 8 playoff spots, unlike the West. It's not the days of 16 teams qualifying  in a 21 team league. It's also far from the days of 2002-2003 where the one game over five hundred 83 point Islander team qualified.

Ryan Strome (or anyone) wants a place in this lineup they better earn it nightly now. 




Hamonic Trade Request: Personal Family Matter

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/19/2015 04:12:00 PM |
Islanders website: Has quotes from Travis Hamonic & teammates regarding his trade request. 

“The root of all this is a personal family matter of mine that I hold dear to my heart,” Hamonic said. “It has nothing to do with the organization or how I’ve been treated here for six years of playing and another two or three since I was drafted. I’ve honestly been treated like gold from the start.”

NHL.com: Hamonic had nothing but praise for management, Capuano commented, as did his teammates.

NYIFC Comments: 
What more can be written? A personal family matter is just that.....not our business.

At at some point Snow will accommodate his request, or Hamonic will have to go home. 

 He reported to camp, played the games, but sooner or later Snow will have to act at a disadvantage same as when Chris Campoli requested a trade.

How it was leaked in Canada was a disgrace, but that's par for the course.
 
The team will have to carry on which is why you develop a prospect system.

Hopefully a future return will help the organization or the money saved will help retain one of their many UFA players.

Seems for the moment Hamonic will continue to play games for the New York Islanders.

New York Notables

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/12/2015 12:52:00 AM |
If you are asking if I have been surprised by anything that's happened the answer would be everything has happened exactly as expected from the Islanders attendance, to media game branding them, and how poor a job Mr Yormark, and his staff has done from day one along with our fans reactions.

He's great at signing sponsors/advertisers/booking events, he's a nightmare in the fans relations marketing department, anyone who followed the NJ Nets knew, same with his brother in Florida with the Panthers. 

Filling seats for Islander games anywhere in early months is beyond anyone or their marketing, we all knew that since 1989, and many teams have same issues (including Rangers, Devils, Bruins, Sabres, Wings) for openers with many others. (announced numbers not withstanding)

And last I checked the LIRR also runs from Manhattan to Barclay's for those release figures.

11/12: LI Herald had most detailed informaton on Coliseum but did not include D league basketball team since announced. 

NYIFC Comments:  
Now we know why that mid-August ground breaking took until a week past the contractual agreement date. Ratner had more unloading to do, which includes his majority stake in the Coliseum.

Basically he's renovating for someone else with a small stake which allows the lease to continue.

Either Nassau let Ratner/Prokhorov hold off acquiring an AHL team, or they signed a team for 2017-18, and it will remain under wraps until late in the 2016-17 AHL season.

For now the NBA will not let Prokhorov carry any more debt so the full sale of the Nets/Barclay's is on hold before Ratner can unload his stakes.

Ultimately Prokhorov is buying everything to keep it or sell it all to another party, given the constant flux of articles on him selling expect a sale of everything (including his stake in Coliseum) sooner or later.

We have no clue if Wang wants any part of this or his soon to be majority owners, their absence screams no.

What's Wang going to do in Bridgeport tell the fans happy 15th, we're leaving in two years? Bill Finch is out as Bridgeport's mayor which does not change his operating agreement until 2021 to put a pro hockey team in that building.

Wang's job as a grown up (which he used to ask of people) will be to run Iceworks/Twin Rinks/WBA when he's out of the majority owner business.

11/11: NY Post Mr Yormark basically feels Nets have been in existence only three years, and this is a transition year with rich praise for Msg/Knicks brand which has had many past years of empty seats, and a laughingstock for well over a decade beyond one year.

NYIFC Comments: 
The Nets moved into Barclay's having made the equivalent of three Vanek trades for several 1st round picks, to about 2018-19  where those players had the ability of Weight-Guerin when they signed here.


Mr Yormark sounds like a man who knows he needs Dolan/NHL permission for the NYI to have a second NHL home four times in regular season or may need a job at Chase Garden with Botta/ Jim Cerney at some future point when Prokhorov sells everything to a third party.

It's not going to help his resume making an enemy of Dolan.
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I asked a question the other day where it's impossible to know the answer because our media is so flat out awful. Most do not report the Rangers practice travel miles from Greenburg to Chase Garden is almost the exact same distance for a daily commute from Iceworks to Barclays.

But only the Islanders home games is an all-day road trip? Enough former players lived in NYC when they played for NYI, Brian Rolston commuted from NJ after Trent Hunter trade.
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Espn Ranger die-hard, Linda Cohn did a nice video. The Islanders/players thanks for their generous time was her going into ESPN studio to introduce her work with another pathetic Mausoleum crack, and how the Islanders could have moved to Portland.

Thanks for nothing. 

Never heard Portland, did Scott Burnside feed her that one or is Katie (Strang) Allen taking her usual shots from afar before she starts selling everything Mike Illitch continues taking from taxpayers in Detroit as positive?
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And of course Howie Rose feels our team name should now be Brooklyn Islanders, while he covers Queens Mets, and our cups were not considered NY by some. (he means Ranger fans like him in media)

Like I wrote, expected all of it. 

Seriously can't this part time misery machine just take the winter off, or wait at home for Rosen's job?

He does nothing for our franchise while Goring does all the running around with Hogan. Rosen runs downstairs to interview the coach, has Rose been in a locker room the last ten years besides saying morning skates should be outlawed?

Hasn't he socked away enough cash from Msg since 1996?  He's no Bob Murphy, who was the Mets version of Jiggs McDonald.

Rose gives our franchise nothing, his only honest moment was in Atlanta long ago.

No, did not forget my question......

Here's my question:
Who is paying the Islanders (2031) Devils (2024) television contracts now that Altice is buying Cablevision?

My math says those numbers come to about six hundred million dollars, the Sabres rights expire in 2016.

That's not spare change for a company given a reputation for penny pinching, and demanded Newsday/News12/AMNY in the deal.

Does Altice even want to show sports on their version of Cablevison who those hockey deals were reportedly signed with?
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Dolan's editorial board is too busy still being bitter they lost the bid for the Coliseum in 2013, to where everything is vetted with the most negative spin down to seat removal while Dolan get's his tax exemption check yearly & every penny of what he sold to Steiner Sports for the seats.

NYC made deals with teams/Steiner where both got portions/offset demolition costs while Bloomberg handed Yankees/Mets their taxpayer stadiums. 

Never mind Dolan bid less to renovate the Coliseum, and wanted a tax exemption/real estate control of entire HUB Ratner did not want.

Anyone telling you if this was Dolan's renovation  we would see the same negative coverage in his newspaper for now is flat out lying to you or clueless .......No other way to write that.

In all the years of their Newday ownership since 2008, I have never seen so many editorials based on one subject which has been worse than the campaign to defeat the 2011 referendum so they could bid.

From the IDA funding (both sides said they needed) to even Wang's short-lived Cantiague agreement where Newsday did not report NYI had a team store opened there in 2012, it's been one omission after another.

Randi Marshall would be praising an Msg-Live groundbreaking on Coliseum even over Wang-Rechler Lighthouse and how great it would be for Long Island. She used to go hunt for political contributions Wang made, while ignoring Dolan because they owned Newsday.

Wang opening Twin Rinks sure did not get a lot of media.
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And many of our clueless fans continue boycotting since 1989, or demanding a move back to a 13,000 seat arena without luxury boxes so 11,000 can show up where they demand a 70 million dollar payroll, and 20 dollar ticket prices. Did they graduate from the Kate Murray university of business?
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On The Ice:
They beat a San Jose team that was awful, and allowed two very soft goals or it's another 2-1 loss.

Sorry, but that's how I see it. 

My reasons for wanting Capuano's dismissal in May because of how fragile this team is in crunch time has not changed, and what was missing since day one of preseason in terms of being a tough team to play against remains absent.

A year older for the young players (including Leddy, Hamonic) has not been a year better. 

And the powerplay again is struggling with the five on five showing no sign of improving. 

I saw a few low shot/goals against games and was slightly encouraged, but the constant line changes to this day are obviously temporary as again Bailey (now Nelson) bounce from wing to wing.

Strome's hardly lighting up Bridgeport is his early return.

You want Capuano gone? Brent Thompson is 11-4, he'll become interim coach if things fall apart while the new majority owners decide regardless of how many good contracts Garth Snow signed if winning is how he must be judged after ten years?

Yes Snow/McPhee were player/agent, he was also Washington's gm when Mr Ledecky was co-owner.

Will end on a positive note, sometimes it just finally clicks. Look what Ottawa did last season with a very mediocre roster.

Strome Sent To Bridgeport

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/06/2015 06:06:00 PM |
NYIFC Comments:
Not going to lie, the thought crossed my mind this week. I thought perhaps he would no longer be eligible, but seeing sixteen goal Bernier looking good and needing games....no problem with this decision.

Nassau Coliseum Ground Breaking 11/5/15 10:30am

New York Islander Fan Central | 11/04/2015 03:30:00 PM |

New York Notables/Sticks & Pucks

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/30/2015 07:18:00 PM |
The 2015-16 New York Islanders have played ten games, and frankly could have lost nine of them in regulation with Winnipeg their only effort that looked like 2014-15.

6-2-2 looks like an illusion.

So far, it's not the dominating puck possession/fast skating/hardest working team they were to play against last season on terrible Coliseum ice. This is the opposite, and it does not seem like a developing strategy where they are trying to play Ranger like 2-1 low maintenance chess games with a five man goalie unit once they get any lead holding teams to under 25 shots with few quality chances.

And the Islanders had five players back against Carolina on the tying goal. Bailey not having the passing lane to a cutting forward.

Opposing teams now bring the game at NYI, outshooting/sometimes outhitting them and they seem much slower/easier to shut down for long stretches of games.

I would love to wave the pom poms, and sure things can (perhaps should) improve, but even in beating Calgary it was a 1-0 game into the third period against a reeling team who played a goaltender that had weak goals go through him. (like Coliseum win against Dallas)

The goaltenders (Greiss) have been the Islanders best players, but again Halak showing his lack of durability or someone who can shoulder the same work load Nabokov did in 2013 is a fair reason why other teams decided to let him go for another #1 goaltender despite some dominating play at times.

Lee, Strome, Nelson have hardly improved, and regressed offensively. Grabovski looks like a career center finally playing his natural position. Seems everyone but UFA Okposo plays right wing next to Tavares.

Hamonic-deHaan look very beatable too often. Strait-Zidlicky are very mistake prone. Leddy's shots are being deflected in but he has not been visible enough and Boychuk does not look like a top pairing defender capable of producing consistent offense making seven million this season.

It's not the loss of rarely healthy Visnovsky or Donovan who was glued to the stands on defense. Strait played 52 games last season, and all seven playoff games a year ago on a team with 101 points.

The core forwards are unchanged besides being a year older. Given the home record for years it's not the commute because this has been a better road team for years, and other teams have players commuting/staying in hotels at home on game days with their practice facility as far away as Barclay's is from Iceworks.

Our players are accustomed to playing in front of empty seats at home.

My impression about the special teams are despite numbers, it's also an illusion after ten games or other teams issues.

Ok, that's what I can write about ten games, sorry if it's not positive despite 6-2-2.

It can turn around but there is no hiding from 0-4 Devils, now 5-4-1 playing low shot against games, who can score, skate, playing an up-tempo game this team has not shown since last season.

A lot of hard working, good, fast teams will be playing the NYI soon.

There has to be a big improvement, and it has nothing to do with where they play, game-day routines or how many empty seats at Barclay's vs empty an Coliseum seats since 1989.

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For what it's worth Richard Brodsky of Newsday told me on twitter 10/29 Nassau would consider asbestos air testing, and other things as Ratner doing construction on the Nassau Coliseum which would mean he's honoring his lease.

He had no answers for an anchor AHL team tenant being announced as NEC Ratner promised before a ground breaking/construction.

If all this happens and Prokhorov does purchase rights to most of NEC Ratner Coliseum stakes and the agreement with Nassau County, it makes one wonder why Bruce Ratner wanted to bid on the Coliseum renovation in the first place even back to the planning stage before bids were taken?

Ratner was a majority owner of the Nets for close to a decade before he sold eighty percent to Prokhorov, he currently owns a majority stake in Barclay's so it's not like he was in these projects short-term, he did countless interviews on video in front of audiences that were posted here.

Does this have anything to do with the Islanders playing home games in NYC or it's three owners? No.

Does this have anything to do with the Islanders lease in NYC until 2040/revenue or television contract to play in NYC until 2031? No.

Is it going to change the Nets guaranteed television money and new contract with YES Network which could pay them 40 million a year to continue playing at Barclay's? No. 

Twin Rinks NY Islanders Pro Shop Opened

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/27/2015 08:09:00 PM |
I have been following the Twin Rinks proceedings, obviously the bonding issues were settled to where Wang could complete his purchase, and open a pro shop plus put the Islander logo on the marquee. The question is does John Ledecky/Scott Malkin want the team to practice there next season when they are majority owners?

If Wang wants to change practice routine to this facility from Iceworks, obviously he can, same as he intended to do with Cantiague Park on 12/31/15. Seems some Islander branding has happened.


Remember the postings early in summer here about changes at Iceworks, Bob Thornton?

Seems Miro Satan will be there too, expect Radek Martinek if he still lives here. 

This was on Twin Rinks Facebook page last week 10/21/15:
Twin Rinks will host the Elite Hockey Group clinic every Friday 5:45-6:45pm. $40 cash or check for elite level Midgets, Bantams, Peewees and Squirts. Coaches include: Bob Thornton, Miro Satan, Eric Conway and Alexis Moed.

Michael Picker New President In Bridgeport

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/27/2015 01:55:00 PM | |

 “Michael has done an incredible job running the front office for the Islanders,” Islanders Owner Charles Wang said.  “I have worked closely with Michael for almost 33 years and know he will do a great job with the Bridgeport operation.  Michael was involved with the purchase of the Sound Tigers and, through his work with the Islanders, is quite familiar with the operation and the employees in Bridgeport.  I look forward to a vibrant and active Arena.” 

NYIFC Comments:
This was reported back when Howard Saffan left.

Mr Picker will also run arena for Mr Wang under lease until 2021. 

New York Signs Anthony Beauvillier

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/23/2015 01:57:00 PM |

NYIFC Comments: 
Given the history with late 1st rounders (Ho-Sang/Nelson) about on par to see him signed to an ELC at this point. Expected him signed before he left New York because he seemed to have a good camp. 

Coliseum Construction/AHL Team Deadline

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/21/2015 08:28:00 PM |
Long Island Association: Copied Dolan's Newsday (Altice sale will close in 2016) back in April. This was followed up on several times here already. If the reporting was accurate, it's deadline time.

New York Islander Fanbase Demographics Vote

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/19/2015 05:08:00 PM |

New York/Bridgeport Notables

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/17/2015 01:51:00 PM |
I'm happy the team's preseason is finally over. Those early regular season games were the full squad games they should have played against Washington, in my view was a mistake because it's not what other NHL teams do, nor has Capuano done in past seasons.

They are very lucky to be at 2-1-1, but they have the talent here to win games unlike past teams.

The rust is off (not Halak/Hickey) but the chemistry should develop.

Any NHL team can beat another, and we will see the trends take shape for the 2015-16 team.
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Not a fan of drafted center Brock Nelson being converted to right wing after a full season of letting him play center after he started as a left wing. We saw this plan with Bailey/Comeau, and despite moderate success at times it never helped elevate either players game.

But then I would ask why sign career center Grabovski, and never let him play center here last season as he played wing. (getting two concussions)

Not easy or perfect. 

Between Bernier sitting with his sixteen goals, Petrov, Quine, and others in Bridgeport waiting for a chance, that's a lot of money for clearly lacking ITV video/radio coverage to let Eric Boulton mentor this team on IR.

Boulton still has hands/skills, and can contribute to an NHL team, but this is not the 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 New York Islanders which is why Keith Aucoin or Colin McDonald is no longer here.

In 2015-16 he should simply be in a role with the staff.
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Greiss was very solid, so was Johnson against Boston/Los Angeles last year. Ultimately if Halak does his job it will come down to how Greiss plays when sitting for over a week.
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Love how Okposo held the puck before scoring against Nashville, and picked a corner. That's what top scoring forwards do, and will determine what management does in terms of UFA.

He has to produce, simple as that whether it be with Tavares or another line. 
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Have always been a defender of Brian Strait, he simply handed over the puck on the first goal against Nashville as soon as the pressure came which directly led to the first goal against. It almost seems like he is not in his natural position because his reads/reaction are not good/regressing since his arrival.

His skating, speed, ability to move puck is why he is here.

No, Ryan Pulock, does not play that side of the ice, and is not getting a call unless one of the very durable defenders who play his side are injured.

Zidlicky played 84 games last season, 81 the year before, and Capuano is using him on the powerplay.
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I do not believe Matt Donovan clears waivers last season.
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What do you want me to write about attendance I have not written forever beyond Mr Yormark should stop selling Brooklyn, and start marketing Barclay's center in New York City?

The Ranger media jumped all over his Brooklyn narrative to avoid NY branding, same as media did Long Island narrative which keeps fans from supporting a New York team, it's done nothing but cost this team fans/revenue/ticket sales.

No doubt, it's good for relations with Msg for Yormark to market Brooklyn.

Everyone since 1972 bears responsibility from Roy Boe/Bill Torrey/alumni/John Pickett/Charles Wang.

It's nice for me to go point out Charles Wang said on 7/26/11 forty percent of his season ticket base comes from NYC, but if the total full/partial season tickets come to around 7,000 total or less most years that's not a lot of people no matter how how you slice it. 

One more time 10+ other teams in NY/NJ (even Cosmos at Hofstra) all marketing NYC cannot be wrong nor can all the Islander fans at Msg/Newark for games.

Guess the Long Island fans (without baseball playoffs in Bronx/Queens) were not feeling too nostalgic early last season which sadly was an improvement compared to many previous seasons. 

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Not a fan of the pregame policy, and as always Mr Yormark's people skills leave a great deal to be desired (same as his brother Michael Yormark who acted the same with Florida Panthers) but need to know a little more about this in other NHL facilities in 2015-16, and if the league is encouraging changes?

In 80 years it took one kid to get hit with a puck, who died to put nets in all NHL facilities permanently.
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Thrilled for Bridgeport fans, hope their start continues, but in terms of players who are top picks expected to become NHL forwards on current roster? No, most have moved around often or low draft picks.

Is Charles Wang going to celebrate the Sound Tigers 15th season by announcing they are leaving?
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All we know regarding the Coliseum is it's supposed to re-open fully renovated in December 2016, and an AHL team anchor tenant is part of that agreement.
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Ok. More games.


Pulock To Bridgeport...Boulton Signed

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/13/2015 10:38:00 AM | |

NYIFC Comments: 
Steve Bernier with his sixteen goals needs to play at this level, along with Petrov, and a lot of players in Bridgeport with some NHL potential, not Eric Boulton who takes up a roster spot as long as he is not on IR.

No, a team cannot IR a player unless he is injured. Boulton can be placed on waivers to be sent to Bridgeport, but that team is packed with AHL veterans already.

New York Struggled Badly At Coliseum With More Rest/Less Gameday Travel

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/13/2015 08:59:00 AM |
Numbers do not lie over many seasons. Whatever these players were doing on game days after practice at home did not translate to wins at the Nassau Coliseum despite a very strong road record.

A few times it made all the difference between playoffs/no playoffs or a much higher seed.

My thinking on this subject has always been the empty seats/opposing fans played a huge part, same as why the Islanders strong fan support at Msg/Newark upset the Rangers/Devils.

And obviously the Islanders game day routine/travel distances being any different than the Rangers who live near their Greenberg facility is simply not true.

The Islanders have had players who lived in Manhattan, Brian Rolston stayed in the same house he lived in with the Devils when he commuted from New Jersey. 

The first time I read of the Islanders booking rooms at home goes as far back as March 2003 which even had former Vancouver (huge travel miles team) Canucks Adrian Aucoin, saying "He's never seen a schedule this bad."






Season #44 Begins For New York

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/09/2015 06:04:00 AM |
Once again this site has set our fans up for the season to the best of my ability. Now hopefully it's time to just sit back & see how it plays out. There will be no entries for every win/losing streak, everyone knows the numbers/expectations/other subjects.

New York Notables/No More Hiding

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/07/2015 09:43:00 AM |
Barclay's Center/Nassau Coliseum? It's season #44 in New York.

Like last season there is no time for any distractions.
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Expectations:
It's win or go home for this coach, and likely this general manager. Especially with a new majority ownership taking over. There are very high projections for this team, words mean nothing, only results.
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Opening Night: 
Hopefully they can raise all the banners properly, do a decent tribute to Al Arbour, but I'm skeptical it will be controversy free while Mr Yormark does his Brooklynizing which has even gotten Bettman to ask him to tone things down.

I expect everything from the Hall Of Fame banner to the plaques in that building.
**********************************
Dolan/Media: 
Obviously Dolan/Ranger media, cheap NYC sports editors love the Brooklyn branding wall, which is great for Mr Yormark despite this being only a New York franchise. The Islanders website seems staffed by Barclay's with hockey updates coming slower because they seem to have few website holdovers.

If there is any hope of any Islander regular season games ever being played in a Ratner renovated Coliseum, Dolan/NHL must approve, if it's rejected Ratner has to pay for that lost revenue. 

Daily News editor, Bill Price, did what he said after we spoke, the Islanders have a Daily News logo/section. I also suggested the Devils are represented which did not happened.
**********************************
Coliseum:  
All I can write is a renovation that was expected to begin in mid-August, has not been announced well into October. There are deadlines, but renovation can mean doing the smallest things first.

Mangano, Rabinowitz at Hofstra are all getting exactly what they want on that property, no doubt Cuomo will approve funding for everything requested. 
**********************************
Sound Tigers:
Their website does not list Jon Ledecky or Scott Malkin as owners. Wang is not breaking his professional-only team only lease at Webster Bank Arena,  and it's been a long time since anyone saw Charles Wang/Bruce Ratner together anywhere.

Seems Wang again put money into upgrading WBA. 
*********************************
Twin Rinks:
It seems the assets have been sold off,  and claims settled. Not sure what that means in terms of bonding issues or Wang getting control soon.  Nothing would shock me here if practices were shifted. 
**********************************
Odds/Ends: 
Jiggs McDonald wrote in April when he visited Barclay's they were working on a scoreboard fix, I put a lot of stock in his comments, if it was attempted it was done to no publicity.

The one thing both sides needed to do was fill in those empty seats behind the net. Never happened, and the draft opts four rows behind the goals were not advertised for sale.

If anyone has noticed what Mr Yormark said on 6/30 to the WSJ about over 8,000 full season tickets sold are the exact same numbers being said now which would mean in a hundred days not one season ticket has been purchased.

It took two years to center the first Nassau Coliseum Skate-land scoreboard. 
**********************************
No Hiding Come Monday Against Winnipeg:
I have big doubts the fans will be there starting Monday as we see the usual October, November, December Coliseum turnouts under 10,000.
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On The Ice:
Wrote it before.......will again. This team could finish 1st overall or 30th overall.
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Preseason: 
This was a very bad preseason, one that raised significant questions. I wrote recently unless the team shows disturbing trends in preseason is not a big deal.

They showed awful trends across the board but never put their best team on the ice. That's contrary to Capuano's history as coach.

No one won a spot either besides Pulock, will he sit behind Brian Strait, and burn up eligibility?

Still it's not last preseason before the trades where they put mostly their best team on the ice at Webster Bank Arena, and the Bruins completely dismantled them 6-1. 

You play seven games, and are outplayed badly in all seven (with the games on the line & even the two games they hung on to win) against prospects that's not good.

The Caps, Flyers badly outplayed them, there were enough regulars dressed to take over the game with Michael Neuvirth ready to give up plenty of goals for the the Flyers.

The Caps announcers kept repeating how easily they were dominating both games, and noted the Islanders had regulars dressed, and barely applied any pressure.

All seven games this team regressed as they wore on, other teams built chemistry, and were having a good time. Washington barely broke a sweat, and this was an Islander team who just lost to them in a playoff series.

Over the years I cannot recall one NY Islanders camp the regulars did not dress together for a single game.

Bottom line these trends continue, there will be no hiding from a very early coaching change as in October, this core was mostly kept together.
**************************************
Chicago: 
Ok, they play Chicago who will have their home opener/rust out of the way, while the NY Islanders will not have let Tavares, Leddy, Boychuk, Hamonic dress for a game together in thirteen days.

Tavares-Okposo did not play one minute together. 

The full roster not dressing together at all for one single game.

Maybe they hit the ice, and start winning immediately, who knows?

I went to the hockey school which says that is not likely unless you build a little chemistry in preseason games, and play your regulars a game or two together but it's possible. 

Greiss got a two year contract, he comes in with a resume less than Johnson a year ago, but this is what he was signed to do, and there was competition for his services, so his job is to give this team a chance to win.

The goalie they took off waivers has zero NHL experience.

New York 23-Man Official Roster

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/06/2015 05:09:00 PM |

New York Claims Goaltender/23 Skaters

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/06/2015 02:18:00 PM |


NYIFC Comments:
This means Halak will go on IR, Williams goes to Bridgeport.

Berube would not be an improvement over Kevin Poulin, and has no NHL experience.
Bridgeport: Still has roster decisions, and too many extra players.

Roster Deadline 5pm Tuesday

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/05/2015 05:50:00 PM |
With the team at 24 skaters, one move needs to be made plus a decision is needed on Eric Boulton who cannot remain on a PTO. Obviously Halak on IR could be that move unless Williams is sent down. Petrov has a two-way contract, but if he wants to return home he would require the clubs permission to play for another team.

Islanders website reported the following: Louis Leblanc was placed on waivers. Mathew Barzal was returned to Seattle. Kirill Petrov was loaned to the Bridgeport. Kevin Czuczman, Scott Mayfield and Adam Pelech were returned on loan to Bridgeport.

Islanders website: Also announced a mix of radio stations to cover the team including Hofstra again with Mr Yormark again spamming Brooklyn.  

NYIFC Comments: Obviously the team did not wish to spend the money or could not find one major station. I checked the teams website Sunday, saw the same stations (not in NYC) and waited in case links from last year were repeated by mistake. Hofstra on Sunday did not have games scheduled.

10/1 Mr Yormark Interview: Yes Network

New York Islander Fan Central | 10/01/2015 07:16:00 PM |

 NYIFC Comments:
I wish our fans were this motivated to blame Msg/Newsday for the lack of games/television/print coverage. Sadly many think it's the Islanders decision or the Devils to be hidden so less people want to purchase tickets.

My thoughts are Mr Yormark had good intentions with the goal horn, and deserved better but again as I have written many times, this is a NY team.

His counterparts doing his job in NYC/NJ & Long Island with Cosmos all market NYC.

You think Mr Yornark's counterpart with the Yankees (pick team) goes around calling them the Bronx (wherever) three times in every paragraph?

Also the official colors of Brooklyn are not black/white, to say they are is simply incorrect.

New York Islanders is the name of this team, and where the majority of the season tickets were on 7/26/11. 40 percent NYC/30 Nassau/30 Suffolk.

Mr Yormark correctly sounded a lot like my blog entries here for many years, calling out the people who talk a great game but do not buy tickets under any circumstances unless it's opening night or a playoff game.

I'm afraid the reality for everyone will be hitting home beginning with Winnipeg on a Monday afternoon in October.

It's the biggest reason things are where they are today, and why many of the things our fans wanted were never paid for.

Of course Barclay/Islanders deserve blame for seats not being filled in and available/advertised in lower level, they did a great job with the lockeroom.

More New York Transactions/Misc

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/29/2015 12:30:00 PM | |
Barzal stays over Dal Colle for now, but the roster suggests it will not stick without a trade.

This team is struggling, preseason rosters or not. Washington kept them back all night, and a 7th team in a row outplayed the NY Islanders with the game in the balance with nothing close to it's full lineup.

I cannot see a spot for Boulton where he get's an NHL deal but he keeps dressing. No issue with a Carkner-like AHL contract.
Everyone recalled on 9/28 was returned. Halak, Bernier, Hickey hurt or not skating.
Mr Yormark wants to impress us fill in those area's behind the defensive goal with seats on all the sides, the ones behind the goal installed are fantastic and not advertised.

26 days after promising a radio deal shortly, he has not announced one, so we go without in preseason.

I missed the classic goal horn from 1970's to 1997 and may be the only one who recorded it without announcers. Howard Milstein replaced it with a bad fake copy for a year.

No issue with one used 1999 to present but never wanted the original changed.

There are poor goal horns all over the NHL, what we got to see (of course not on television) was a clip which was a perfect match to a video I found from the MTA more not necessary Brooklyn branding.

New York Second Wave Of Cuts/Poulin Claimed By Tampa Bay

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/27/2015 12:43:00 PM |

So Beck goes from a 64 game player with Nashville, to Toronto (who signed him avoiding arbitration) to New York to Bridgeport?

Of the three goaltenders Garth Snow drafted in Poulin, Nilsson & Koskinen, only one is left for this season because he was qualified, as he plays in the KHL (Koskinen)  Greiss has a two year contract.

Of course you move Nilsson to get Nick Leddy.

I have big doubts Greiss is better than Poulin, who is only twenty five, and had a .940 save percentage in December last year on a terrible Bridgeport team. Having written that it's now Williams/Gibson unless Milner pushes out someone.

Williams played well in preseason, so did Gibson. 

Poulin rejected his qualifying offer, and obviously was not an easy signing.

****************************************
With only two preseason games left, and frankly the alarming trend of this team being terrible in all six third periods this preseason it is not something that should not be fluffed off (as the opposing teams dominated even in NYI two wins) many players did not step up when games were on the line.

Sorry, but cannot simply keep writing it's only preseason when six games are played, and every time the Islanders are hanging on or simply dominated by the veterans/prospects of the opposition with the game on the line, it was not like they faced many starting goalies beyond Schneider.

It's time to show this team has a sixty minute game (and a dominating third period) in them against Washington with close to their full opening night lineup. 

New York Makes First Roster Moves

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/26/2015 12:14:00 PM |

wralsportsfan.com is streaming (radio webcast) the game in Halifax against Carolina at 5pm.

New York Notables

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/25/2015 12:53:00 PM |
Not much to write.

New York will continue to play out it's preseason, things seem set (on paper for NHL roster beyond Beck, Petrov, Bernier) but if an upgrade is out there we will see.

Trading Grabovski's contract would make the most sense because he has not been used as a center here which is his career position, but there is likely little interest in his services at that price off two concussions.

Management wanted to use Nelson at his drafted position of center last season, it's Strome's drafted position, Nielsen is a center.

It would be fair to write management does not want Pulock, Mayfield or another young defender using up their eligibility sitting in New York as it worked out with Matt Donovan, but Bridgeport is packed with defenders.

I do see an ELC for Anthony Beauvillier given tradition here with top picks likely before he leaves NY.

What obvious is four goaltenders are not going to work for Bridgeport (Poulin, Gibson, Milner, Williams) & Missouri just signed a second ECHL goalie, and has a mostly filled out roster, something has to happen there.

For now let's just see where things stand after Monday's game in NY against Caps because that's when we'll hopefully see some big cuts, and regular season games lines put in place.

This is a roster with a 4th line which appears set in stone, but we all know the injuries will be coming.

George McPhee Hired As Special Advisior

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/23/2015 11:02:00 AM | |


Been writing about this since minority owners were announced.

McPhee looking past his Rangers past, and mostly long term failure in Washington did not leave the Caps with a reputation as someone who worked well with other agents which seems the opposite of Snow.

I know it's been reported Snow/McPhee are friends.

Win or lose, Snow's been exemplary as he keeps negotiations quiet/classy. Even the people who do not sign or resign here make it clear they like being part of this organization which says a lot.

Still this is a win business, and Garth Snow is paid to win, no matter how many smart contracts he signs or trades he makes.

Tavares said it best:

“We really haven’t accomplished a whole lot.”

This could also be a sign Snow is going to wear only the President's hat or moved into that role which in terms of business seems to be Barclay's/Mr Yormark's role. No idea if this changes Doug Weight's title also as a senior advisor.

New York Islanders Lockeroom/Campus

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/21/2015 11:22:00 AM |
Outstanding. More images at teams website.

Game Day New York-Philadelphia x 2/Notables

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/21/2015 09:23:00 AM |
Mr Yormark just released a statement among other things that the divisional banners will also be hung at Barclays center.

Islanders website: Gave out lineups for two games vs Flyers. The over/under Brooklyn spam campaign usually starts with three references per update.

NJ.com reported where the Allentown  game can be seen, and the radio station the Flyers will use for the Barclays center game.

NYIFC Comments:
A few folks were retained from the Islanders part of working with their website, but Barclays controls the website/content, and there are going to be some breaking in adjustments as in not seeing a posted training camp roster among other things last week.


We are well past Mr Yormak's shortly  twitter comment of learning what new radio station games will be on, seems the Flyers will be providing all radio coverage in the Islanders new home Monday which is not appropriate.

On the Bridgeport front, the Ct Post has not assigned a writer to cover camp at all so we lose even more. If Fornabaio is unavailable the fans should not go without as we see update after update about the opposition from the Sound Tigers website but not a group right now that is close to thirty players at Iceworks. 

To the best of my information the Barclay's game on Wednesday will be televised, and despite not on being on the schedule the Devils game at Prudential Center Friday was added to many cable systems.

Only the Islanders know if they wish to use ITV to webcast other preseason games or have the Dolan's permission which has been a past issue.

Oddly the seats behind defensive goal for the game last preseason are being constructed but were not put up for sale on the teams website which cost them revenue/new season ticket holders who would like to sit ice level?

It has been an odd show with the team needing the Nassau Coliseum for media day, and Mike Bossy sitting outside the Barclays center?  No Islander owners at NHL for third jersey roll-out with Bettman and even Bruce Ratner finally seen for the first time in months as his mid-August Coliseum ground breaking is long gone with the contractual deadline for construction to begin in October.

Mr Ledecky (I believe Mr Malkin) at Children Foundation event.

When the puck drops for real all these things have to be sorted out, it should not be this hard without the Nets to do these things.

The Daily News editor Bill Price told me the Islander logo would appear on their main page this week, but the part time at best beatwriter was let go of so I'm skeptical of any real game coverage.

New York Signs Marek Zidlicky, Ho-Sang Sent Down

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/19/2015 07:16:00 AM | |
NHL.com Reports Defenseman Marek Zidlicky agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Islanders on Friday.
bulletnewsniagara.ca: Reports what happened with Ho-Sang via his junior teams gm.  

Sorry folks, mixed up Colton Gillies and Trevor Gillies, who signed with SC.
All signed/traded prospects have been added to prospect blog. Colton Gillies remains an UFA.

NYIFC Comments: If the New York Islanders feel they needed Zidlicky, so be it. The last thing they want is another kid sitting like Matt Donovan. He may not be better than Visnovsky when healthy, but that was the exception, not the rule for two years in a row.

No, Pulock/Mayfield and other prospect agents are not happy.

My twitter comments on Ho-Sang says everything I have on this subject although it must be written Kirill Kabanov did this twice under Scott Gordon in his first camp, and was not sent packing either time which makes me think this is Jack Capuano's decision.

It is one I agree with completely.

Ok (not counting bouns/incentives) Grabner's five million paid Nelson 1.5/Bernier (double Grabner's goals last season) 750k, and Zidlicky 1.5, and puts 1.25 million in bank.

It may not work out on the ice but to me that is excellent management. 

Michael Grabner Traded, Bernier Signed

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/17/2015 02:13:00 PM |
Grabner Traded, Bernier Signed

 The New York Islanders announced today that Steve Bernier has agreed to terms on a one-year/way contract.

The New York Islanders have traded Michael Grabner to the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for Taylor Beck, Matthew Finn, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson and Carter Verhaeghe.
Beck, a 24-year-old forward, appeared in 62 National Hockey League games last season with the Nashville Predators, scoring sixteen points (eight goals, eight assists). Nashville selected the St. Catherines, ON, native in the third round (70th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Finn, 21, was Toronto’s second round pick (35th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. The Toronto, ON, native spent his first professional season with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League last season, recording a goal and two assists in 28 games. The defenseman led the Guelph Storm to an Ontario Hockey League Championship in 2013-14, while posting a league-best plus-57 mark.

Gibson is a 22-year-old goaltender from Karkkila, Finland. In 45 AHL games with the Marlies last season, he posted a 24-17-3 record with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. The Los Angeles Kings selected Gibson in the second round (49th overall) of the 2011 Draft.

Nilsson, 22, played 44 AHL games with Toronto last season during his first year in North America. The defenseman from Mora, Sweden, was Toronto’s fourth-round selection (100th overall) in the 2011 Draft.

Verhaeghe, a 20-year-old forward from Toronto, served as captain of the Niagara IceDogs of the Ontario Hockey League last season. The Maple Leaf’s third-round (82nd overall) selection in the 2013 Draft, Verhaeghe won gold with Team Canada at the 2013 Under-18 World Junior Championships.

NYIFC Comments:  
Fair or not, injuries or not, Grabner was not producing and was going to make five million dollars this season who may well have been in the press box, and likely would have cleared waivers. I know nothing about the players acquired, but do know Bernier outproduced Grabner, and the saving could go to retain players who need to be resigned.

For one I noticed Alan Quine's production and wondered what more he has to prove in the AHL? 

Of course Grabner is a very likable/popular player with the fans. He will be missed but my biggest memory was the thirty games he failed to score healthy which sunk the 2013-14 season.

Brock Nelson Resigned For Three Years

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/16/2015 11:56:00 PM |
The New York Islanders announced today that forward Brock Nelson has agreed to terms on an three-year contract.

NYIFC Comments: 
And now training camp can begin. Enough was written on twitter about third jerseys which are not great, but hardly terrible compared to some past versions. Miracle Snow/staff fought off Mr Yormark's out of control Brooklyn campaign.

The part, part, part time occasional home beat-writer for the Islanders at the Daily News got his walking papers. Peter Botte, Pat Leonard, Filip Bondy should have gotten fired with him.

The editor quickly wrote an article branding the Islanders a Brooklyn team over a third jersey? Seems like the usual cost cutting to keep from hiring a full time beatwriter/blogger.

New York Notables/Now What?

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/11/2015 11:16:00 PM |
Ratner/Prokhorov/Coliseum/Sound Tigers:
Now that Mr Ratner did what he seemingly least wanted to do since early August (cutting Prokhorov a check) the Coliseum discussion has continued (beyond unions) so we shall see who is the sponsor/anchor tenant at some point.

I did not start New York Islander Fan Central for this.
*************************************  
Twin Rinks:
No idea how Twin Rinks plays out court dates go past opening of camp. Not a bankruptcy/bonding lawyer, and Wang's bankruptcy purchase different than Ferraro's issues. My uneducated guess is this will not be settled by opening of camp.

Like I wrote the team has plenty of practice facilities.
 *************************************
Nelson:
I have no idea how it will play out with Brock Nelson, we will get that answer soon. If Nelson is locked out for the season, he does not get traded, he can only sign in Europe. Negotiations start again under a new majority ownership next summer, but his 2015-16 in terms of the NHL is over if not resolved.

It is his career, every game could be his last so he has every right to get every dollar.
Just ask Kevin Colley.
 *************************************  
Games/Media/New York/Long Island vs Brooklyn/Yormark:
The days of sticks/pucks updates daily here are long gone.

No interest in treating every three game losing streak like the end of world or winning streak like it's time to plan the parade, all 82 games are not big games.

Perhaps many noticed the updates posted during the season are few/far between, and the playoffs go silent.

The plan has been set folks up as best I can for the season, then let the games tell the story. That is why things are busier during the summer/off-season.

Our team no longer has any true professional media, I do not like linking to anything but smaller market home town newspapers for player stories with direct quotes.

If our one full time professional Msg/Newsday media person (Arthur Staple) has been so offended by my comments, he should not read them or take a good long look in the mirror. My view is he should not be thanked for doing the bare minimum vs his counterparts, but our fans have grown accustomed to less media now with the glass half empty so they do not know any better or accept the notion our team deserves less. 

Folks know where I stand on these subjects back to 2000-2007 we have the least full time media of any professional sports franchise in North America by a mile. I used to write it will only get worse but it finally seems close to rock bottom now beyond Dolan going AP over Staple which could be an improvement?

Today sourced-based tweets are considered media reports where someone can generate full articles off of them? 

In 1972 this team had five full time beatwriters, a few years later it had road games on free television in NYC on WOR. 

Keep that in mind when you read a New York Islander player is considered under-rated or when someone writes if a player was in another market. That's why.

From this day forward it's up to you to advance these points I have made for years if you agree.

Enough people complain, you get the changes you want or you can thank your beatwriter for answering some tweets on a plane twice a month like he is doing you some kind of favor.

No NHL teams fans are getting less coverage than this one, and there is always a negative under current.


To me the New York Islanders are the New York Islanders, and it's the same as any other year, just like every other NY team or the ones playing in New Jersey who are smart enough to brand like they play in Manhattan.

Folks know where I have stood for years on this. It's boring to keep re-writing it.

If you agree the archives with my thoughts will likely be there for you.

I have given my thoughts on Mr Yormark, he has a job to do and the badly flawed plan that has worked with the Nets is all he knows. Yormark was honest enough to ask what if the Islanders draw like the Nets in NJ?

He was not wrong when he said that.

You can bet Yormark has seen the attendance figures at the Coliseum since 1989 or Wang showed him the numbers and asked what can we do to improve this attendance?

Bottom line if you like this teams tradition show up and give Mr Yormark no reason to try his plan which is wrong but worked temporarily with the Nets but is not sustainable because the Barclay's center is no longer new, and the Nets are not a good team that generated even less media than the Islanders playoffs, and are done paying tens of millions in luxury tax penalties. 

Ten other people doing Yormark's job for other local teams tell me he is wrong based on how they market for their NY/NJ franchises. That's my entire counter-point beyond the forty percent of the Islanders season ticket holders in July 2011 came from NYC. 

More folks should have listened for years about showing up if you wanted to keep the team at the Coliseum. You keep boycotting, you keep losing things.

As always my advice is our fans better act like 29 other teams, show up and pay the big boy prices, win or lose. Many other teams fans have who have never won a thing fill their buildings every year.

Go and do likewise in an unobstructed seat or the future changes made will be based upon your decision to not support this team. 

Nassau politicians knew they could lose this team and keep their jobs, they always knew.

After this entry, I'm done on these subjects for good.
I did my absolute best. 
***************************************  
2015-16 Season:
My view is this team has to show an ability to win low-maintenance games as they did for a few weeks in March-April 2013 to take the next step forward.

That means 20-25 shots against, 2-1, 1-0 games. No regulation losses.
This team earned a lot of shootout win points, far fewer games are going to overtime.

Either the players here are old/developed enough to do this now or the coaching cannot take them to that next level, there can be no more excuses for the special teams/blown leads.

You know I felt Capuano should have lost his job based on this already, but we move forward and hope for improvement as Hamonic, deHaan, Leddy, Hickey enter their prime.

I do believe the bottom teams have improved enough to drop the 8th seed point total a bit, but perhaps not.

This team barely qualified 19 games over with 101 points, they have a brutal schedule  vs other local competition. To win come playoff time they have to learn to play 1-0, 2-1 ugly low-maintenance games.

They do have the offensive game as presently constructed. There will be injuries/significant ones, always have been every year.

Getting in the playoffs is as hard as winning the cup today. 
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New York Islander Fan Central/Twitter Account:
The intention is to renew this site domain through Oct 3rd, 2016 if the blogger outdated renewal system permits, if not this will be the end.

If it renews I only promise the two sites will remain visible to all visitors.
If not I will make the prospect blog invisible to everyone also. 

The twitter account may go to protected tweets. I only have not done this so I can embed my own tweets here. If domain not renewed it will be deleted entirely.

I do not follow anyone or care how many follow me. Those who follow will conduct themselves as adults or they will be muted/blocked.

I intend to be much more quiet either way, and frankly do not want followers who cannot write 140 characters without profanity or are not capable of having discussions like adults.

Never blocked or muted a single person who made a respectful point I did not agree with. In fact the best discussions is where I learn new things.
*****************************************
Please no advertising, no link exchanges. I do not want anyone's money or business opportunities, nor do I consider myself an editor so I do not want anyone joining my fictional writing staff.

I'm done responding to these e-mails. 

No doubt there are plenty of self-serving fans desperate for attention at any price with their message board owners who would love your money.

My advice....go spend it on tickets.  The name on the front of the sweater is all that has ever mattered to this site owner. 

Here is to a great season, for me 1972-73 or 2015-16 it's just another New York Islander season beyond the enormous loss of Mr Al Arbour.

The header honoring him will remain up until the end of training camp regardless.

As always thank you very much.

New York Signs Mathew Barzal ELC

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/10/2015 12:52:00 PM |

Steve Bernier PTO

New York Islander Fan Central | 9/09/2015 06:04:00 PM |

8/25: Devils GM Ray Shero made clear he was not inviting Bernier back.

NYIFC Comments:  
A PTO is just that, not an NHL contract. Numbers are fine after NHL callup from the Devils who had scoring issues, the past production for years prior cannot be ignored. 

No issue here if he eventually signs a two-way contract, and is willing to play in Bridgeport, but he does not get a one-way deal based on current roster/career numbers.