The Post article is linked here: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/islanders/isles_no_longer_matter_9SwQCDp4zuz0TNE3HQ1p4L

Scott Mayfield - a 2011 draft pick of Garth Snow, is another in a long list of draft picks that have an opportunity to develop, and could bring excitement to Islander fans in the future. Someone please ask Larry Brooks to research some of these guys before flaming every aspect of the franchise the next time!

Mr. Brooks,

It was brought to my attention on another blog of your recent write-up on the NY Islanders, and how they are “irrelevant.”

As a long, proud Islander fan — they have suffered a great deal — nearly 8 years of very poor ownership problems between John Pickett’s ownership and Charles Wang’s forced the team to trade away many young and successful players. 2 very poor GMs in Don Maloney who made some horrible deals, as well as the infamous Mike Milbury who single-handedly set the franchise back 15 years with bad drafting and even worse trades. Of course, Charles Wang’s wacky behavior has not be a help. He came in and spent money, he just did it in the wrong place, and gave the green light to the wrong manager for far too long.

Where I disagree fully with your article is to suggest that they have no chance of going anywhere — ever.

The biggest issue is off the ice in the form of an arena. That has been Charles Wang greatest and most complete failure to date. As a fan of the team, I wish he would stop meddling in on ice issues, and get a new building done in Queens or cut a deal with Barclays in Brooklyn.

Putting aside the arena — you rightly mentioned the emergence of John Tavares, P.A. Parenteau and Matt Moulson as a top scoring line. But you neglected to mention the rapid emergence of Travis Hamonic and the play of Andy MacDonald. And while neither are Dennis Potvin, they are also both not Bruno Gervais.’ The play of Evgeni Nabokov has been a story — as is his recent signing today — a player that snubbed the Isles, came, and saw, and played for them and CHOSE to remain here…. as has many other players!

The Islanders also have a good, strong crop of young prospects — as a rebuilding team should have in juniors and in Bridgeport. You certainly did not take the time to mention that the teams top affiliate and feeder to the NHL — The Bridgeport Sound Tigers — are 19-6-4 since 2012 began. The team is pushing for top spot in its division, despite recent struggles — coincidently those struggles are in part because players like Casey Cizikas and David Ullstrom have been called up and are playing for the Isles now. This level of high end play bodes well for the franchises future.

While I agree that a deep prospect pool does not necessarily translate into NHL success, it is the best way a franchise can rebuild — especially when you factor in the arena circumstances.

You took the time to chide Garth Snow’s drafting, however, many of the players he has selected are not even in the NHL and those that are — you would have to agree are very young. And while Nino Neiderreitter has been mishandled this season by the coaching staff, it is hard to consider him an NHL bust at the ripe old age of 19. He may very easily have taken this season in stride to build and move forward and yet be an impact player. Just as well — to suggest last years top pick Ryan Strome is not capable of becoming an NHL star, or Calvin de Haan wont become a premier puck moving defender is impossible. If you had the ability to prognosticate with such accuracy, you would be the greatest NHL GM — EVER.

You were critical of the selection of Josh Bailey in the 2008 draft, and for the player himself, Bailey has struggled, and has been mishandled as well. No argument. But the decision to trade down twice afforded the Islanders and Garth Snow to select a number of players that are still young, and beginning to make an impact. By stockpiling picks, Snow was able to draft Ullstrom, who is getting his first taste of the NHL. He was able to select Aaron Ness who has a few games in the NHL this season. He also took the aforementioned Travis Hamonic. Later in that draft, Matt Martin — the NHL hits leader was picked by Snow. Also coming from the 2008 draft, one hockey’s top goalie prospects Kevin Poulin, who has shown some very strong play in his stints with the Islanders. By moving down, Snow also added picks for the 2009 draft, adding Calvin de Haan as a second pick in the 1st round. Anders Nillsson is also becoming a top NHL goalie prospect. Anders Lee – one of the top players in college hockey is an Islander selection. There are a number of other high risk/high reward players also on the horizon.

Garth Snow and Charles Wang and the way the Islanders have been run is far from perfect. There are many aspects of the way they run things that make Islander fans — including this one — want to scream into the night air. But it is difficult to move forward as a franchise when you are staring at a bunch of Nassau County and Town of Hempstead political empty suits who would have a hard time finding their ass with both hands. It is a circular dilemma.

As far as the coverage by the Media and holding Wang and Snow more accountable — I suppose that is up to you and your editorial board. As much as the Islanders have suffered on the ice and off, the media has played a small part in that. Your paper, The NY Times and Daily News CHOSE to stop covering the team during the darkest days of the late 1990s during the Gang of 4 and Spanogate and despite a few reasonable teams in the mid 2000s, your paper and others failed to return to covering the team. The team continues to stockpile young talent. And is improved over last season, and the season before. But rather then do a little work; build a little interest, ask a few questions — you chose to sit back in your office and lob a few cheap shots at very easy targets in Snow and Wang — and they are easy targets, as they are far from error free. But you made them sound like the worst GM and Owner combo in the history of sports. I have news for you — the last GM and owners were the worst in sports and these guys are at least trying to change that!

There are major issues and problems with the franchise. You are right about that. But there are some very good things on the ice beginning to happen if you look and ask some questions. It might be time to have the Post get credentialed again to cover the Islanders. Perhaps you can get in on the ground floor of something interesting, and hold the franchise more accountable by providing more coverage. I hope you do!

The end for the Islanders 2011-12 season is more or less at hand. We can discuss that at another time — but the bigger end might be just beginning. To suggest we should be concerned is an understatement.

Conversations I have had.
The play of the team.
The lack on anything coming directly from Charles Wang.

All of this has me starting to believe fully, that the New York Islander franchise will cease to exist beyond April of 2015.

Ratner’s remarks were nice, but was there any real substance to them?

Click here to view the embedded video.

It was a shot over Nassau’s bow so to speak. It lets Nassau know there are options for the Islanders beyond the County and Town.

As exciting as it would be for the Islanders to finally settle on a new home — there are some major issues and some reality to ponder.

The Brooklyn location is going to gain some fans perhaps, but lose a lot of Suffolk fans. As of now it is a nice pre-season venue and nothing more. Listen carefully and even in this interview, Ratner admits that some seats are not optimal for hockey.

Queens is nowhere at this time. There is no building being build, or considered for sure. It is nothing but talk and pie-in-the-sky.

Nassau and Suffolk are dead in the water at this time. Nassau is flat out too tied up in its own bull shit, and the Town of Hempstead is tied up in much of the same games. The town had a privately financed deal in place and discarded it. The people had a bond deal and threw it out. Suffolk might be in more dire fiscal shape then Nassau — so anything there is hard to imagine unless somehow there is a private deal somewhere — and then there is still political will to contend with. I used to live in Suffolk, and know first hand that the politics in Suffolk is no different then it is in Nassau.

Brooklyn and Queens has the political will, but is there a willing team owner?

I think for Charles Wang, the money has to be right. I recently exchanged some remarks via twitter with BD and he raised some good points.

For me — Wang is not in this as a passionate hockey fan. Sure, he wants to see the team do well, win and he will come here and support the team any way he can, but he has lost millions, and he wants to recoup those losses and stop the bleeding. Simply finding an arena for the sake of finding an arena is not reality. He is going to find a deal that affords him the best financial windfall.

I am not sure that arena will be local.

Some have said a new owner is the solution. It could be, but any new owner that comes in now would be faced with the very same issue that Charles Wang is faced with — a lease that expires in 2015 and no new home to play in beyond that date.

If Ratner has as much passion as he displayed about the Islanders staying in New York — my one speculative question would be — why doesn’t he look into buying the franchise, and moving them to Brooklyn. He seemed pretty jazzed about the idea — this would be a chance for him to do that — putting money where the mouth is.

But here again — would Wang sell to Ratner — or for that matter anyone else? I suppose if someone came in and offered Wang $200 million, it would be difficult to say ‘no.’ But I dont see any one coming in on the horizon with that kind of cash to buy this franchise.

We could be seeing the last few seasons for the Islanders. Quebec, Hamilton, Kansas City, Seattle and perhaps even Las Vegas may all be courting Charles Wang, if they already have not been actively doing so.

I understand Wang must be at the end of his rope with Nassau, and with the area. He may be looking to make a simple, cold business decision at this point in time to get out. That might be the prudent thing to do. But, if he sells, what are the chances that the Islanders remain the Islanders? The NHL says it wants to keep the Islanders here, but they also said that about Atlanta. There are major issues with Phoenix as well. While the league has never moved a dynasty team, or a team that has won a Cup, there is always a first. And unless the league chooses to buy the Islanders and run them as they have with Phoenix, I just don’t see how this plays out.

We, as fan, are the ones who have to eat it. We are the ones who suffer. I just hope that we are not left in April in tears without a hockey team — like Atlanta, Hartford, Quebec and other fans have been. Right now — that looks more, and more likely with each day of silence from the Islanders, and no movement anywhere on any front.

Are you as concerned as I am?

I would add that the Isles are about where I thought they would be as far as their wins and losses. I assumed they would be on the bubble of the playoff mix this season and my hope in September and October was that this hockey clubs next logical step in the rebuild was to be playing important games in February and March. Right now, that seems to be the case. It is February 25, and the New York Islanders are playing important games. While the playoffs are still on the outside, but this point last season, the year was, in essence, over already. This may not be the progress fans would have liked this year, but it is progress.

The Men
Lets start with the POSITIVE — John Tavares is everything the Islanders could have asked for and more. Together with Matt Moulson, these two Islanders are the real deals and clearly are consistent performers over the course of the season. Perhaps Moulson is the beneficiary of playing alongside an elite talent, but he still has to be in the right place at the right time, and Moulson is doing just that. In Tavares, the sheer determination — the unbelievable effort he is putting into most games and most shifts is simply something we as Islander fans have not seen in a very long time.

He is not there yet, but Travis Hamonic is quickly becoming as good as any top pair guy in the NHL. Nick Lindstrom  or Shea Weber he ain’t but he is showing that he is very valuable and one of the better young blueliners in the league. His play has been steady from game #1 of the season. His loss over 9 games from his broken nose had a massive impact on the team. Andy MacDonald has become a steady defender as well, but has had more poor games then I would like to see, but he too has become a core player for the Isles on the blueline.

Maddening
The Islanders have been dancing with NHL .500 for a while now. Having found themselves in a pre-Thanksgiving swoon for the second consecutive season, the Islanders are struggling to reach the .500 mark, and then cross it. This week, the team began at .500 and lost 2 games — 2 critical games to Ottawa and Buffalo. Had the Islanders won those two games, they would be right inside the heart of the playoff race for the 8 spot currently held by the Panthers.

All season long, the Islanders have struggled to attain a consistency, and it has been maddening. I am sure it is as troubling for the coaching staff and players as it has been for us fans and my hope is that it is part of the learning process young players go through on their path to reach their potential. With last nights victory over the rival Rangers, the Isles once again find themselves a game below .500 and going into Ottawa to try and reach level ground again. The boys can also exact a small measure of penance for the lack of effort they displayed against the Senators last week when it mattered most. Last week, it would not have been impossible for the Islanders to give Ottawa a small scare with a win, perhaps making both 7th and 8th place up for grabs in the East. (I suppose it still is if a team can string some wins together).

Garth Snow has said that the first order of business is to get to .500. He is 100% correct. But for whatever reason, the team seems to mail in a clunker every time they have reached NHL .500 and they have slipped back a game or 2 under, then reach it again, only to falter again. Maddening!

Buying or Selling?
Lets be honest, 6 points back with 21 games to go is not an insurmountable goal for any team. Theoretically, if the Islanders can beat Ottawa and Washington in their next 2 games, and if Florida who sits 8th struggles, the Islanders can find themselves interestingly close. In the end, with everything so tight in bottom 8 teams in the east, it is almost anyone’s to take — even the Hurricanes or Canadiens. A run of 3-4 wins in a row will vault anyone into the picture.

The Islanders are in position to make things interesting for themselves. They had opportunities to close the gap to 4 earlier this week, but failed. The debate on whether the Islanders should be ‘buyers’ or ‘sellers’ has been discussed by fans, bloggers and pundits. The Islanders have been consistently sellers for many seasons, and rightfully so. As a realist, and a little bit of a pessimist, I would suggest the Islanders will fall short of landing in the 8th place spot by the time the final game against the Blue Jackets will be played on April 7. I would have to think Garth Snow knows it as well.

But becoming a ‘classic seller’ does not, in my opinion, help the Islanders cause this season or beyond unless the items you are selling yield such a profitable return, that you have no choice but to sell. The other side of that coin would be that the Islanders are too far out to be ‘classic buyers’ where they wheel and deal young talent for a ‘final piece’ to make them a contender. No way are the Islanders near that position.

So what does it mean?

It means that if you are expecting Garth Snow to be very active at the deadline, you are setting yourself up for disappointment.

I am as certain as I can be as a speculator that Mr. Snow has made 29 phone calls to every GM in the NHL over the last week to gauge interest in any of his unrestricted players. But Snow has displayed patience in his dealings with trades and he has shown that he has a set price in mind for various players, and he will not dilute his price if he firmly believes he has correctly set the value to his and his teams benefit. Snow is very much about ‘winning’ in a trade. This does not mean their won’t be any moves…and the moves will be thoughtful and calculated if there are any at all.

Another solid NHL season for P.A. Parenteau has him as a coveted potential rental GM Garth Snow can turn into valuable assets for his franchise.

Who Could Go, Who Will Stay?
The players who will be likely remaining are fairly obvious. Though fans of the Leafs may want to believe otherwise, John Tavares will not be wearing Blue and White any time soon. While the Isles will likely remain quiet, there are some potential deals to be made depending on how things will shake out over the next 48 hours.

Evgeni Nabokov and P.A. Parenteau are garnering the most attention as potential players on the move. Both players have turned in strong seasons thus far. But, with the Islanders still inside hailing distance of the 8 spot, it is going to take more then a 3rd round pick to obtain either player from Garth Snow. The Islanders have a very strong, deep and well stocked farm, and are not as desperate to add picks and prospects as they were 2 seasons ago when the cupboard was still thin. Snow is likely more interested in acquiring NHL ready prospects or cap casualties that can still play meaningful minutes as part of the long term solution.

Earlier in the year, he was actively shopping Nabokov, but with the ‘on-cue’ injury to DiPietro, the ‘iffy’ consistency and injuries of Montoya and the as still not fully ready but strong potential of Poulin, the GM understands he needs Nabokov most likely beyond April. It is rumored that Snow has extended two possible offers to Nabokov. A 1-year deal, or a 2 year option. My preference would be for the 2 year deal, but Im not Nabokov. He may yet reject both offers, leaving Snow little time to try to hammer out either an agreement or potential trade.

What I believe is that Snow has a deal in place for Nabokov, ready to go at a moments notice, with one or two teams. It was likely something constructed back in December or January. If the Isles lose on Sunday to Ottawa and/or he fails to get Nabokov signed by Monday at noon or 1pm, he could pull the deal together. A second round pick plus has to be the asking price at this point in time, or an NHL defenseman (or NHL ready) who can log top 4 minutes.

If Nabokov is indeed signed, it is possible that Snow may deal Montoya, however the yield will not be there for Montoya as it would for Nabokov.

Parenteau is another matter. The announcement that he is not willing to negotiate until the end of the season could mean that he will test the waters post July 1.  Do the Islanders have a budget in mind for Parenteau and is that something P.A. would be comfortable with? If the two sides are fairly far apart, P.A. could be on his way out. Like trade value, Snow and owner Charles Wang have very clear ideas of what a particular player is worth in actual salary. If P.A. is seeking a deal similar to what Tavares received, he is pricing himself off the Island. On the other hand, if it is a 3 year Matt Moulson-esque deal, I think the Islanders would be able to get that done.

Like with Nabokov, I think Snow may have 2 or 3 potential deals ready to ‘rock-n-roll’ at the 1-2pm hour. Much may depend on if the Islanders win their game Sunday. With the kind of numbers P.A. is putting up, I would have to believe that Snow will seek a minimum 2nd round pick and true NHL ready prospect. P.A. is on pace for 74-75 point season. For those who think a 1st round pick is out of the question, or a high-end prospect and a second round pick — P.A.’s numbers will be in the range of the following types of players… Eric Staal, Claude Giroux, Johnathan Toews, Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler, Thomas Vanek, Patrick Kane, Patrick Marleau… This is based on the final stats for 2010-11.  Now I understand that P.A. is not the goal scorer per se, and does not have the complete game that some of those other stars have. But the numbers are what they are, and in a year where the free agent market is thin, his value is up. A team looking for the final piece will overpay as we have seen time and again. Snow should ask for a high end NHL ready player and a 2nd round pick or a 1st round pick if the Wild can get an NHL player, 2 prospects, a pick and conditional pick for Zidlicky.

The other players the Islanders have available are not impact players but could easily be moved for minimum returns of 3rd round picks or less. Mark Eaton, Steve Staios and Milan Jurcina are all capable defenders for teams looking for depth, and with the good play or Aaron Ness in his call-up, I would look for Snow to deal one or two of these defenders (Wishart would be the other call up to fill in.)

Brian Rolston (see below) and Jay Pandolfo will be offered up, but garner little value, and thus will more then likely remain with the Islanders.

For those of you who want to see DiPietro go — it is not happening. Not now, and not unless he retires on his own, which is unlikely to happen this season. Assume that DiPietro will be on the opening night roster in October. If there is a 1X buyout amnesty worked into the new CBA, Charles Wang may still not cut his favorite son loose. What you can be sure of is that neither Snow or Jack Capuano see DiPietro as anything more then an 8-12 game player who will then get hurt for long stretches of time. He is not an impact player on the ice any longer. What can become a factor is if the team really begins to compete and the cap hit is an issue, but as of now, they need to have that cap him to reach the floor.

My sincerest hope is to see DiPietro retire this April, but it is unlikely. He is too stupid, and stubborn. He may choose to retire after the 1012-13 season when he sees that the organization has him ranked as the #4-5 goalie behind Nabokov, Monotoya (if either or both remain) and Poulin.

Time To Relax and Just Play
Many fans assumed that Mark Striet’s and Kyle Okposo’s return would provide enough boost to the Islanders to vault them into playoff contention. That, plus the electric play of Michael Grabner should make the Islanders an offensive force. None of the above has happened the way fans wanted, nor, I am sure Striet, Okposo and Grabner.

In the case of Striet the answer is time. After missing a year of hockey, coming off the kind of injury he had, it was going to take half a season for him to find his game. I recall during a game in December that I attended and watching Streit, he just wouldn’t shoot from the point. He would load the gun, but never fire it — not like he used too. I think much of that has to do with that injury. His decision making was also off. Timing, off. It takes time for players to return, even after they “return.” Add to that the burden of being the Captain, and you get what you see. In the last few weeks, he has begun to return to his “Streit-like” self. At both ends, his game has picked up!

With Kyle Okposo, I am not sure if he suffered from the same issue during the early part of this season, or if the guy is in his head. Okposo is a skilled player with power forward potential. The ‘power’ is something he is not displaying enough of. He has been wildly inconsistent. We have seen him at times dominate his space and create for his line, and other times it just appears that he has feet of clay. He needs to make the effort to play a high tempo physical game in order to be at his most effective. I suppose like many of his teammates its a matter of consistency, but he should be more consistent as a little bit older. One can not underestimate however, Okposo has missed a great deal of time in his young career. He has one true complete season at 80 games, and not surprisingly, his best season overall. This season will more then likely be his second best, but still, not nearly enough for a guy who just signed a 5 year deal, and is a core player. The slow start hurt him, and he needs to find it for 82 games. Perhaps he can take a lesson from Matt Martin, or former Islander Darius Kasparitis. Get a big, clean hit done early to get yourself into the game!

With Michael Grabner, I am seeing so much frustration, he must be turning the stick to dust. The ‘Gremlin’ is getting his chances, although teams are ready for him, so not as often as last season. His ‘sophomore slump’ has hurt the team to be sure. This is a player who needs to relax, and keep plugging away. He is too good to just be a “1 and done” but like many goal scorers, he is clearly streaky. The groin injury earlier in the season might be hampering him as well.

The Arena
The last point of these 6 is, perhaps, the most important. No matter how good John Tavares is, no matter if Calvin de Haan comes in next season as a top rookie, or Ryan Strome gives us a dynamic 2nd line center, of Kevin Poulin wins the Calder, the state of the New York Islanders rests with Charles Wang and his ability or inability to find a new home for his hockey team.

Free agents will sign on Long Island if there is a legit chance the team can win, and if Wang is willing to pay up. But with the current uncertainty, Wang is not willing to pay up, and while the team is playing a great deal better, it has not shown itself to be capable of taking the ‘playoff’ step just yet. A winning record this season — playoffs or not — is critical to convincing potential UFAs that this team has a solid winning core, and is ready to turn the corner and compete.

As of this moment, I can’t stress enough how critical the game in Brooklyn in October will be. If we as fans ‘no show’ and there are 1,000 fans in attendance, it will communicate to Charles Wang that Brooklyn is not a viable option as a landing spot for his team. If on the other hand, we fill the arena to the shiny new rafters, it sends a clear cut message to Kate Murray, Ed Mangano, Jay Jacobs and everyone else from the Hooples of Hempstead to the Nimrods of Nassau that the Islanders have their bags packed and ready to move slightly west.It lets everyone know that Barclay’s is a viable home for the Islanders.

Queens remains a potential option as well, but is further away then Brooklyn as no arena is actually planned or under construction. Likewise, we have heard little from new County Exec Steve Bellone in Suffolk County. Other municipalities like Quebec, Hamilton, Seattle  would kill to have the Islanders.

Nassau is, as of now, a dead option. No one in the County or Town of Hempstead is showing any real interest in retaining the Islanders. In fact, the latest in a long line of planning meetings and discussions that have gone NO WHERE — there was even a suggestion that if the Islanders leave, the County could get another sports tenant to replace the Isles. (What ever that guy is smoking, I think its only right that he shares… If the Islanders leave, no sports owner with one brain molecule would consider Nassau County, or Long Island viable.)

In my writing here and elsewhere, I have called on Charles Wang to take a much more aggressive stance on this issue, to force all of these communities to come to him rather then he beg them — to operate as he has what they want to create jobs, to foster economic growth and build excitement within a community. He has failed — miserably — to play this game the right way, and both times he was soundly defeated. Either the advice he is getting is really bad, or he is not listening to good advice he might be receiving from his people. Either way, it has led us to the unthinkable.

The Islanders have, in essence until the beginning of the 2012-13 season to decide their fate. I believe the puck is on Charles Wang’s stick blade. He has his choice of scoring a game winning buzzer beater in Brooklyn, and put an end to all of the speculation and all of the non-sense, or shanking the shot wide by 6 feet. He can and MUST begin open public negotiations with Queens for an arena at Willits Point. But Charles Wang continues to drag his feet in silence. His excuse that they are trying to focus on the hockey season is laughable. Charles Wang is not the 2nd line center for the New York Islanders, worried about getting a goal in the next game. His only in-season task is signing his name to his players pay checks. Using that as an excuse at this crucial time to try and find a new home for the team is dumb and lazy. Pining away for a Nassau County that clearly does not have any desire to keep his team in the County is — I am sorry to say and putting it bluntly here — fucking stupid!

One of these two guys in playing in the NHL... David Ullstrom has been recalled to the Islanders as Brian Rolston is placed on Waivers. Sidney Crosby is still on the shelf!

Until this issue is resolved, the New York Islanders will be mostly quiet with free agents. So those of you looking for Garth Snow to sign Shea Weber or Ryan Suter to long term deals on July 1, 2012, you are setting yourself up for massive disappointment, and lots of time wasted on emails, blog posts and messages on HFBoards about how Snow is stupid and should be fired, and Wang must go. If the Islanders arena issues are solved by June 30, then you can assume the Islanders will be more active. But if not….

NEWS UPDATE
After a 50 game tryout, the Isles have finally decided what most of us saw after 10 games — that Brian Rolston can no longer play in the NHL. His 4 goals, 5 assists, 9 points and -13 is taking away valuable ice time from players who are better suited, younger, and can offer far more then Rolston. Arthur Staple tweeted that Rolston has been placed on Waivers. David Ullstrom has been recalled from Bridgeport. This will add a much needed element of skill and spark to the Islanders. I was very disappointed when Ullstrom was hurt, and again when he was returned to Bridgeport after he was deemed ready for play. A new 3rd line of Cizikas (who played nicely last night) centering Ullstrom and Martin should prove to be a very solid energy line. If that line can gel the way I think it can as an effective 3rd line, what happens to Josh Bailey, and where does Nino go??? Thoughts?

Is this a preemptive strike?

As I first reported on Twitter on Thursday the Islanders are in discussions to host a preseason game next season at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the future home of the NBA’s New Jersey Nets.

This is not the first time the Islanders have used another venue to push the reality that at the end of the 2014-15 season their lease with Nassau Coliseum ends. During the 2008-09 season when Kansas City was considered their hot relocation destination, the Islanders announced they’d be taking on the Los Angeles Kings in a preseason game the following season at the brand-new downtown Spirit Center.

While there has been no movement between the Islanders and Nassau County on a new or refurbished arena, and a clear message has been sent that the team is not presently for sale, more possible routes could open if Brooklyn, Suffolk County or Queens were to make guarantees.

READ MORE ON MY BLOG ON CBS New York/WFAN…

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Since this past Aug. 1′s failed referendum in Nassau County, it has been silent on all fronts. But as a team struggles, invariably people hear things or  rumor and innuendo just get spun out of control quickly by a hungry fan base looking for anything to look forward to.

The latest message board fan site fodder rolling around and being inflated is just that. It is about some group, including a former player who has interest in buying the team. You can’t blame the energy and excitement in the notion. Fans rightly are wishing for a resolution that leaves the Islanders in New York and settles what has been a disturbing open-ended situation that rarely features any answers…

READ MORE ON CBS New York…

And if you missed it, read my featured piece on concussions in hockey is now an epidemic on CBS New York. It is an eye-opener. READ IT HERE!

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Part 1 covered the coach, part 2 the goalies. Part 3 gives us a look at the Islanders blueline thus far in the season, and moving beyond the 2011 campaign.

Many of us — me included — still believe that a seasoned NHL coach can help a great deal, and many of us like to put all the blame on DiPietro. Well, it is not all the coach, and not all on DiPietro.

As the 2010-11 season folded, and the Islanders were once again left with a high lottery pick, the mandate from GM Garth Snow was to obtain a defenseman. Someone who could be a part of the team for years to come, with experience, but still young and hungry enough to be a part of the Islanders long term solution. Having been stonewalled in free agency for 3-4 seasons, it became clear the Islanders may have to find their man via another way.

The Defenders That Never Were
In reality, I see two players who fall into this category. James Wisniewski and Christian Ehrhoff.

In the summer of 2010, the Islanders pulled off what was viewed as a coup, sending a 3rd round pick to the Ducks for veteran defender Wisniewski. A player that played with a real edge and fire, who could generate 45-50 points from the blue line. A Physical version of Mark Striet if you will.

Unfortunately for the Islanders, the Wisniewski and Striet dream was ended before REM sleep really began. With Striet’s season ending injury, Wisniewski was in effect left to carry the blue line load by himself. While the Wiz is a solid NHL defenseman with excellent upside, he is not a #1 defender, or someone who can carry a team. It was not long after the season started that the Islanders slid deep into the abyss ending Wisniewski’s run as an Islander, costing Scott Gordon his job, and ensuring a high pick in 2011.

With Striet coming back after his lost season this fall, the Islanders wanted to be sure they found someone who could give young players like Calvin de Haan some time, and help teach other young and developing defenseman like Andy MacDonald and Travis Hamonic the ropes. Having been rebuffed by free agents, Snow wasted little time, and traded for the rights to Christian Ehrhoff, fresh off his cup run with the Canucks.

But as soon as he came in, he was gone. What was a good attempt proved to be nothing. We will never really know if it was Ehrhoff who wanted more than the Islanders could give, or wanted to give, or if the number of years were the issue or if simply put, Ehrhoff had no desire to sign with the Islanders regardless of the terms or dollars. Free agency once again came and went, but unlike 2010, there were no post arbitration trades to bolster the blueline, leaving the Islanders with Striet returning from major injury a few journeymen bottom pair defenders and a few very good young players yet to reach their potential.

In addition, the Islanders let Radek Martinek go, and did not sign Jack Hillen for another stint on Long Island. With the Ehrhoff failure, and the lack of the ability to bring in other blueline help via free agency fans were very critical of allowing Radek Martinek to walk. The funny thing about this, is that Martinek — as good as he is when he is healthy — has not had a single healthy season. He is not a point producer, and in effect, he is a #3 defender at best. Certainly, retaining an injury prone Martinek would not address the Islanders problems, and I don’t for a moment believe Snow was wrong to let him walk — even after losing Ehrhoff or other free agents. Needless to say, Martinek is unfortunately hurt again. Only 7 games played thus far this year for the Blue Jackets.

While they need help being so young, Travis Hamonic (3) and Andrew MacDonald (47) are the current home grown defenders for the Islanders that should be a part of the teams core for years to come.

The Current Crop

The 7 players that make up the Islanders back end are a mix of vets and youth — some look to be part of the long term solution, some just stop gaps.

Striet’s return is a godsend for the Islanders but the rust is evident, as is the burden of his captaincy. He tries to keep things light, but he is clearly under the stress of trying to carry the team from the blueline, and frankly, he is trying too hard. By all accounts, Striet can be one of the leagues better defenseman — when he focuses on the task at hand. My advice to him is to lead by example on the ice playing the simple, effective and compact game he always played. His trying to do too much is causing undesired and costly fumbles. it is a lesson from Patrick Flatley. Flats was never going to be an offensive dynamo, but he lead by example. He did the little things, and did not take a shift off.

Mark Eaton and Mike Mottau are one in the same. Both are acceptable stop gaps for games here and there, but they have both struggled. Both have had a few good games, and many indifferent games. I just don’t seem to notice either doing much good on any level. They don’t single-handedly cost us games, but they just don’t seem to do much. Both may be potential trade targets as depth defenders to a playoff bound team at the deadline. I would take a 3rd rounder for either, unless they can be part of a larger package.

Travis Hamonic has continued to impress. A call-up last season, Hamonic has become a steady force on the blue line. What clearly distinguishes him from the others on the blueline is his toughness. No one else on the Islanders defense corps is nearly as tough. He plays with a welcome edge and fire. He reminds me a great deal of Dave Langevin; quietly going about his game, but at the same time you saw him level someone from time-to-time. He can shoot, make good passes — he possesses a strong overall game. As of now, I would suggest he is our #1 defenseman. Sadly, he should be our #2 or #3, but as we lack a true #1 or #2 he is relegated to being our best defender. He may evolve into a #2, but I am not sure he will ever possess the complete overall game. But defenseman take a little longer, so anything is possible.

Coming off difficult injuries last season, Andy MacDonald has a very solid game for the Islanders. He won’t get the points that Striet or Hamonic may get, but he is effective, can log minutes and do lots of the little things well. Right now, Id like to see him spend the season staying healthy, and continuing his development. He is not a #1 or #2. He is likely a second pairing defenseman if done “the right way.” Still, he is very reliable.

Milan Jurcina brings the intangible of size to the Islanders. Frankly, I like that he seems to be using that size a bit more, but not nearly enough. He has a great shot as well, and again, does not use it enough. Still, he makes a nice addition to the Islanders, and I would not be against resigning him this off season for a 1 or 2 year deal. He can continue as an effective second or third pair defender, and continue to provide some time to younger players like de Haan, Donovan and others.

Steve Staios’ arrival was viewed by many as a waste of time, but he has filled in as well as can be expected. When you are unable to sign a free agent, or your young players are not ready, this is what you are left to do. Which is to say, Staios has been doing just fine. Surprisingly I like his game far better than Eaton’s or Mottau’s.

Outside the aforementioned 7, they is Dylan Reese. It seems that Reese gets the call on emergency loan which means he does not need to pass through waivers, and when he does, the Islanders play better. That should tell management something.

What to expect

The Islanders clearly do not have a true #1 defender. Mark Striet is not that guy right now, and frankly, may never be. In reality, he is a great #2, with Hamonic and MacDonald as the second pairing. Ehrhoff and Wisniewski would not have been the game changing #1′s either, but I would welcome either to the team as they would raise the quality of the blue line significantly. While a true number one would not be here, a top 6 of Wiz, Ehrhoff, Striet, Hamonic, MacDonald and Jurcina would be a gigantic leap forward and our best collective blueline in nearly 10 years.

But for the time being, there is very little the Islanders can do, or for the fans to expect. I would not be so determined at this time to bring in Donovan, Ness or de Haan — all doing well in Bridgeport this season. I would be very much resistant to trading Hamonic or MacDonald, and while Striet has struggled, I am not on board with trading him for a perceived higher value — plus we need the salary on the books. Plus, those three represent half the blue line, and thats the half we want to keep.

If anything, we may see a player like Staios get moved at the deadline for a 3rd round pick or less making way for Reese the final 20 or so games. In addition, Mottau and Eaton will be eligible for trades as UFAs. I would expect one or two of those three moved before the deadline. I would not mind seeing Wishart get another chance. I am not fully sure why he is not getting a longer look. He brings size to the line up — size that is sorely needed, and while he had some questions to his game, he may be worth another look.

But overall — don’t expect Shea Weber, or Ryan Suter any time soon.

Who can be done, and what would  your choice be?

Sure — by all accounts Snow tried, but on this, he has indeed failed. Like Charles Wang having one major item on his to do list, Snow had one major item on his. Both men failed.

Perhaps Ehrhoff or Wisniewski were not worth the big deals they got with their respective teams. I would have to agree with Snow that giving Ehrhoff a 10 year deal is not the right move for the Islanders. Plus, as mentioned, I really don’t see either player as a #1. Doughtly is a #1. Perhaps Suter is, and Weber certainly is. But the availability of those players was unlikely. We don’t know if any would want to be part of the Islanders solution or not, and we have no idea what we would need to give up to get such players.

It is all the more concerning that we lack a game changer on defense right now within the prospect pool. While Nino and Strome look good, and even I would have gone for Couturier at this past draft, one has to wonder where is our big time d-man going to come from?

I find it equally concerning that a deal like the ones for Dion Phaneuf went down and the Islanders had nothing to offer to try and get him?

This is where Snow seems to be a little bit gun shy. But it could just as easily be that he can’t make a deal to land a big fish like Phaneuf, Richards, Carter or any other stud player because of the situation with the arena, Charles Wang, and the state of the franchise.

My choice would be to package the Islanders first round pick to try and pry a stud loose somewhere. A young player who can be signed long term and be part of the team for a long time. A rental is not viable. A 35 year old should not be the center piece of the deal. It has to be the right fit. Ultimately, the opportunity may be there for one of Weber or Suter if the Preds can’t keep both. It would certainly help but can the Islanders convince either as free agents to become part of the Islander solution long term?

In the absence of having those answers, the Islanders have little choice but to look to within for the solution. I also am more inclined to deal this years first round pick because the last thing we need on the Islanders — talent not withstanding — is another 6′ forward. We need a 6’4″ defenseman who can play 25 minutes a night. If someone has a suggestion, we’d all like to hear it.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

We know a few games ago the Isles were fragile. Well, what happens when they are broken?

What Has Come To Pass

Back over the summer I warned on what plans the Isles had with one Blake Comeau. In fact, if you follow me on twitter, I’ve been saying it since the end of last season. Despite the 24 goals and 46 points within last season’s chaos, the Isles saw him as a bottom 6 player, to play the 3rd line to be exact. In fact, some wondered if he was only one of those players that could only be a difference-maker within complete chaos and bad teams. With kids coming up and development of prospects, his fate was sealed.

Lo and behold on the third line he was placed, not helped by his training camp play. Comeau has had start issues before with the Isles, landing in Scott Gordon’s doghouse as well.

The Isles original plan was to have three offensive lines. His linemates was Josh Bailey, and to play on the other wing was to be P.A. Parenteau. This changed when Niño went down to injury, and PA found himself back in the first line plans. PA ended up having incentive to play his ass off and is sticking to that first line. See, sometimes competition is a good thing.

But more on that later…

What turned out in the third line was a complete stunt of play and effectiveness that the isles offensive plans turned to mush. The Isles turned instead to a one-line team that could be focused on and contained. So it is small wonder that they have fallen into a tailspin. In fact, it was my number issue I cited for the offense in my preseason primer. Where would the scoring come?

While other player outages have also gone along with Blake Comeau’s, those others like Bailey, Okposo, Nielsen and on defense: Andy MacDonald (takes a while to get to 100% from last years injury) and Hamonic have found at least glimmers. Comeau instead went into freefall.

The “Imminent” Deal That Never Happened…

Back during last summer, Comeau was almost dealt, likely in the “deal that never happened”. You might recall the alluded to deal that others made after Hunter for Rolston happened. Well, once August 1st failed vote in Nassau County, whatever deal that was to be also went kaput… Likely due to the $$$ that also would have came back. Charles was not going to eat more loss over and above maintaining the bottom cap floor level when he felt fans failed to be the job done in Nassau County.

Why was Comeau almost dealt? Well, in his contract negotiations he and his agent were far apart with the Islanders. Snow wanted a #2 or 3 defenseman, having been unable to sign Ehrhoff. In the end, Comeau signed. Any deal to be struck via trade was long dead despite the terms of “imminent” or “next” still touted around. Garth was hamstrung thanks to Charles, and then had to change gears.

So we instead had this long sordid seasonal tale of Blake Comeau’s stats, 4th line drop, not even a shot in his last game for the Isles. Meanwhile a crowd of forwards had developed. If the vets were not going to carry the team forth, the vision and mission was still in player development. Comeau was never considered a piece of the Isles system or rebuild. He was, like others deemed expendable like Nilsson and O’Mara who were shopped until they paid for a Ryan Smyth rental years before, predated the 2006 system and method installation that the Isles use still.

Comeau was shopped, but his stats and contract were detriments that continued to hang like an albatross on his value.

A Little Trade Reality, Folks…

The art of trades, which nobody seems to understand when writing, reading or commenting about hockey, is that beggars are not choosers. If you have a guy sucking, nobody is going to pay anything. Trades and negotiation are about positioning. It is not EA’s NHL 2012.

Someone calling others about trading a player is not in a solid footing in negotiation. It is a shame that this is again and again failed to be understood as people, even the mainstream press, fail to get this key element into their head.

In short, Garth had NO trade footing with Comeau. He set a price, and probably did not get even anything near it or acceptable below that value. To not be shown as weak, and to be able to have footing on future deals, the Isles stick to their price set or at least within their reason. He did not fold so that he can make sure that he has sway for future, probably more important deals of the future than some guy who is washing out of being a forward in one of the weakest teams and biggest opportunities in the league. I mean, let’s get real here. Had Comeau played his ass off, he could have been back on the 2nd line. The Isles have stuck with the hot hands.

So as that meeting with Capuano and Garth happened, large decisions were made. They chose to break this fragile egg and stuck group. Examples would be made. Room created. Comeau was waived with the intent of knowing he would be likely claimed. This will not be the end of such moves, especially if Rolston does not do more in the next few. You might see him go next via waivers, where call-ups and kids keep the Isles still above cap floor, and more room made.

The odd element to all this is that 99.99% of Islander fans have been screaming for Blake Comeau to be off this team for weeks now. Waived, traded for scraps, whatever…just get him gone – was the mantra. Yet suddenly, when waived, an about-face came screaming about trade value: How could be let go for nothing?

Why Players Sit

While Isles fans seem to now take a microscope game-to-game, screaming about others sitting, facts are that there has been a competition for roles. Organizations SHOULD have competition for roles. Competition for playing time. Those are elements that create growth and development. I think Isles fans have been lulled by the years the Isles had none and roles just given away to the dreck of the league.

Before we fans forget about Andy Hilbert and more, let us recall the times when the Isles had ZERO competition for roles. Sure, I can agree the stats and standing weren’t much better, but fact is the Isles have a lot of kids in development now vying for roles, and can we agree for argument’s sake that they are not fully developed yet?

So Nino sits, and there is a bang the gong of conspiracy. There are no conspiracy or money issues weighing here. He is not being sat to avoid bonuses. They did not have him do training camp and preseason on the top line to have him sit. But fact remains his camp was stunted due to injury and has a crowd at RW on the NHL team. So if he has to sit a few games as the Isles try to sort out those forwards and get others going, so be it.

Everyone wants the Isles to sort out the offensive issues and get players going, then they complain when they actually sit someone.

We are far from a turned corner, let’s be honest here. But there seems to be some distance from the listless and “fragile”, as cited by assistant Scott Allen during one of the Isles worst games in recent memory when Sidney Crosby returned to walk all over the team. The Islanders feel they moved one fragile element off the team and into the Western Conference. The braintrust considers that something of value… whether Comeau wakes up or not. Meantime, Okposo, sat for a while, has turned on the jets like careers and seasons are at stake. Hmm, I guess the Isles knew what they were doing there.

I bet when Nino finally reaches the ice and plays like a rabid dog is nipping at his heels, maybe the will be a method seen within the fan and peanut gallery madness?

We shall see. Just as we will see what shakes out at forwards.

When Nino does return to the ice, expect to see on a line with Ullstrom (up for now), and Josh Bailey (playing better, have you noticed?). Potentially, this “kid” line could be the very thing the Isles need for that 3^rd line to finally make some sort of difference.

IF YOU MISSED IT: My piece wondering if the Isles are just a bunch of heartless tin men! Read it here!
IF YOU MISSED IT: My talk with a goalie scout about the Isles goalies and prospects! Read it here!

TIPS, THOUGHTS, READ ANYTHING GOOD, OR PERHAPS YOU WROTE ONE YOURSELF? Let us know in the comments or email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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I have been waiting.

I have been patient.

But the dysfunction of the franchise has once again caught up with me, and I am going to take a guess that I am not alone in my dread. What began 2 months ago as hope that this season would afford the Islanders and its fans meaningful games in March and maybe April have evaporated like the morning dew on a Spring day. The brightness of the prodigal “son” proved once and for all that this Islander team — yet again — is not capable of competing. The no-show against the Florida Panthers on opening night was not a forewarning enough. Perhaps the goose egg laid against the Winnipeg Jets should have shown me. Maybe the 2 ass whippings at the hands of the defending champs. But last night sealed it for me. I gave them about a quarter of the season, and realize — it’s more or less done for 2011-12.

A season that had promise based in large part on what transpired during the final 4 months of last season.  Where did it go wrong?

Is it the coach and his staff that are not getting enough out of a talented group of players?

Is it a nasty funk the players are in, and no coach is going to change it?

Is it the arena?

Was it the lack of moves over the summer?

There are a number of “reasons” and we can all speculate, but until we are actually in the room, speculation, supposition, and the word of those in the room are all we can go with.

Though my disappointment is clear, and I am hoping that some moves are made, the rebuild can’t be called a “failure” as some fans are suggesting.

Last night, after the game, and in reading some tweets, going back and forth with some fans and followers, there are a number of things that I think we need to be realistic about, and it is not going to make any of us happy.

A Coaching Change

I suppose its possible if the team loses really big like the last 2 nights , but I don’t think it will happen — not a year after they brought Capuano in, and not right after giving him a new deal. This is the guy they wanted — the management, the players. There was no doubt. No ambiguity. There was no search done by Garth Snow and Charles Wang. They zeroed in on Jack before the end of the season if you recall, and made it official soon after the end of last season. They would need to be blown out the next few games in a row before Cappy is let go.

There is a possibility. The way this team is right now, I can see it happening, which would give Snow the mandate to make a change — considering the real culprits can’t be all fired, including the owner.

The Isles have Philadelphia and then a home-and-home with the Devils — I could see the Islanders losing all three by 5-6 goal deficits, and being shut-out in the process. We always do poorly against the Flyers, and Zack Parise reminds us all of the fact he should be an Islander had any one of us been the GM that year. He is guaranteed at least 2 goals in each game (or so it seems)

I like Capuano. I think he is a good guy.

Not to be cold — but good guys don’t cut it in this business. The players need someone who knows how to balance ass kicking and nurturing. There any number of buttons that need to be pushed, and they all need to be pushed on a little bit, all at the same time. It is a delicate balancing act, and one I am not sure Cappy is up to managing. I was hoping that having Doug Weight on the bench may help as a liaison between coaching staff and team, or the addition of some vets who had been through the wars — but they have all given up on each other.

The Choices

Left to right, Bob Hartley, won the Cup in 2000-01 with Colorado, Michel Therrien, Cup finalist with Pittsburgh 2007-08, Marc Crawford, won the Cup 1995-96 with Colorado

The Islanders would do well to go outside the organization, but they likely won’t. Hartley, Therrien or Crawford  would all offer a completely new direction, new voice and new systems — all desperately needed. This is still Scott Gordon’s system with tweaks. But my guess is if Snow pulls the trigger — it will be one of Dean or Doug to finish out the year.

Should they do it?

I think they should. I think at this point, somehow, the players need a completely new direction. We said this just a year ago, and it messes up the stability that Snow has been trying to bring in after a decade of disaster under Mike Milbury. But he made a poor choice in both Gordon and Capuano. And what good is stability if they are stable losers?

A young team needs some experience, and someone who commands a certain level of respect. If I walk into the room and say to any of these players that they need to play with more fire and passion it does not have as much weight as a guy like Marc Crawford or Bob Hartley who have their names on the Stanley Cup. I would have added Ken Hitchcock to this list, though some feel he is too cerebral.

What to expect

Depends on what happens. If they are crushed in the next 3 games — and I mean crushed — expect a change. If they compete but lose the rest of the year, Cappy finishes the season.

If they do let Cappy go — expect Doug or Dean. That is what this organization does. They don’t bring in the “real” people. So far, the only time that has worked for the Islanders is Laviolette — and as soon as he showed he was “real” he was fired.

Who would your choice be? Any of the three above or would you recommend someone else?

Ill have more on the players, the GM and the owner down the road — (been crazy busy)

Happy Thanksgiving — and I am truly sorry to all the Islander fans, my son included who I apologize to regularly for making him an Islander fan. (How sad is that…)

UPDATE: 12:15pm — Source is confirming Garth SNow has the authority to do what ever is needed to save the Isles season. This came from Chris Botta and Eric Hornick via Twitter. Is that a first “rumbling” something could happen to shake up the team?

UPDATE: 1:49PM — Arthur Staple Tweets — Garth Snow confirms to Newsday he has no intention of firing Jack Capuano (Can’t say I am surprised)

The Islanders start is not one for the ages, but lately it seems that fans seem to be whipped into a frenzy. First with Nabokov and agent seeming to spout off to the peanut galley, then once the rumors get cooking, catch flak and start saying the “party line” on record. Then suddenly we talked about the fate of the coach. Actually I wondered that aloud weeks ago, but it was of late that the machine whirled and started to hammer the coach and then, now, Garth Snow. The machine will keep going, and fans will be riled about all sorts of things, but the one to blame for many issues is one Charles Wang. The buck stops with Charles who seemed to kibosh intent to make moves post-August 1st. It is Charles who let Mike Milbury remain for years, and let the Isles sink into an abyss. It was Charles who hired and then butted head with Neil Smith. It was Charles who selected Garth Snow, and in the wreckage of a season gone wrong with Ted Nolan at realm, who then invested his trust in Garth and the draft system to constitute a rebuild that not just was for the NHL on-ice, but also to refurbish the Milbury decimated and rotten prospect system and pool.

It is unfortunate that it has been so slow, and still has a jury out on if this rebuild pieces are really all that is needed. I’d be leaning towards that some changes and corrections to it need to be made since this year seems to be lacking a lot of elements. Garth has attempted to use free agency to land key items, chasing many a free agent, but with no playoffs in a few years and a venue also atop that, it has made it difficult to be a player unless they damage their longterm. Perhaps Garth should have made a crazy deal like Ehrhoff’s 10 year deal for the Sabres? As crazy as it was, the fact it is front loaded might have be the saving grace with a new CBA and surefire adjustments going to be eaten in the near future.

Ehrhoff’s stats this season, at his current rate will put him near 50 points, something the Isles coveted and regarded him as a #2 dman. He is also poised for a -20 season, at current rate, but +/- is a flawed stat and hardly indicative of value.

Should have Garth overpaid, despite clearly being fiscally conservative since his start on Long Island? This season’s offkilter drag and the glaring need for scoring and defensive depth seems to indicate that you do get what you pay for, and that leaves the Isles and Isles fans wanting this November. 

There is certainly a lot of season to go, and with the rebuild chip of Nino Niederreiter poised to return tonight, it will certainly be a welcome sight. Nino spent the preseason working with the top line, but will likely be placed on the 2nd or 3rd to jumpstart the listless. What does Nino bring to the table? Quite a bit, and though people should not expect the kid to blaze a path of glory with his stuttered start due to injury, he will bring things to the team that are missing and sorely needed.

I corresponded with my friend over at The Prospect Park, Jess Rubenstein, who has watched Nino at Portland and who has been singing his praises before the Isles picked him. When I was in LA at the draft, Jess had mentioned him often as being a gem of a pick and exactly what the Isles needed.

So is it all solved? Hardly, but if the Isles can get some scoring generated, and the Isles can scrape their way to .500, it would be far more within expectations. And to that, Nino, besides Bailey or Okposo turning on the jets, can be a big difference-maker.

What I would not do is jump off the ledge just because a pied piper is playing a familiar song. 

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You do not need much hockey acumen to know that three goalie systems do not work. You just need to be a recent Isles fan to recall that it was not that long ago that a subpar DiPietro, a backup playoff caliber Dwayne Roloson, and a rusty and off scheduled Marty Biron who was relegated to a press box.

Goalies aren’t wind-up toys, who just need to be wound and placed on the ice on a whim. They are mercurial and eccentric people who have rituals and habits to somehow get the desire and focus to have rubber pucks slapped at them at high velocity.

The addition of DiPietro, who had nary his own schedule to get up to NHL speed, just his own competitive all-be-damned edge and his friendship with Charles Wang to ride right into goal, threw the Isles goal minding into a tizzy. The team, much less the goaltenders, never recovered. That trade deadline Garth actually considered dealing both Biron and Roloson, knowing a vet could be had later that summer to be backup to their 15-year albatross.  Nobody bit on Biron, and even Roloson would not get near the Isles barometer of value.

Other teams can tell you other horror tales of three goalies. There is just no schedule to it. No working around it. Invariably, someone sits or has their knee blow up like a kid’s balloon to be perhaps shaped into a dog or a hat until next season.

In fact, the 15-year deal of Rick DiPietro has become one of the worst thought out contracts in all-professional sports. What has become clear, whether you root for the guy or just want him to get punched in the face by Mike Tyson, is that he has finally has the potential to be a disruption to the equilibrium, general health, and the future of the Isles rebuild starting this season.

Sorry, just no getting around this anymore. No more dancing around the subject.

Neil Smith knew it was a bad idea. Not that he was acting like any hero as he and the internal staff had a virtual war go on during his brief tenure. However one of his final acts was an attempt to countermand Charles Wang’s desire to give The Rick a longterm insane deal by calling his agent to arrange a meeting to do a more reasonable 6-year term.

That was the final straw. Their battle then went underground into an under wraps NHL courtroom-like drama of testimony later on, as the Isles booted Neil, kept the system in place, and moved to Garth Snow. Charles then hammered out the deal that makes Isles fans moan in the night.  The final moral to this story is fan; player and team beware of contracts outside the normal scope. Nobody can live up to it. Just ask Mike Richards and Philly.

So now here we are, another year, and Rick DiPietro even lower in Isles fans minds. His play last year, despite better health showed poorly on the stat charts. His numbers cannot be pinned on the substandard defense alone when Roloson could take that same and make him look like gold. Of course, his comment last season seemed to light a fire under fans where it was viewed that he dismissed any and all other goaltenders to actually pushing him, much less perhaps pushing him out. He was so obtuse to his reality and situation in that interview it seemed like a bit of a put-on.

Rick hates the press. Anyone who knows and has dealt with him knows this. Getting clarity or even a story on your own terms out of him is near impossible. Much has been made of his flip egocentric comment. With no sly wink or twinkle of the eye, we are left with the sad reality. He doesn’t “get it”.  With his now opposite standpoint this summer via interviews, it is clear he’s talking the talk, but does he know the walk anymore?

Does Rick understand the hard truth that most fans are about ready to move on? Now or later, the writing is on the wall. He just knows he has a friend in Charles that gives him more leeway than commonsense would allow.

This all said, it is not like the isles were exactly thrown from they playoffs due to Rick’s trials and tribulations. The timing of Rick’s trouble was not grand, but it isn’t like it killed the Isles cup hopes. It wasn’t like Poulin must start or sit. He is better to develop at Bridgeport until it is clear where he need to be. It’s not like Kosikken was knocking at the door as he was scrambling to sew the holes in the back of the net.

Enter Al Montoya, who never got his shot in two places thanks to good prospects and scouting as the Rangers had Henrik and Phoenix has that other guy… Ummm… oops, nevermind… Bryzgalov is the Flyers goalie for the next 9 years or until they fail in a playoff round.

Montoya looks like one of those late bloomers. No huge top goalie projection anymore, but a solid steady guy who can do whatever needs to be done perhaps. Or until a wunderkind erupts, sending him packing or backing up for a third time. That’s NHL goaltending.

The problem is the Nabokov Situation, which is about as concerning as the Bonnie Situation in Pulp Fiction right now. Here is a guy who won 44 games in his last season in the NHL, despite tanking in the playoffs, which seemed to kill his realistic value when he and his agent overrated and overvalued him last year.

The Nabokov situation is more trouble than a good cup of coffee

Here is also a guy with a track record, despite being “too good to play for the lowly Isles” last season when they pulled him off the waiver wire. Talk about your hang-ups. He has a playoff reaching (despite tanking) pedigree, who also is now in the mix for a mere song this season thank to the righteous and rightful tolling of his contract by the NHL. He will cost the Isles a mere $570,000. Hell, that’s less than Andy Hilbert.

As DP was able to stay relatively healthy last season, chances are he will do the same this summer and out the gate. The problem is that he is not even a shade of his former self. My belief is that level that the Isles need him to be and play is what will only send him to the IR again. This is a problem.

There is also the problem of The Rick’s head. Rick, who was the guest of an all-star game just once, likes to compare himself and his situation to that of Tom Brady. The only thing at DiPietro has in common with Tom Brady is his pay grade. The problem is that he is no such level. He is far more comparable to Drew Bledsoe…another top pick and face of the franchise of the New England Patriots who got swept out of the way.

The sooner all recognize this reality the better it will be for all.

The Isles PR department story is that this could be a triple threat. Nothing could be further from the truth. This is a three-prong problem with no sure thing of a solution. What the Isles need to hope on is that someone here or elsewhere goes down like a Mangano Referendum vote. Only if a team comes looking for a Montoya or Nabokov, or DP has an orbital bone relapse courtesy another goaltender who tires of his still almost rookie-like on-ice behavior, will this come to some sort of temporary conclusion. Unless Montoya or Poulin becomes ready to take the reins and not let go will this begin to become clear-cut.  That or DiPietro gets some sort of bionics.

Until then this potential mess will get Messier.

Errr… messier.

Triple threat indeed.

Nino has been penciled to play this year on the Isles since early this summer, if not last year. They knew what they had with Nino last year, and knew he was ready this year for the big club. They have slotted him to play a line with Blake Comeau and Josh “Last Minute” Bailey.

They see Nino eventually being a first line winger, but he will have to unseat P.A. Parenteau who had 20 goals and over 50 points. The question is not IF, but when for Nino, who is rated very highly by the Isles internal staff. He is projected by the Isles as a first line winger. Expect him to start on that the third line unless he IMMEDIATELY clicks with Moulson/Tavares – something I have said since last May. If he does make the top line out of camp, Parenteau shifts to line 3.

The real battle that will occur this preseason is on defense by their 2009 first round draft pick, Calvin de Haan. de Haan is projected to be a top-two defenseman. This is why they made so many moves to scoop him up at No. 12 after getting John Tavares at No. 1 in 2009. de Haan was on the young side of the draft, and his body has filled out since.

De Haan can win a spot on this defense in their preseason…. IF and WHEN he gains that spot, whether it be at season’s start or midseason as a call-up remains to be seen; but anyone who does not think that the Isles future is with de Haan slated as a top D-man is just plain mistaken. He is a key component of the rebuild and their defensive futures, even over Travis Hamonic who is a projected 3rd/4th D-man. I like  Hamonic, but he has been a bit over-hyped and rated by previous bloggers.. thus overhyped by fans and message-boarders.

Those that de Haan, Hamonic and other kids will need to usurp are the journeymen D-men that the Isles brought in last year. Everyone will move down a notch, and cusp players like Mike Mottau and even Mark Eaton can easily be displaced by youth being served.

Keep an eye on defense this camp, because unlike the offensive lines which have been pre-pencilled… a lot of question marks here.  The Isles, as I wrote way back in May, wanted to do more than the patchwork of Band-Aids they placed on the defense last season. However, they were thwarted by reality when their aggressive move to grab Christian “10 year Buffalo” Ehrhoff did not pan out as a pre-free agency signing. Garth Snow was also aggressive on day 1 of July 1st’s free agency. But when they saw all their targets go, they changed gears and then just merely upgraded two spots on their bottom 6… Something i warned about that very day. One via free agency, the other via trade.

Before August 1st, Snow was still aggressive. It was reported by myself that Blake Comeau was being shopped. Comeau was an expendable chip  who predates the Isles new system, who has scored 20 goals or more. So as Garth was still pushing that aggressive playoff desire button, a 2nd or 3rd dman was still a desired target. In fact, when Trent Hunter was dealt for Rolston, some reported that a followup deal was to happen immediately.

Lo and behold, it did not happen…

1. August 1st and Charles Wang’s frustration has now changed Garth’s ability to spend and deal.
2. Comeau and his agent blinked and he signed to the Isles offer. It took him off the table for now, but his price also allows the Isles an option to deal him later if need outweighs Wang’s new cap floor dictate.
3. Rather than wait, Garth and John Tavares/agent locked in a 6 year deal. This was a brilliant move that avoids issues in subsequent years with venue and Nassau issues, and Garth’s locked down spending. Rebuild pieces are to be retained at all cost. And if you think the Isles psych profiling of draft and rebuild pieces look for loyalty… You’d be right. How good would be a rebuild if you didn’t look for players willing to stick it out and be retained? A wise system, indeed.
4.  Isles can afford to see what pans out in camp from the kids, like de Haan, and also those vets they gave invites to before seeing what comes loose from teams before the season starts. Isles can still wheel and deal, but it will now depend on who is available and at what cost. So clearly, based on other outside factors, not exactly a guarantee or necessarily a sure thing. So don’t hold your breath here.

So watch for what portends on defense, and on how the Isles three line offense meshes. A lot of this season depends on the kids panning out. Also keep an eye on Matt Martin, who has to fight to gain a roster spot. Haley, Rolston and Reasoner are pencilled in at the 4th line, with Gillies floating as pugilest. So Martin and even Ryan Strome have their work cut out for them to make the team. For Strome, he’d have to show he can make the top 3 lines. IF he does do this… to which I feel he could use another year… then you might see the Isles forced to make a move to create that space.

What You Should be Reading:

TSN’s Scott Cullen with a sharp eye on Long Island.

Interesting take and juxtaposition of the horrible DiPietro situation and contract along with the John Tavares signing by Dustin Pollack of the DigitalJournal. Only one disagreement with that piece is that Luongo really HAD shown that he was the answer in goal. The reason he was dealt was due to flack over what Luongo wanted contractually along with his agent to Mike Milbury. 

Have a bit of an issue with the Isles PR staff writing their own pieces when there is a bevy of good bloggers that they are supposed to be touting, supporting and all that via the blog box. Here is one that fastens their goalie threesome as some possibly triple threat. Righhhhhhht. Won’t be messy at all. (we’ll address the three-headed goalie beast next blog)

Speaking of threesomes… Here is a good one. Eyes on Isles have a threesome of writers previewing the Isles this year. Make sure to give them a read. 

The always excellent Lighthouse Hockey starting a series of ranking of the top Isles properties under the age of 25.

Note: Chris Botta has moved on, and I’ve gotten a lot of emails asking what is up with that, feeling conspiracy. Not true. Botta might be lacking a deep explanation, but anyone who has seen that his AOL FANHOUSE association ended can guess that job comes first. Isles have nothing to do with it.

The Isles, after sending me all sorts of press releases and such all summer before August 1st, now have cut me off from emails since. The price of actually actually having some desire for integrity instead of  being a PR parrot, I guess. Stay classy Isles and Charles Wang! 

Now something a bit more personal:
My mother, a survivor of two cancers, is going to Los Angeles to walk in support of her childhood and lifelong friend who is dying of cancer. Please give any amount or just pass along word via twitter or facebook.

Thank you.

READ ANYTHING GOOD, OR PERHAPS YOU WROTE ONE YOURSELF? Let us know in the comments or email me at bd@hockeyindependent.com

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Joe has an impassioned and essential non-partisan plea and plan on how things can get done, and it’s worth a read…

Joe Conte:

The Islanders are not done in Nassau County; in fact, the failure of the bond referendum has placed a new emphasis on privately developing the Hub. Our role as fans and supporters of development should now be to change the conversation on what should be done to revitalize the Hub and keep the Islanders in Nassau County. Some of the best and brightest minds are now developing plans for the Hub, so the question now becomes, how do we best utilize the land and keep the Islanders in Nassau County.

To do this, the four main players who will ultimately determine a) what becomes of the Hub and b) if the Islanders remain there, must work together and execute a well constructed plan.  Nassau County, Charles Wang, a yet to be determined developer, and our beloved Town of Hempstead have important roles to play; ones that if they truly embrace will allow them to come out on top and really get Nassau County back on the right foot.

The county has the most important role to play since it owns the land, the Coliseum and is the government entity that decides who gets to develop.  Despite their outsized role, there is really only one critical decision they have to make to ensure the project is done right; and that is to issue a request for qualifications (RFQ).  I repeat an RFQ, not a request for proposals (RFP), it is imperative and here’s why.

If the county were to issue an RFP, there would be limited flexibility to the project and to conform to the Town of Hempstead’s zoning regulations (see what happened to the Lighthouse project).  We have been down this road before, and to paraphrase Albert Einstein “the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.”

An RFQ is a game changer.  RFQ’s allow for flexibility and for the final development to be created through an evolving process that gives a voice to all parties, which is essential for building political support.  As we learned from the Lighthouse project, all the public support in the world for a project does not mean it will be approved; support must come from all governmental and non-governmental entities in order for the project to truly be revolutionary.

The days of a developer cramming a project down a community’s throat are over.  The new and more successful development strategy involves the community from stage one of the planning process.  Using a crowd-sourcing platform, developers can now directly engage local communities. Residents can then give input into the design, feel and composition of the project.  By including the local residents in the planning phase it gives them a sense of ownership in the project.  Public ownership of the project increases those whole feel a vested interest in seeing the project completed, and; those people more likely to apply pressure on their representatives to make sure something gets done.

Once the county sets the stage with the RFQ, the onus falls on Wang to ensure the Islanders are a part of whatever plan is ultimately conceived from our RFQ process.  Working as a partner of a development team is something he must do.  It is the only way he keeps the Islanders on Long Island and cements his legacy through development of the Hub.

Wang should be done sticking his neck out when it comes to developing the Hub.  Twice politicians from both sides of the aisle have now burned him, so it stands to reason that he would not even want to be the lead on the new proposal (I have no idea if he does or not).  So what he should be doing is holding meetings with all parties who will be submitting qualifications to the RFQ.

All Wang needs is a seat at the table, which would allow him a level of influence; he needs to give up on the idea of complete control.  More importantly, it allows for a more experienced team to navigate the project from start to finish. Wang has not proven himself to be a successful developer. Despite his failures, it does not mean he is not the same successful businessman who put forward the most ambitious plan this Island has ever. Developing is hard because dealing with government is hard.  Politics is finicky; politicians are interested in their own survival.  It’s time for him to let professional, experience developers come in, and do all the hard work.  Then, he can take the credit for keeping the Islanders here and putting together the team that got it done.

The development team that ultimately wins the RFQ must be innovative, flexible and have experience in engaging in both the bottom up, community crowd sourcing approach, while at the same time have the experience in lining up political support from the elected officials.  This is no easy undertaking, but there are successful developers out there with the track record to get it done.  Wang must be open and willing to work with them.

I know every major developer and development team is circling the Hub like a pack of vultures, looking to sink their teeth into most valuable underdeveloped land in the county.  That’s fine and encouraged; no idea should be turned away.  But at the same time, we are only going to get one shot to revitalize the Hub, which means the project needs to be cutting edge.  If you narrow your qualifications to a developer who fits that profile, your options of which developer you want winning the RFQ become a lot more limited.  I do not need to stress how important development of the Hub is to Nassau County, you all already know this, so we must work to ensure we are having the right conversation about what we ultimately want to see done at the Hub; one that comes with the blessing of all the government localities.

Which brings us to the Town of Hempstead, who will determine whether the project maximizes its potential.  Moving forward we all must give the Town a clean slate, and I say this as one of the most vocal critics of their actions in the past. Let bygones be bygones and encourage everyone to work together.  Long Island’s future is too important to allow past grievances from standing in the way of progress.

The Town must take a proactive role in this process, something that they did not do last time.  This requires constant communications with the development team that wins the RFQ, so they can let their concerns and desires be known.  While it is easy to demonize them for their actions with the Lighthouse project, they did raise legitimate concerns, such as who would pay for the infrastructure upgrades.

The consciousness and conversation about development is changing on Long Island and our leaders in the Town are not too ignorant to realize that.  The Town just wants their say, which they had zero of last time.  As long as they are engaged from day one, are given a feeling of ownership in the project, they will come on board.  If this is done right, there will be too much pressure on them not to be.

Despite the doom and gloom forecasts for Long Island and the Islanders, there is no need to throw in the towel just yet.  There still remain four years on the lease and a hopefully the feeling of urgency gets the ball rolling.  Islander fans and residents of Nassau who support the type of development that would revitalize our local economy need to continue to stand together. The referendum was voted down not because of an anti-Islander or anti-development agenda.  In fact, we have a lot more allies in this fight then we may think.

We are in the dog days of summer. There is nothing worse for an Isles fan than an August where so much is left up in the air. Its been a long long month. The venue effort failed. Free agency was with minor solid piece on the bottom 6, which I warned long ago. The second move to bolster the bottom 6 came via trade.

So there you go. Weight retired and now works in-house. The Isles re-signed others, and basically most is all to be seen and assessed at training camp. So many questions remain in the air, it is almost thick and noxious.

For those still trying to play armchair GM, IF and when the Isles sign Bailey they will be at the cap floor with his contract plus players bonuses/incentives. Add in Nino likely making team and should eradicate cap floor wonder. So might want to retire the calculator and pen.

Samsonov rumors hit the feeder the other day, and it is likely a strong warning shot at Bailey and his agent who seems to be making a habit of contract standoffs. It is fair warning that time is running out and Bailey is in danger of missing the season due to Charles Wang’s directive of all being signed before training camp. Bailey might want to talk to Bergenheim to see how that went. After August 1st, Charles is even more set, so it’s not good scenario for Bailey, nor will help his development.

Isles want to roll three lines of scoring. Rolston or even Reasoner can sub, but Isles have a spot for either another kid or a vet to take if Bailey and his agent fail in this game of chicken. As a penciled 3rd line center, not much leverage for Bailey, though he’s still a part of the rebuild plan.

Speaking of Question Marks….

DP is still the starter till camp begins. Montoya, for all the lauds, there are just way too many fans thinking that Al is guaranteed to be the saving grace. Many a goalie have had hot hands, consistency is about doing it a full season or at least taking it into the new one. Too many are anointing him savior without a shred of indication that he is besides just hope. Let’s see how it continues, shall we?

In all honestly, even the Isles are unsure on how things will transpire. DPs knees and quality of play have caused more fan alarm than Hurricane Irene. Poulin, Koskinen, Nilsson all are in system. Nabokov is a wild card. An elder who has been a starter, who didn’t want to report, yet is here all the same. His future is in his hands… Whether it be for the Isles or dealt elsewhere later on.

Despite the Isles desire to upgrade the defense, something they attempted with the Ehrhoff attempt, and something they still desire. This all falls back to my statement back  in late April. The Isles wanted to place more than just bandaids on D like the year before. Sadly, it did not happen as they intended and things are still just not where they want it to be. But now that August 1st has passed, there has been a change in that rush to deal. Though the rebuild and vision for Garth remains, the ability to spend or try to has diminished.

There is no trade on the fire. No sudden next move everyone is waiting on with bated breath. All gone, kind of like Mangano’s venue referendum. The Isles no longer are in the mood to spend, and will measure what they have in-house unless something low cost falls into their lap.

What nobody is simply willing to say is that for the first time since Charles Wang took ownership of the team there is a change from ownership on spending. More indicators of this will peer out as the season begins, unless there is a change of mind from the top. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

They made minor yet solid improvements on the offense. But it is in so many places that improvements need to be made to reach the playoffs. It remains to be seen if someone can make a jump or growth to offset the deficiencies that remain on the Islanders. And if those things happen, can a Nabokov or Comeau be dealt to get what is needed down line? Who knows for sure anymore. Certainly not the Isles who will need camp to see what they are dealt, and then the season for development.

You can have all the experts in the world predict, but in the end, it’s hard to gauge how so many elements will come together. It will take continued hot play from Montoya, the development of Nino and the not mentioned de Haan who the Isles feel is a projected top two dman… To really make things solid. All this and the continued development of the kids, plus some steady leadership and some depth by those like Reasoner and Rolston will be key.

A lot has to happen and come together to make playoffs a reality, but Chef Garth has a lot of smart ingredients in this pot that can make it happen. Hope you brought your appetite. Might want to pack some TUMS just in case, as well.

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See the bottom for the UPDATE….

Can someone tell me what this is?   Anyone…..    Anyone…..   It’s Plan C. Plan C for the Islanders of New York? Anyone……

There is blame to go around — and I will get to it — all of it in all directions. Not a single person will be left off the list. But the first and foremost thing to consider — do we have a Plan “C.” Lets get right to it.

TIMELINE
The Islanders lease is still good until the end of the 2014-15 season. This means the Islanders need a new home, open and ready for business by September of 2015. That is about 49 months away. We are being told it takes 30 months to construct a new building from the ground up — so that gives the Islanders a grand total of 19 months to negotiate a deal of some kind somewhere.

LOCATIONS
Nassau County
We will get into the finger pointing later — but for now, does anyone see this as a viable option any longer? Some may argue no, and the way I feel emotionally, I agree. With the wound so fresh and festering, it would be easy — far too easy — for me to just say a big fat F. U. to Nassau County. It’s nepotism, nimbyism, cronyism and every other ism, piled on with a gigantic dollop of stupidity with a cherry on top. Ah yes — that would feel oh so good wouldn’t it? Let’s all stand on top of the coliseum roof — hoping it wont cave in, and with a microphone to capture our voice to be heard all the way to Montauk Point — those two oh so appropriate words to carry our sentiment to Nassau County and all it foolish narrow minded old farts and politicians from all walks of life…

But I am letting my little day dream get us away from the key point. Is Nassau an option? Yes, I believe it could still be an option. But I believe it is a window closing and closing very rapidly. At this point, I believe Charles Wang and the Islanders need to grow up, and grow up huge. The time for small, quiet and gentle is over. It is time to be threatening and direct without a shadow of ambiguity — at all!

I am hearing Ed Mangano has made a call for RFPs to develop the Hub site — which basically takes us back about 8-10 years to square 1. Does anyone think Charles Wang will submit a plan? I doubt it.

I am not sure what the possibilities are. An RFP based on the Town of Hempstead’s restrictive, and frankly ancient way of thinking zoning codes are going to be a tough sell to Charles Wang. I suppose if an arena is included and that is all he cares about…, but my hunch is — that wont work for him. And should I be wrong, and he is willing to remain on Long Island in an arena as a tenant only in a complex that attempts to keep Long Island in the 1950s – I would hope that he pays the minimal in rent, and keeps the lions share of any profits he makes — and further hope that the responsibility to maintain any arena falls on the County, Town or who ever else is in the game.

We already know anything publicly funded, is not going to fly. Should PSLs come up again, I would rather drive to Quebec to see the team play. The question that looms — can the political personalities on all sides of Nassau County ever get over the burning desire to step on each others throats? If the answer to that question is “no” then the Islanders will likely not be in Nassau County.

Suffolk County
Suffolk County could work on a number of predetermined conditions.

First and foremost, the site would need to be Western Suffolk. Putting an arena out in Yaphank, or Riverhead, of Gabreski Airport is not going to work. It will be nice for those Isles fan living on the East End, but it is not something that a large percentage of Nassau Islander fans would do — travel an hour plus for a game. The honest truth is that the largest percentage of Islander fans are in Nassau County, and Western Suffolk. So the location in Suffolk will be critical if it is to be a consideration.

Anyone who thinks Suffolk County politics is any different then Nassau County politics? I spent my political time inside Suffolk politics, and I can tell you first hand — it is just as big a disaster as it is in Nassau, just the names are different. So what Steve Levy may want could be far different from what the Town of Islip may desire, or Town of Huntington. And then, you have to begin to factor in what the legislature wants, and who controls the land — so see — same thing, just different names, and the same questions loom — how badly would Suffolk want the Islanders? Badly enough to bury the political hatchet in the ground, or will it still be buried in each others heads?

Brooklyn
The borough of Brooklyn is making a huge comeback as are a number of city centers around the nation. With a new arena already under construction, Brooklyn, on the surface, makes a great deal of sense. But here too, there are issues. First, Charles Wang would have to carve a really strong deal for himself as he would not have the kind of control of resources as he would in his own building should he move to Barclays. This limits his chance at recouping the losses he has incurred in Nassau County. Further the arena, while it is now confirmed can house an NHL hockey team, has drawbacks.

The hockey conversion would likely bring the capacity of seating down to 14,000 – 16,000 which is not in the area the Isles were looking for. I think that is actually more of a blessing then a curse however for Wang — simply put, as the team improves (and I believe it will) tickets become more valuable, and you can charge more. It will be easier to sell-out games, creating a more electric atmosphere. It’s a win-win for players and management — although we would have to pay the ticket prices. Think Boston Red Sox. They have a 35,000 or so seat arena. They sell out damn near every game and have done so for years, and their ticket prices are pretty darn high for a quaint “dump” of a dilapidated ballpark.

I have also heard the sight lines are not optimal for hockey. This is moot to me — it’s an arena I can walk into, turn key without having to spend a dime. I can’t have everything if I am looking to keep my boys local — we will see the sight lines when we see them. I’m not taking someone else’s word for it.

Travel to and from Brooklyn will be dicey considering the LIRR is likely the only option for the fanbase. Suffolk residents are going to be tough to retain because they will have the longest trip, and I am also uneasy about a LIRR that can shut down on any given flake of snow — so what happens in the middle of January and February???

Queens
This makes a heap of sense to me, and is a solid compromise solution that I personally have felt will benefit everyone — everyone except the head-up-their-ass Nassau County clowns. And hey — you get what you deserve and what you vote for…

The problem is that the Willits Point area could be a longer then 19 month plan before shovels can be in the ground. With the Willits Point property, it is my understanding that the plan would include a condemning of privately owned properties to make way for the development that Charles Wang, and Queens would want. The trouble is that those property owners could possibly take Queens to court and I am not certain this would allow for a viable time line for the Islanders to have the ice ready for September 2015.

What could work is a partnership between the Islanders and the Mets, and the Islanders to build an arena on the Citifield parking lot grounds that would include some under ground parking.

Queens also would provide Islander fans with both a driving experience, and public transit — which is something that Nassau and Suffolk Counties could NEVER offer, or are too backwards in their thinking to consider, and Brooklyn can’t offer parking or driving in as a true viable alternative to the LIRR.

What this proves is that there are local options and there is still some time — just not much time — and each day that passes makes things that much tougher and tighter.

What concerns me is that Charles Wang will go off and sulk — and he has a right to. He was just told to screw off by Nassau County, so I don’t blame him for being “heartbroken.” He might have some wild-eyed ideas and thoughts when it comes to the team, but at the end of the day, he is the primary reason we still have a franchise in 2011. However, my hope is that both he and the Islanders will begin to play hardball, so to speak, and that these neighboring municipalities step up and make full and complete contact. The time to negotiate with Nassau County alone should be over. July 1 has come and gone, and Charles Wang should have the Islanders as a full and complete unrestricted free agent available to the municipality that offers the best deal for him, and his team.

The Blame Game
I’m sure there will be those opinions that will differ as some will want to lay blame on one person or entity or the other, this age group or that — and the truth is that in the end it really is the fault of everyone that the Islanders have yet to find a home. This goes back a while — all the way back to the days of Thomas Gulotta. Those were the first days of hearing about a new arena and a “Hub” for Nassau. From that point, very little was done to actually get something accomplished. Call it a lack of political will by a County Executive not too interested in an arena as his days in office were coming to an end, or for the long term lease that was signed by former owner Pickett pushing the need for an arena up to 2015.

Of course there was a 8-10 year gap where nothing really mattered as the Islanders went through owners the way Alex Ovechkin seems to go through hockey sticks. There was no time to consider developing a new arena when you had no real owner of the team. That is, until Charles Wang took the team on.

We all know that he has now made two efforts to develop the property and/or build a stand alone arena to keep the Islanders in Nassau County long term. Both efforts are left as the wreckage of fallen hopes for most Islander fans — and I say most only because I have run into the odd “fan” or two who either did not support one project or the other. Then again, I am biased. Nothing matters more to me then the boys in blue and orange in this kind of circumstance — not who is in what elected office or what the costs will be — within reason — and I found both the Lighthouse and the standalone arena to both be flawed, but certainly reasonable, and valuable.  I see limited issue with the Lighthouse Project — I would have wanted to see a light rail to help with transit, and I would have liked to see it blossom as a truly “green” project, mega towers that were scaled back could have been scaled back a little more…. The recently failed stand-alone arena was a project that I needed to warm to, but once some details from the plan emerged it was easier to come on board. The ambiguity of the project at the beginning left me wanting answers, which is why I wrote the blog post about us potentially getting screwed. This leaves us with the above mentioned alternatives — so nothing is really “over,” however, I have to level some blame at a number of key people — if for no other reason, then to feel a little better about this entire mess, and I hope that by reading this — maybe, just maybe, you can feel a little better too!

Charles Wang
As much as I appreciate that we have an owner willing to lose hundreds of millions of dollars, there is a lot more he could have done and should have done in BOTH the Lighthouse effort, as well as the referendum.

For the Lighthouse, he was in front of the curve through most of the project but he failed miserably in reading the political landscape. He launched his efforts with “the County” rather then “the Town” which really held all the cards. By the time he sat down with the Town Board of Hempstead, the game was already over. He had donated thousands upon thousands of dollars to Democrats in Nassau County. That matters because the seat of Republican power in Nassau County comes from Hempstead Township — ultimately he waded into the Republican pool, and pissed away after drinking a case of beer with the Democrats — so you can imagine how that made Ms. Murray — the Queen Hoople feel as she was just nearby in the very same pool. Charles should have known better — especially with a seasoned vet like Scott Rechler by his side — and if he didn’t shame on him. Worse still — if he did know, and chose to ignore good, sound political advice — well then he has to endure a big part of the blame. When Charles was questioned by the Town he was anything but cool and calm — his frustration was evident, and he was very short on answers and clear direction to fix the problems he was being asked to fix.

If you are going to get into this kind of building project or referendum votes, you best have a political adviser. The PR staff with the Islanders is hardly seasoned and has endured several major gaffs, so if Charles was hoping they could handle either Kate Murray and Joe Mondello – or Jay Jacobs and the Democrats — he was badly misjudging his opponents — something that I feel he has done very well — twice.

In the case of the referendum, he made a different mistake — and perhaps it was Ed Mangano’s as well — but he has to share in the responsibility of once again, not being prepared on the details of the proposal he had worked out with the County. He failed to be out in front of the debate, and played catch-up almost from the beginning. As mentioned several times on this blog, I felt like there was an assumption this would be an empty netter to win the Stanley Cup, and instead it was Rick DiPietro thinking he was set for a faceoff, but watched the puck go by costing us the game! Lets be real here — the “i’s” were never fully dotted and the “t’s” never fully crossed. Even County employees were coming out and publicly saying that one thing would work, if the other thing happened — and it became convoluted, and vague, and full of questions and some doubt. It was not until the last week that things began to become clarified — and by then it was far too late. The opposition lead by the king of stupidity — Jay Jacobs — had already made the argument that wins time after time — taxes will go up. Plus that was the argument made early, and that “first impression” stuck with simple minded narrow voters.

I am convinced that if the details were spelled out from the beginning, and that perhaps if the details were presented slightly differently,  it would have been a tighter race, or even a win for Charles Wang and the Islanders, but he failed to make his case. Now it seems, he plans to “go dark” again much like he did post Lighthouse. This is further compounds his mistakes. He is continuing to allow others to define what could happen, or will happen, and that is a problem. He must be exhausted — and sure he should take a week or two off — but in reality, he needs to pick himself up and dust himself off — as mentioned earlier — there are only 19 months left to come up with a solution.

My strongest recommendation to Mr. Wang — no more Mr. Nice Guy. The threats have to be real, and followed through now. All sides must be played against the middle to garner the best deal for his hockey team. He said the franchise is out of options. Those cannot be just loose words. As I have mentioned several times — he needs to be seen talking to and negotiating with people from Queens, Brooklyn and Suffolk if he is going to manipulate Nassau into a position where all sides come together — because in the end, if the nest of idiots we call our elected officials lose the Islanders to Queens, Brooklyn, Suffolk, or too a far off place, they will have destroyed any hope for Long Island’s future, not to mention elevated our taxes and created the worlds largest crack and whore den.

Ed Mangano
I think Mangano is at limited fault here. The man stuck his neck out early in his term to try to get this done, and he largely picked up where Suozzi left off when it came to supporting the Islanders, and trying to keep the team in Nassau. Commendable. The big screw-up in my mind was the decision to hold the election as a stand-alone issue, and a lack of any real details on the plan. Perhaps both of these are equally Charles Wang’s problem as well, but Mangano is the “tax-revolt” guy — who won an insurgent campaign. I think had the vote been on primary day or general election day the Islanders may have had a better chance.

When mixed into a primary or better still a general election, there would have been a chance — a good chance — that many voters would have voted for the candidates and either not seen, or not cared enough about the propositions on the ballot. It would have further forced the opposition to focus on Candidate races rather then a proposition — reducing the number of robo calls, ads, and leaflet distributions. This could have opened the door for Charles Wang to advertise his issue broadly without the flood of negativity. This became a single issue vote without any of the distractions of the general election. They could have buried this in the General election, and sent in normally apathetic voters to “bullet vote” the issue. (A bullet vote is when you go in, vote for one candidate or issue, and walk out.) So perhaps young Islander fans who don’t normally vote could have gone to vote for this one issue, and walk out.

We have a limited way of knowing who came out and voted August 1. Was it Democrats? Was it Republicans? My guess it was both who knocked this referendum into the NO column — but that means many of the same supporters who put Mangano’s “tax-revolt” team in office, turned their back on him. And perhaps that makes some sense. He was supposed to come in to CUT taxes, not increase them. This is kind of like the concept of how easy it easy to shout from the sidelines and tell the person in the County Executive’s chair everything he/she is doing wrong, but then once you are sitting there, in that same seat, seeing the problems and the details of those problems, the promises you make during your campaign become harder, and harder to execute.

Besides the decision to hold the vote as a stand-alone measure — the roll-out of the plan — which was tied to the timing of the vote — was poorly done, and I have to put the bulk of that on Mangano. He was the central political influence on the proposal with Wang — and Wang is not the political strategist here. As mentioned above the proposal lacked any true details, and the opposition lead by King of Stupidity Jay Jacobs ate Mangano and his detail weak plan for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Mangano and plan proponents were playing catch-up and reeling from the onset — and frankly were a good 2 weeks late in even formulating a response to opposition. They were never out front, and that caused a lack of trust and transparency issue with voters as exit polls indicated.

None the less, I believe Mangano tried his best, as did Suozzi — but in both case, they were swimming upstream, against different waves.

Kate Murray, Joseph Mondello and the Town of Hempstead Board (Better known as the Hooples of Hempstead)
I think the thing that bothered me the most about Kate Murray is that she remained silent during the early stages of the project. In politics we refer to this as “going fishing.” She did not want to be viewed as  “in favor” or “opposed” to anything. In fact — that is her entire being — to appear to be doing something without actually doing a damn thing. She is the quintessential Long Island politico. She is not terribly bright, and likely takes her directives from Joseph Mondello among other republican operatives.

For years she said and did nothing with regards to the Lighthouse Project. She and the entire Hempstead board sat on their duffs. Which seems to be par for the course. In place of jumping on to work with a man like Charles Wang — work to develop something both sides could agree on, she gave no indication of anything, for or against anything. She reserved comments and critique until is was too late — too late to vote her out of office, or her entire board — and far to late to find a compromise. As I said, part of that falls on Charles Wang, and Tom Suozzi, but the Hooples are just as culpable.

Some say the Lighthouse project was too large and needed to be scaled down.

Alright — that may have been true for some, but it certainly did not occur to the Town of Hempstead to pass legislation to zone the Hub property — that is not until the project was already dead.

Some felt that there were traffic concerns as well as other environmental issues.

Perhaps so — but at what point in the discussion was that communicated to Charles Wang and the developers so that it could be addressed in a timely manner before he had spent years and millions of dollars on his proposal? Was it early in the effort or late in the game? Again Charles should have been more prepared for the nonsense coming from Hempstead, but Hempstead should have had the zoning set up somewhere earlier in the process then it did — early enough to work with a developer like Wang or Rechler.

Others say this was a political move from the outset. That Murray, Mondello and the republicans were against it for fear that the demographics of the Town of Hempstead would change as the Lighthouse would attract people with Democratic voter registrations. Further, they were displeased with Wang and Suozzi being so closely linked. Unfortunately, if an idea comes from a Democrat, it has to be voted down by Republicans. And as we just saw, if it comes from a Republican, the Democrats have to hate. For lack of a better way of saying it — it’s nothing but bull shit, and we — the fans, taxpayers, the citizens have sit down and eat that bull shit.

Disgusting as it might be, I don’t want to make this about one party or another — because they both have let us down on a great number of issues.

But in this instance, Murray is the wicked witch of the South. The Queen of the Hempstead Hooples — ALL of them.

Government can work. It can be a place where things can be accomplished and the people (us) dont get screwed. She and her entire lazy, good for nothing board should have been out front on the Lighthouse from day one with Charles Wang.  They should have scheduled a meeting with Charles Wang as soon as he won the RFP with the County, and they should have been diligent in creating zoning for the property long before Wang had put his proposal into the Town. Had that happened, Wang would not have wasted millions of dollars on his proposal. He would have been able to see from the outset — zoning says I can do W, X, and Y, but I can’t do Z.

The last part about Murray — where the hell was she during this referendum vote? Where was her Town Board? This is what she wanted, remember? She was quoted several times as saying that if Charles Wang wants a new home for his team, we could have approved in 5 years ago and it would already be done. Well, this is what Murray wanted. She certainly took advantage of the photo op in May on the dais with Mangano and Wang. Where was she when the shit was hitting the fan from Jay Jacobs? (don’t worry, I have plenty to say about him too). I could say the same for puppet master Joseph Mondello. He sure was loud when it came to defeating the Lighthouse. Where the hell was he when his democratic counterpart was stirring up a shit storm of stupidity?

It makes me wonder — do these people gave a damn about anything other then staying in office to earn a paycheck off our tax dollars? Frankly, I would not trust either one of these fools or any member of the Town of Hempstead Government to wipe their own ass properly.

Tom Suozzi
The man tried — just like Ed Mangano — but he too made serious errors. First and foremost he should have directed Charles Wang to the Town of Hempstead. Like Kate Murray, Suozzi was interested in other things — not the Islanders, and not the development. Suozzi had his eye on the governors mansion. I am sure he felt that “solving” the hub would be a nice catalyst to Albany. The only problem was that he was not the person who should have been cutting deals and making promises to the Islanders and its fans. The power of development is with the Town of Hempstead — as county Executive he should have known this. In the end, I think he saw Wang, and shined him on that he could help get the project done, all the while taking Charles’ campaign dollars (which is why I think Suozzi fed him the bull shit.)

In addition to this, he pissed all over the Town of Hempstead, and the County Legislators — when he started out making a deal with Charles Wang. He did so without opening the development up and having an original RFP. That is wrong — plain and simple.

Lastly — he dropped the ball completely on his own re-election bid, and failed to remain in office. Perhaps he should have been more focused on his own backyard, than the ones in Albany. This may not seem that significant, but it further delayed things because we were then faced with a change of power and party that had largely supported Charles Wang and the Islanders. Of course we have since learned the only people that Democrats support are Democrats — and the only people Republicans support are Republicans. Sad but true and especially true on Long Island.

Jay Jacobs — The King of Stupidity, and his Court Jesters
Jacobs was little known to the bulk of Islander fans who were not politically active, but he is known now — and that is not a good thing for Jacobs. Within a few weeks, he set himself, and his party — and any chance they had to recapture office back quite a bit. I don’t think there is an Islander fan that will support anything Jacobs has to say, at this point — and his candidates will be answering questions about this during the next election cycle. He targeted this vote and defeated it without too much trouble. In the end — a tax increase of any kind is a difficult sell to anyone — Democrat, Republican, Liberal or Conservative — it’s a tax increase and it sucks. We as fans were willing to overlook it, but how many of you fans, regardless of age and political affiliation, are prime voters? (A prime voter is someone who never ever misses an election, including school board).

Mangano and Wang’s error in making this a special election, played directly into Jacobs’ hands, who was the instrument in defeating the referendum. He could use any and all of his resources to defeat the referendum and that is precisely what he did. The King of Stupidity may very well lead the Islanders right out Nassau County — along with hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue for the county that will fall on our shoulders with no hope of being  mitigated by future revenue sharing or the addition of a major tenant again. Not to mention, about 2,000 plus jobs! What major sport organization would ever award a franchise to Nassau County ever again after witnessing the debacle of the last dozen or so years?

What is particularly dumb is that Jacobs actually suggested 2 things that make little sense to me.

First and foremost — PSLs. Something so unpopular, and frankly pointless. I should “pay for my seats” before I pay for my seats? I think there should be legislation barring the practice — for any league or sport. If the seat is going to cost $200 rather then $100 because the cost of construction has to be factored in — fine. I will make the decision of whether $200 is worth it to see a game live or I should just stay home. Don’t disguise it with something as hollow as PSLs.

I think making the argument that Charles Wang and the Islanders should be “privately financing” a new arena is laughable. We are on a ferris wheel that never stops. Wang started out with an attempt to privately finance a project and it was killed by the Republicans. Then we tried a publicly financed project and it was killed by the Democrats — round and round we go…..Bueller…Bueller…Bueller…
Some will argue that the privately financed project was too large and one has nothing to do with the other. Others may argue that they don’t want to see public funds used, and they don’t want taxes to go up. Then there will be those who say Charles Wang can afford to build it himself, and does not need our help.

To all of this I say it is never that simple!

The privately financed project was a large scale full vision for the area. He had no partnership or good faith discussions with the Town of Hempstead to work things out either to scale down or work withing a zoning framework – see above.

The public attempt at financing the construction was not going to pass because Republicans had killed the Lighthouse — so Democrats had to kill the referendum and people did not want taxes to increase.

As for the argument I have been hearing that Charles can afford to build it himself — yes, I suppose he probably can. But then again, are these the very same people who cry foul about a nickel more in taxes or someone who earns a few billion dollars in income to help offset costs of running the country — to wit I say — you are contradicting yourself. Either the billionaires can afford “it” or not.

The bottom line is this — everyone has let the Islanders and its fans down. A friend of mine said something to me that I thought hit the nail on the head. In 1972, Nassau County decided to get into the “arena business.” If they are now in a place where they don’t want to do it, or don’t see the value in it, they need to just let us know that they want OUT of the arena business, and freely allow the Islanders to find a new home elsewhere. I don’t believe for a moment that any of the politicians — ANY OF THEM — give a shit about the Islanders, their fans or the people — they only care about one thing — keeping their jobs, and making the other guy or gal look bad. In the process, the People get screwed.

I don’t care who is in power — they are both very bad at their jobs — and it seems to be the case especially in Nassau County, and I can attest to the fact that it is just as bad in Suffolk.

My Conclusion
New York City seems to be poised to make something happen with the Islanders, and Queens has long been my desired choice for Charles Wang and the Islanders — and that goes back to before the end of the Lighthouse mess. I have long held that Charles has been too soft in his dealings with Nassau County — be it the Town of Hempstead or the County. He has tried this on two separate occasions and with both political entities — and both have let him down. It is high time Charles Wang become a little selfish. He must find the best deal possible for HIS team, and HIS business. To me, the answer is, and really has always been Queens. The word is Queens is ready for Charles Wang, and ready for the Islanders. It is time the Islanders prepared themselves for Queens. The round puck no longer fits in the square backwards ignorant hole that is Nassau County and its backwards thinking politicos. The zoning in Queens is essentially set up for this kind of a development and the political will seems to be in place to support the project apparently across the board. Am I the only one who sees this as a “no-brainer?” Why is Charles Wang putting himself, and his fan base through this torture any longer?

It is time Charles. You faught the good fight — not once, but twice. Why go back for a third round of physical and emotional abuse. The people of Nassau have spoken — rightly or wrongly influenced by both the Queen Hoople of Hempstead and her Board, or the King of Stupidity and his Court Jesters. They don’t want you, or the team. You tried both a private venture and a public venture. There is really no third option. Pack up the gear and move west about a dozen miles and an oasis can be built — they are waiting for you! Don’t go dark….don’t go silent again. The time to act is now. We have 19 months! Get to work.

UPDATE August 16, 2011

Ironic, I thought, but typical. Today, Newsday is reporting that Nassau County has 8 preliminary proposal for the Nassau Coliseum property — some of which would offer no arena at all. But one thing every single one of the 8 proposals have in common? Not a single one of them offers a privately financed option. Not one. Every one of the 8 proposals call for a publicly funded development.

So let me see if I have this right.

1) There was a privately financed project, it was called the Lighthouse. It was awarded to Charles Wang as he won the bid at the time, and was willing to have the entire project privately funded. because of a lack of proper zoning, and a good faith partner in Hempstead Township, as well as a lack of political smarts, and willingness to find compromise, the project was killed off — largely by the Republicans and the Hooples of Hempstead.

2) The new County Executive, together with Wang, decided to come all the way back to what Hempstead Township essentially wanted in the first place — a stand-alone arena. But, because of the lack of additional revenue, which I can understand, Charles Wang said that he would not pay for the construction. As such, a public referendum was created. Here, we saw the Democrats and King of Stupidity along with some others kill off the referendum.

So we come to the above mentioned “Plan C” for Do Nothing Nassau – and all of those who DO NOTHING and have DONE NOTHING — be it Jay Jacobs who made all the noise about public cost, or Kate Murray, who got her way and did nothing to help the referendum cause, have no offered NOTHING in the way of keeping the Islanders in Nassau County.

Ill say it again — those who shouted the loudest complaining that the Lighthouse was too big, or not good for the community, and those who cried foul over the referendum bond concept have offered a total of zero, zip, nada, bupkiss…

It is amazing that when it comes time to actually DO the work, to put the concepts down on paper and offer something other then hurling bombs and barbs at those who do create — be it jobs, or ideas for a new arena — when those people are asked to think of ideas — you will notice how quiet they become — so quiet you can hear a rat piss on cotton!

As I mentioned in my close from above — Charles Wang continues to pine away for a Nassau County that will never ever come to grips that this is not 1950, and it can’t rush into 2050. This is a County driving people and businesses away with bad decisions, and bad policy. The Islanders could easily follow suit — and at this juncture, I believe they should make it very obvious that unless the County steps up to the plate within the coming few months, they are gone. I have long been calling for the Islanders brass to be publicly seen with, and openly negotiating with other municipalities. Unfortunately they have yet to do so. Nassau County will never take Charles Wang seriously about his threat to leave if he keeps saying, “…this is my home, and this is where the Islanders belong. I have not given up on Nassau County…” Everytime he says things like that he undermines his own ability to negotiate a better deal for his franchise. Everytime he utters comments like that the Kate Murray’s, Ed Mangano’s, Jay Jacobs’ of the County turn to each other and say, “see….we know he won’t really leave…”

Charles, the time has come for you to face reality. Nassau County does not want you, care about you, or your hockey team. Start looking to Queens please….

Editors Note: B.D. Gallof has not been seen since Sunday am, when his pictures from his ipad were uploaded to his Facebook page of him smoking a cigar and drinking a bottle of Whiskey. Late tonight we received an email from him asking us to place this up on the site. It has not been edited or adjusted in any way. His whereabouts are unknown…

Is It Fear & Loathing on Long Island?
BD on the August 1^st Vote and Endorsement

Get In!

Long Island is a strange bird. Sometimes you can love its lazy obtuseness and almost neurotic aspects like some crazy uncle who visits your house each family event. Other times it is a constant barrage of morons and idiosyncrasy that hammers one head like a thousand woodpeckers on speed.

I used to hate Long Island and where I lived with unfettered revulsion. When I left for college, I could not wait to get out and get working in NYC as to escape its toothy maw. Having lived in a few places outside of LI, it would seem strange to that younger self to why I came back. Things change. There is a respect and understanding to why Long Island has been a thriving place and to why it remains still holding onto that (though tenuously at best). But there is also that crazy uncle not only still along for the ride, when he really goes loaded for bear; he no longer is just quirky or wacky. He instead becomes a stark raving beast with a submachine gun.

That crazy uncle and those unending chain of bullets are clear to many an Islander fan who have been belted in to this arduous tumult of partisan politics, a stained former Senator who took his octopus-like arms and oily ink to backrooms and lobby-groups, a backwards-facing suburban ideology of over-protectionism, oft-kilter business management, an oddball billionaire who keeps his two enabling yes-men along for the ride all the way back from Computer Associates, a backwards self-serving Republican stronghold who operates to the predilections of an affluent donor roll and benefactors  for just one town, a neophyte who is in way over his head in the County who won that role because he fermented a tax revolt and is now hamstrung by it in office, a conniving throng of political hacks trying to get back control having been toppled last voting cycle,  a league who is in the process of losing those teams that were expanded both South and West… and all during a very rocky economic recession that have everyone cash strapped and wallet conscious.

Add another 15 years of failed team strategy and ownership to those fans psyche, and you have a bewildered, paranoid, and just plain confused fanbase watching this unfold helplessly.

It is that helplessness that has stung so much as things have gotten so out of whack that it might have made many fans start to tune out to the goings on. How many of us where those who came out years ago to the LI Marriot, standing for the cause, only to watch it fade out in some long drawn death scene under the Town of Hempstead’s self-serving hands. Or as Charles Wang then imploded the entire Lighthouse Project, refusing to negotiate, and then when he finally did make overtures months and months later, the ToH were long gone and off focusing on something else.

How can one NOT tune out? The reality has blown so much hot air, black smoke and gritty detritus that it resembles one of the smoke stacks along the Meadowbrook Parkway.  How can one not be tired of it all? How many times have we gone to the well, asked to show up or listen to someone’s tale? How many times were we given no answer, instead things went dark or just got swallowed by the darkness that lies within the heart of Long Island? That same darkness, confusion and bevy of excuses that has left a large piece of Nassau County some sort of hollow hole that the team still has to skate in.

I have to wonder if that thousands years from now it will be Nassau Coliseum and the faint scrawls of VOTE YES or JUST BUILD IT that still are painted on the walls will be viewed as some quaint archaic ruin with cave paintings. Will the failure to renew a hub that was built over 40 years ago be due to people being more interested in that it retains some name of “Veterans” than actually being a place to go to and entertain the hardworking citizens of this fair land? A place where their kids and grand children want to congregate?

“Why don’t you ever want to visit us?” says grandma

“There’s nothing to do out there!” complains everyone else.

Well, one has to wonder if this will be the reality thanks to the latest poll touted in Newsday. Something else for the paranoid delusional to cite as conspiracy theory or conniving agenda of the Dolan’s to destroy one of their best rivalries. Instead it is just an off-target poll of 50% over 55 years of age, which ignores the 38 year-old median age of Nassau County. Furthermore it ignores the demographic of who will likely vote this special vote. No real poll can be accurate for a special election that requires a committed and staked voter with team fans, unions and other oddities added in.

If there is any conspiracy with Newsday, it is only one of dunces. Extremism is merely easy outlet for some due to the angst and anxiety that we are all likely feeling during self-serving political mechanics that seem dead-set on destroying hockey and alienating the entire younger generation. Giving too much credit to enemies is usually the hallmark of the paranoid, and it has been used flowing like a fire hose spewing dread and just plain ignorance all over the blogosphere comment sections and message boards.

Newsday has been more a shining example of causing cognitive dissonance. It has created readers conflicts due to an editorial ideal based on selling strife smacking against the cause and facts of what the writers are trying to get across. What has helped peel off their editorial curtain is the fact that independent bloggers seem to have more legwork and entrenchment in the muck of what is going on than the paper on many an Islander item. So every step Newsday has done, they more often than not, show off their sensationalism by creating some sort of slant or angle to provide conflict.

They have created a bouillabaisse of resentment from the Islanders fanbase. But to think that any of their almost ham-handed antics are some sort of conspiracy is just giving that motley crew, who are just trying to survive a quaking change of ideology thanks to a new ownership, far too much credit.

No, this conspiracy is misplaced. What needs to be installed here is one giant mirror. We need one giant unyielding mirror reflecting on this entire County. Each potential voter needs to take a long unflinching look at this mirror, and cut the bullshit and excuses. Cut away the old blame and history. Everyone needs to drown out the marketing and negative nonsense.

You all need to ask yourself what you want in your home. What will be the future of your hometown and county?

Will it be of the savage implode like the house of Poltergeist, with cries of recession until there is nothing left? Will it be the explosion of public relations material citing tag lines and singing along with the “Meet me at the Lighthouse” jingle as you stagger like robots? Or might it be just hiding heads in the sand, waiting for it all to end, much like the staff of the Town of Hempstead, with no opinion except one of passed responsibility?

Hopefully it will be none of the above. It will likely be, if you take a moment and a breath through all this nonsense, be a moment of clarity. Maybe you will have an epiphany. Maybe not, but there will be likely be a decision. My suggestion is to make a measured decision weighing things carefully and appropriately.

My own will be to Vote Yes.

There are so many reasons why. One large one for me is that my children deserve a better venue to see sports, concerts and anything else than that concrete nightmare that sits on Hempstead Turnpike. The building is dilapidated, in disrepair, ancient, and quite bluntly, a fucking embarrassment to what is supposed to be one of the most prestigious places to live in NY.

It is a fucking embarrassment to even sit there and come up with reasons why we should vote anything other than yes. A fucking embarrassment that the Democrats and Republicans have screwed the pooch so many times on this venue, that it got to a point where it now sits in our hands to bail it out just enough to fight another day.

That too is one fucking giant embarrassment.

Where is Nassau County’s citizen’s self respect? Where is their belief that they DESERVE this? That they SHOULD have a venue that is top notch or at least somewhat closer to mediocre that what lies there now?

It simply boggles the mind of the shortsightedness and excuses by opponents who seem hell bent on cutting off the nose to spite the face. Or to think that it isn’t important. Or to be against it because of the shear politics of trying to topple the foolish County Executive who put forth this referendum with barely any backup information or things laid out beforehand.

We have gone on and long on the issues I have had with the ToH, both hapless and ineffective County Execs, the self-serving Republicans & Democrats, and also of the Islanders and their quirky doof of an owner. I am probably not well liked by any of them, but that was never my intent. My intent at the start was to shear away the absolute piles of bullshit that seemed to be piling all over us throughout a process that was almost always at odds with our futures and with those of the hockey team we follow and cheer for,

When they are shoveled all away, it is simply what you want to come to on Long Island. A loss of the SOLE professional sports team for the County and Long Island, or for there to be an improvement of venue, new long-term lease of that team, and a place that is respectable to see a concert, show or sports event?

To me, there is simply no debate. The independent numbers came in and it cited a roughly a close to $14 cost to each taxpayer. A far cry to the absolute tripe of $48 or more that opponents touted like parrots. That is a movie ticket. Parking. A CD or book, for god’s sake.

Nobody but nobody till lately bothered to cite the cost of LOSING the Islanders, the Coliseum’s main tenant, and their generator of taxes to the County and what it will cost each taxpayer.  $16.

So all the buzz and noise around this referendum, despite the heaping loads of mistakes and miscues made, is the fact that it is not a loss, not taking anything from anybody’s pocket, and in the end, something to be proud of and respectable to a place that has been disrespected or at least abandoned when inconvenient by just about everyone who sits in office.

No, it is high time for a stand. To wake up. To get our proverbial head from out of asses and make a voice heard. We finally, FINALLY, have a day to make our own vote a clear exclamation point for the Islanders future, and in a large way, our own on Long Island. IF we cannot be up for that, after listening and reading everything else, you might as well just pack up and move out of town…

Because I don’t think I’d want you as a neighbor.

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Comptroller George Maragos reviewed the proposed deal reached between County Executive Edward Mangano and Islanders owner Charles Wang to build another arena in Uniondale and said the agreement is still too fluid for his office to develop a firm economic analysis.

Maragos acknowledged at a news conference in Mineola that many of his concerns are being negotiated. He said that if they are addressed, “I think it would be a good deal.”

Maragos said he is concerned that Arenaco, a Delaware corporation formed by Wang to serve as the county’s tenant, “has neither the assets nor credit history to stand behind its commitments on the minimum payments to the county and construction cost overruns.”

Because of these concerns, Maragos said, Arenaco “should guarantee its commitments on the minimum annual payment and payment of cost overruns” in the deal. In addition, Arenaco’s “commitment to pay 11.5 percent of revenues from non-Islanders events needs to be clarified. A part of this revenue as well as a part of auxiliary revenues should be guaranteed.”

An economic analysis by Mangano’s outside consultant, Camoin Associates, appears to be optimistic but not unreasonable, Maragos said. He also referred to a recent review by the legislature’s office of budget review.

“The assumptions and the resulting projections in these studies vary significantly,” Maragos said. “The studies are informative but they are not substitutes for contractual terms required in an agreement to ensure that the County taxpayer is protected. Each of these studies made assumptions that cannot be corroborated with the proposed agreement terms on revenue sharing, revenue guarantees and cost overruns,” Maragos wrote in his 15-page report.

This is the main point I have been trying to get across. The deal as it stands has lots and lots of questions and concerns. It needs to be clarified, and the details firmed up. It seems all along the vague, unclear elements of the deal about how money and revenue from the deal would be distributed are a thorn in the side of many — including those in County Government.

The Democrats in Mineola of course are not in favor of the deal for a number of reasons, not the least of wish is to try to stick it to Republicans. They have been pushing for the vote to fail on August 1. The $58 dollar increase in taxes to all Nassau residents was a big factor in their campaign. Some new math however is showing that the tax increase could be (and I want to stress COULD BE) as little as $14.00. This is significant, and Democrats best be rethinking their position. That being said — I would still like to see a clear cut, concise and detailed iron-clad agreement presented to voters as soon as possible that will show where ever penny will go once this proposal is put into effect. Without knowing for sure where moneys will go, and how they will be allocated — not to mention the cost overruns associated with public funded projects (another reason the LHP would have been better) — how can anyone have the details and vote for it in good conscience. Of course we die-hard Islander fans may make a deal with Beelzebub to keep the Islanders on Long Island.

My one question in this lastest article comes with regard to asking Charles Wang to pay for the “cost overruns” associated with construction. Ironic that the county would make such a request. The man was willing to pay for the entire thing along with the development of a great job creator and tax base then this alternative we are stuck footing the bill for — yet overruns (i.e. pocket lining of local pols.???) should become Mr. Wang’s responsibility?

In the end it could be anywhere from $58 per year on your tax bill or as little as $14…perhaps something in between or maybe more then $100 and just as easily perhaps, even less then $14. In the end, they just don’t know, and that is the point Maragos is trying to make. He is trying to get everyone to cross ALL of the “t’s” and dot ALL of the “i’s” and THAT is excellent detail work.

I suppose we are left saying, at this point, what ever it takes!

Vote Yes August 1.

And it is not just about August 1. It has to be about more then the people vote — which ultimately has little power. The purpose of August one is really to communicate to County Legislators that WE THE PEOPLE want this deal.

I will of course be voting to support the project. But, I am very concerned that Charles Wang and the Islanders are not taking the threat of the opposition of the arena deal very seriously. And when I see articles in the paper — where “…Charles Wang could not be reached for comment…” it becomes even more concerning. As with the Lighthouse Project, I can’t help but feel that his silence is a problem. If you allow your opponent all of the space, all of the time and all of the media resources as you stay quiet, then your opponent will define the argument. And that is exactly what is happening here — again. In the vacuum of information and details as well as the lack of push back from Wang, the opponents are making all of the news, all of the noise, and they are using the argument of a tax hike as a successful weapon to beat this deal big time!

The only solace is that the opposition decided to use a Friday to make their first big public push at LIRR stations. Reports are that they handed out fliers with a ‘Vote No” and an “X” through the Islander logo. I believe that was a mistake. Friday is “Take out the Trash” day. People are thinking about weekend plans on Fridays. Monday’s are the best days in my opinion because people reconnect with the news, and it can be a great opportunity for the proponents to make a stand on Monday, and try to control the news cycle for a few days. For a change, the Islanders and their proponents need to put “boots on the ground”

As a died in the wool Democrat, I am disappointed and frustrated by Jay Jacobs most recent remarks about the coming vote, and he is obviously rallying his caucus of legislators to vote NO when it comes to the legislature should the referendum pass. Much like the Suozzi years, the party on the “outside” is voting NO. During the last administration we saw Democrats in favor of the Lighthouse Project and Republicans against it. Typical.
As such, a strategy is needed. A plan to combat the  powers trying to derail this project. To me, there is nothing better then a door-to-door effort. It is better then a TV campaign, and better then just handing out leaflets. It shows someone is taking the time to come to see you and knock on your door. People like to be asked for support and assistance. Therefore, the strategy is simple.

The Islanders should run a door-to-door campaign in districts that are represented by DEMOCRATS first and foremost.
The mission should be do two things.
1) The person knocking on the door needs to have a clear message of why this plan can help the County.
2) The voter should be asked if he/she/they will be voting and if they are supporting the plan.

If they are against the plan, it has to be noted. That person should NOT be part of the Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) effort. If the voter is planning on voting, and is identified as a supporter, that is someone who you need to push hard on to get them to the polls. Calls should be made reminding them to vote on July 31.

The idea here should be to get heaviest support for the deal in areas that are represented by the Democratic legislators. Therefore, if the vote on August 1 passes, it puts pressure on the legislators to vote for the plan breaking ranks with the caucus and pushing the supermajority through as needed. Ultimately the vote August 1 is the first hurdle, but the supermajority vote is equally critical, and fundamentally trumps the people’s vote should they vote in favor of the project.

Of course all of the districts within the County should be visited. But my thought process here is that support where there are Democratic legislators are poised to try and kill the project when the time comes to approve the vote with a supermajority, they will have to give much consideration to what will hopefully be overwhelming support within their districts for the bond to pass.

If there is any assumption that the opposition is weak, or disorganized, or just a handful of noisy people, the Islanders and its fans will lose, and lose big. The moment you underestimate you opponent, you will see yourself on the losing side of any battle. We can ask Tom Suozzi about that.

I am not a fan of this project from Ed Mangano & Co.. I want to be clear about that. I think its a crappy deal for all of us as citizens and taxpayers. The part that is most frustrating is that Charles Wang & Co. would have financed the Lighthouse without spending a single public dollar and Hempstead said no — in effect saying they would rather use taxpayer funds to build a new arena. That is the ultimate shame in this entire debacle. What is more troubling is that the vote is a tough sell. Opponents are correctly challenging the proposal as tax hike. In a time where people feel taxes are already too high, and where the County has been taken over by NIFA, it is an uphill battle to convince them to pay $58 more per year in taxes for a hockey team. Sure — to us — its worth it, because we love our Islanders. But to Joe and Jane Jones who have never been to a hockey game, they could care less.

There are great many questions and doubts I have about the deal. But at the same time, there are always going to be questions, and doubts. Nonetheless — the Islanders trump all politics for me. I want to see the team succeed, and I want to see a new arena done so the discussion on these blogs can be about hockey.

I urge all of us to spread the word. If nothing else, every Islander fan must take the 5 minutes out of his or her day to go to the polls to support this proposal or we risk losing the franchise.

That's about right for what I look like and how I am feeling as it relates to this project, except the guy in the drawing is a bit older then I am, I dont ware glasses — and lets face it — he has more hair then I have.

I have a strange sensation coming over me today after reading yet another article about the “upcoming” vote for a new arena for the Islanders. The positive energy and feeling seems to be getting sucked out of my body as if a vacuum cleaner is pulling it directly out me, and the feeling of dread is replacing it. The song “Sympathy for the Devil” is playing in the background, but it does not sound all that good when hearing it in association with the impending doom I am feeling with regards to the arena vote. While there are entities that are “nay sayers” or those who don’t like an aspect of a plan, this seems altogether different.

Scenario: The vote held on August 1, costing $2,000,000 passes. Then, after much debate and deal making, all so the local politicos can get their piece of the pie —  “stealing” the money directly from our pockets and putting it into their own pockets — the legislature approves the vote, and earmarks the project as a “go.” The land is set, the Islanders are set, the local pols have been greased — and everyone is starting to celebrate. And right there…as people begin tailgating parties in the NVMC parking lot — a gigantic trap door opens from the sky, and screws every Islander fan to the wall of the current arena. Just like this little illustration I found online.

The industrious souls turning that screw on what was supposed to be our day of Jubilee — NIFA. Ah yes, that pesky organization that now runs things in Nassau County. All because of the two Toms — Tom Gulotta destroyed the county finances, and Tom Suozzi did not fare any better in fixing them — could not get it right. Add to that Ed Mangano who has — well — done nothing much.

Mangano and the powers that be in the County together with Charles Wang are doing everything they can to ram this thing through. As I wrote in a previous post — they are hoping no one finds the light switch to see what it is that is smelling so damn bad. But the stench should not be ignored. It MUST be ferreted out.

The supreme command in Nassau County is NIFA. Period. Without their authority — the vote we plan to make on August 1 means very little — well, I suppose that is not true. It means we want something we can’t have, and it also means we may have broken some of New York State’s laws, and we spent an extra $2,000,000 we don’t have.

We are doing our best impression of the Dodo bird. It seems everyone is walking off the cliff and very few people, if any are stopping to review the details — you know — the details, where the devil lives.

Is this vote a binding referendum? Is it a non-binding referendum. Right now — no one seems to have a definitive answer. An attorney in the County Executives office seems to think it is binding, but Mangano is calling it non-binding. If it is non-binding, then in reality, what is the motivation of the legislature to approve the raising of funds for the project? What is NIFA’s desire to see this through? And if it non-binding, it is essentially and opinion poll, as indicated in the recent Newsday article — and do we need to spend $2,000,000 million on an opinion poll?

Then there is the the question now being asked if the vote is even legal. The law in New York State is apparently very specific as to what can go to a referendum vote and what can’t. Perhaps that needs to be answered before we shell out the dollars for the vote.  Perhaps the smartest move thus far with the legality question is from Nassau’s Democratic Elections Commissioner, William Biamonte, who said he would ask the state attorney general for an opinion on whether the referendum is legal — as per Newsday. Finally, someone asking the people who know (I hope) the answer. But he said he would ask the question — saying he would do it, and doing it are different things.

Then there is the question of a Super Majority vote in the county legislature. Not out of the question, but certainly far from guaranteed. A lot of pieces would have to have fallen into place by the time the legislature begins its debate — one that I am sure will be hotly contested. Deals will need to be made. This legislator wants one thing, while that one wants something else. There is an old political saying — two things you don’t want the people to see — how they make sausage — and how they make laws.I am sure everyone — Democrat, Republican, Independant and the odd Martian will have his/her hand out looking to skim from the top for a  re-election run.

But all of this still does not get the Isles and its fan on the road to a new arena. In the end, there is still NIFA. Ah yes, back to where it begins — the folks with plenty of screws, and plenty of screwdrivers. Is NIFA being engaged in the process? Have they reviewed the plan? Are their questions being answered by Mangano & Co. Will they be sold on the benefits of the proposal?  Will they require a modification, and if so, how flexible is the County, Charles Wang, and the rest of the benefactors of the plan?

The potential for us — we fans — we people of Nassau County — to get screwed, and look exactly like the guy above — is pretty big If this goes to a vote on August 1, and it is all for naught — then the guy depicted above is going to have many, many twins. There are holes and question all over the place with this proposal, and the closer we get to the vote, the more vague, ambiguous and obtuse the answers seem to get. In fact — there don’t seem to be answers — only more questions. Yikes!

I am not trying to see this project “killed.” Assuming the vote is legal, and there is indeed a vote — I will be voting for the….um…the plan…no that’s not it….the referen….nope…not really a referendum…..hmmm…..binding…no..non binding…. oh crap….I give up…okay….I will be voting some time on August first in favor of what ever will grant the Islanders a new home.

But — I have to point out once more, because no one else seems to be talking about it — there once was this guy, that most of us did not really like, who wanted to build a palace, a great big palace for his team, and the people of Nassau — and he wanted to pay for it himself, with some help from friends. Imagine that — and oasis in the middle of what looks like a great big crack den — all at no cost to Nassau taxpayers. But people in Hempstead — or I should say Hempstead Town government — killed the project.  They said the plan was too big….would put too much burden on the roads….the schools….hurt the environment. Funny…I never met a Long Island republican who gave two shakes about the environment before this. Maybe the truth is they did not like the man proposing the project, and did not see a way to skim off the public funding for the project — because they was no public funding. It was all to be paid for by investor, create thousands upon thousands of jobs, and affordable homes…. what a shame — now we get to pay for it!

All in all — I hope the questions get answered — and we don’t end up like our friend above….Looks painful!

Islanders GM Garth Snow and Islanders center John Tavares

After another disappointing season where injuries piled up and playoff dreams were crushed early, there may still be a light at the end of the tunnel for the New York Islanders. Since the end of the regular season, there has been news aplenty on Long Island, and much of it being good news. Here’s the run down of recent developments:

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* Announcement of a new arena plan that will include a $400 million home for the New York Islanders, and a minor league baseball park. The Isles asks Nassau County residents to vote YES on August 1, 2011.

* Former Islanders Captain Doug Weight retires, and Isles GM Garth Snow announces Weight will fill two new positions; assistant coach and special assistant to the general manager.

* Islanders re-sign wingers Kyle Okposo and Michael Grabner to 5-year contracts.

* Islanders sign prospect Casey Cizikas, a fourth round draft pick in 2009 that has exceeded expectations as captain of Mississauga (OHL).

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Islanders fans should expect the good news to continue. Despite the financial hardship of Nassau County, the new arena deal will likely be approved on August 1, especially if voters believe in the promises made by Islanders owner Charles Wang and Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano – that in the end, the publicly funded arena won’t cost tax payers a dime. Before the summer is out, the long-term fate of the franchise will become clear.

As far as the on-ice product in concerned, things are getting interesting. The “Interim” title has been removed from Head Coach Jack Capuano’s name tag. John Tavares is developing into a franchise player. Garth Snow has shown commitment to his plan by locking up his young core players; Okposo, Grabner, and Moulson. Former All-Star defenseman, Mark Streit, will be returning to the roster for the 2011-12 season. Winger Blake Comeau has taken the next step in his development, after having his most productive season to date with 24 goals and 46 points in 77 games. Plus, the Isles expect veteran defensemen Mike Mottau, Mark Eaton, and Milan Jurcina to return from their injuries in time for training camp.

But, as with any professional team that finishes 27th overall in a 30-team league, question marks remain:

* Will center Josh Bailey take the next step in his development next season?

* Who will step up and become the next Islanders captain? Will that man be right for the job?

* Will Al Montoya be ready for training camp after tearing his meniscus (left knee) at the 2011 World Championships?  Note: It’s been reported surgery was successful.

* Will Rick DiPietro prove that he can consistently stay off injured reserve?

* Will free agents come to Long Island after learning a new arena deal may be in place? Does that really matter?

Even if Garth Snow is unable to answer these questions for certain, one thing is becoming evident - his plan seems to be working. Snow has been building through the draft since taking the general manager’s seat. Most teams don’t have the financial means or desirability (to free agents) to become “top dog”. And many Isles fans have been kicking and screaming that money hasn’t been spent to improve the on-ice product. Maybe it’s because the Islanders’ ownership has been losing millions for over a decade. Or maybe it’s because free agents don’t prefer the Islanders to other, more ‘successful’ franchises. Or maybe it could be that ownership doesn’t want to spend until an arena deal is guaranteed. All of these theories may have merit, but should fans think again?

Have a look at a team like the Chicago Blackhawks – they had to blow up their young core after winning the Stanley Cup because they were in a salary cap nightmare. They had the money to spend on Marian Hossa and other free agents to push them over the top, and it worked. But it was all for one cup, and one chance at glory. It may be worth it, depending upon who you talk to.

The point is this, Garth Snow has shown that he has the capability to effectively manage the salary cap - to his credit. If a young, high draft pick like John Tavares or Kyle Okposo need to be re-signed, the cap space is there to do so. If a player wants to get paid to be on this team long term, they have to prove themselves on the ice before the peanuts are handed out. It seems like the days of handing out 15-year contracts is over. The “DiPietro lesson” seems to have be learned. If the New York Islanders start making the playoffs year after year by filling their team with quality talent through the draft, that top-tier free agent acquisition will eventually come. Are they at this point yet? Absolutely not. But they have certainly put themselves in position to have that chance. If Nassau County residents vote yes on August 1, the chance at having a consistently competitive team becomes greater.

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Feel free to comment, criticize, agree, or disagree. Thanks for reading.

Follow Adam on Twitter: @AMalmut

The Isles are showing committment to the players with contracts to Okposo, Grabner and Moulson where in years past burgeoning talent would have been traded away.

There is a lot of news for Islander fans this May. Just like the good old days. The difference this time is off the ice rather then the on-ice dominance the Islanders were all about in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The news now is not  bad, though, we are not reading about a return to the finals for our boys — but that day may yet come. Perhaps most don’t believe that. But there is something happening in these last months that has me — optimistic. And while that could change quickly — it is still a good feeling. Dare I say it, some commitment seems to be in the air on Long Island.

The Islanders recently announced that Michael Grabner has been resigned to a cap friendly $15 million deal for 5 seasons. He is joined by his second half linemate Kyle Okposo — also signed to a cap friendly deal which is a bit less in dollars, but for 5 seasons. Two players who have clearly become part of the franchise core are locked up.

If that was not enough, there is a great deal of positive energy surrounding the plan to build a new arena. In a previous post, I was prepared to hold my nose and vote for the passage of the bond act — and I still plan to do so. There are details that need some attention to be sure, but it could be a lot worse for the Islander faithful. We could be packing our bags and heading to Winnepeg.

Garth Snow and Charles Wang — the later of whom I have been pretty tough on — have come through in a big way these past months. They have sent some strong messages to the fans, the players, and the hockey world, that they are committed to Long Island, and to building a winner. If the decision by the GM in 2008 to build through the draft, just like his 1972 predecessor had done, was not a clue, the commitment to retain 2 up and coming stars, and now the decision to focus on just an arena by the owner is clearly a sign that the Islanders are making the play to be here for the long run.

It has long been assessed that Charles Wang had little to no interest in building just an arena for his hockey club. The economic viability was not going to be enough to foster a profit for the team, and he was tired of losing millions. Like him or not, losing millions of dollars even if you have millions, is no picnic. For the owner to essentially “OK” the concept to build the arena as a stand-along entity and worry about the development of the remain acreage is a sign of maturity and better understanding — something that had eluded Mr. Wang in the past. By making the development first about the Islanders, and retaining the reason for the development in the first place shows a new approach — and it take the Islanders out of the political fray. The Pols can haggle over the land deal on the side to see who can bilk the most from the tax payers later. At least the team and its fiscal benefits to the community will be retained with a new building. Let me clear — the surround community NEEDS the Islanders just as much as the Islanders need a new home.

In addition, it seems the owner sees the error of his ways last season. Mr. Wang became all to aware that his team was not ready to command top ticket dollars. And with that the cost of the concessions, and to watch the team lose — fans were staying home. During the season, they made some seats available at great prices, the team started winning, and fans returned. It appears with this years ticket plans, Charles Wang is poised to fill the building on a more consistent basis, helping the on-ice product, as well as the bottom line. While it may not be enough to offset the loses, the additional ‘green’ will ease some of the pain this season.

While the owner seems to have come to his senses, the GM did not waste much time this year. Garth Snow decisively dealt away players who were not going to be part of the teams future, continuing to add picks and prospects. Dwayne Roloson — a true professional who enjoyed a great run — had to be traded. At 41 years old, he is hardly the Islander’s goalie of the future. Snow was able to retain good value for Rollie, and Ty Wishart could crack the Isles line up as a much needed big body on the blue line next season. As the season slipped away, Snow turned James Wisniewski into a 2nd round pick from the Habs, along with a 5th round pick in 2012.

But it was not all about trading away talent. The season was also an evaluation of players who should find a home on Ling Island. P.A. Parenteau and Milan Jurcina were extended for one more year as their play was clearly showing they belonged. And without too long to wait, the Islander GM locked up consistent producer Matt Moulson for the next 3 seasons.

Those of us sticking through this entire history can recall a time when players completing their ELC’s were traded away because the owner was not going to pay their salaries. Fast forward to the present and the last few months is a display of commitment for the Islanders organization. There is still some work to do, as Blake Comeau and Josh Bailey need to be addressed, but the message has been heard loud and clear. 15 years ago, Okposo, Moulson, Grabner and others would have been traded at the deadline. I mention this because all to often we hear fans complain that the Islanders trade away talent rather then pay for it and retain it. The Islanders are clearly preparing to take the next step as a franchise, and the core youth are beginning to make this team their own.

How does this new commitment effect the draft and free agency rapidly approach?

The Islanders are likely going to add a top tier talent to their very talented prospect pool in June. And on July 1, the Islanders will surely have some targets to sign. But with the arena still in question, along with the on ice product, I have doubts the Islanders will land the most prized targets of free agency.

I have doubts as to who the Islanders should pursue no matter how many players may be willing to sign on Long Island even if the arena deal were set in stone! The franchise is in a very unique place. The deep and talented prospect pool and a young core are showing real promise. 10 years ago, the franchise was in a very similar spot — except the names on the roster back then were different. Guys like Luongo, Jokenin, Connolly, Chara to name a few – and the chance to add to them with guys like Spezza and Gaborik or Heatley. That team seemed on the verge of taking that “next step” too. But those young players were cast off for more “proven” talent. The result was a mediocre mess. So before everyone cries about the free agent we did not get, or the trade that Snow did not make – think back to that time and of what could have been…

The Commitment to the rebuild is at stake here, and so far Garth Snow has held true to his plan. Perhaps I am alone, but I hope he is very careful about who he plans to add via free agency, and who he may consider trading. Naming names — I would say that trading a player like Josh Bailey is premature. Dealing Calvin De Haan or Travis Hamonic or Frans Neilsen is probably not a good idea. I would add Blake Comeau, the Kirill’s, and El Nino to that list among others. Teams that have had success for the long term have done it by retaining most of their core draftees. Perhaps we can target a top 4 defenseman by releasing Bruno Gervais, not resigning Martinek, and trading or waiving Mike Mottau and/or Mark Eaton — but I don’t want to see the ice time of young players like Hamonic suffer. He is not going to learn or get better from the bench, and he clearly shows he belongs in the NHL now. There is still the possibility that Ty Wishart and Calvin De Haan make a play for a roster spot, and while Wishart makes sense, De Haan likely needs a season in Bridgeport before coming to Uniondale. A solid veteran presense to ease the pressure on Streit and provide valuable lessons to a young core is paramount.

Overall, the franchise is in a far different place then it was just 3 seasons ago. The rebuild has been painful at times, and we all knew it would be. The team still missed the playoffs by a healthy margin this season, yet somehow, it seems poised to take a step forward next year. Of course, health will be a big part of the ability for the team to compete and make a run at a playoff berth. Time will tell. But for the first time in a number of years — I am looking forward to September and October.

I think the most annoying thing about the press conference yesterday was the media, who seemed to be present in higher numbers than the union, politicos, and fans. Many of them stopped by the handful of Isles fans telling them: “Congratulations, you got your arena!” Ummm, not quite.

Clearly most of the media is just plain ignorant of what is really going on here.

Even those who are a bit clearer on the roadblocks and speedbumps seem to be dismissal of potential problems. To me, this strikes me as foolish, naive, and just plain in denial to the realities of the political process on Long Island.

Soon after, in the afternoon, I received an email from my query to NIFA, the governor assigned watchdog to all of Nassau County’s fiscal process with a very clear warning that went against the talk of Ed Mangano, Kate Murray and Charles Wang. Nobody had bothered to loop in the watchdog who has the final say on permission for any bond or coliseum deal here.

NIFA’s Statement:

“NIFA is deeply concerned about the County Executive’s proposal and its fiscal implications for the County. There was no consultation with NIFA regarding this major proposal announced today. During the control period, greater coordination is warranted.NIFA’s approval is required for all County borrowing, including the $400 million in new debt proposed today, and for all major contracts.

As we await necessary information from the County regarding the 2011 and 2012 budgets, NIFA requires details of this new plan, which must be evaluated in the context of the County’s fiscal crisis, the wage freeze on County employees and the reductions in services to County residents

This is unsurprising to those who have followed the Ed Mangano dealings, which seem to fly on the seat of their pants and to be lacking any details. The problem with yesterday’s press conference and promises is the usual vague planning, murk, and just plain lack of details to what exactly is going to happen, and above all, a lack of knowledge on how to kickoff the process so that it actually goes through. It doesn’t give me a warm and fuzzy, and it shouldn’t for you, fellow Islander fans, either.

This is a huge gaffe by the Mangano camp and all involved. Here is your big day of PR, and already, within a few hours, a problem has already hit the mix and now leads the news.

I sat listening to yesterdays press conference with a heaping load of questions to their planning. One large one was mentioned by me on twitter yesterday:

“A big unmentioned player to all of this is “Nassau Interim Finance Authority” who must approve Nassau County deals and such”

“Democrats and NIFA are the roadblocks here IF either choose to throw themselves against the ire of sports fans”

On Mangano/Wang not getting approval from NIFA, a source says: “have to wait for the vote. And if it approves, you think NIFA would turn it down? Can you think of the anger they would get and the pressure the gov would feel?”

Well, I’m just not convinced here. Especially when some Democrats are already complaining about why are taxpayers having to float a bond when originally Charles Wang was offering to pay for the whole thing privately with the Lighthouse Project? It’s a question of course that is valid, but fails to note that the Town of Hempstead clearly killed that plan, and came up with their own tinier plan…to which Charles refused to compromise or even work out some sort of compromise process. So clearly, when both sides fail to meet, it is dead.

The problem is that the elections in November have a lot on the line, including an opponent to Kate Murray already using yesterdays press conference as a political point, calling the Coliseum deal a “poison pill”. The politicization of the Coliseum Referendum is a potential nightmare if it becomes a focal point to the power struggle between Long Island Democrats and Republicans. Democrats, who I might add, were onboard the Coliseum plans until Suozzi was toppled, and then faded into the woodwork. Democrats who once source said were told to stay away, as another source mentioned others were not invited, to yesterdays presser. Thus, Mangano’s group also now made it a Republican event between them and the ToH, as if purposely trying to exacerbate the issue into political drama.

Political drama will turn this process and Islander fans, who have sat being pulled along like a yo-yo to all sorts of antics, inside out. It isn’t fair, and there seems to be a lack of forethought, tact, and finesse by all parties when it counts most…. as we saw last time between Charles and the Lighthouse Project versus the ToH back two years ago.

A source on the Republican side of the aisle thinks that if referendum passes, NIFA will be unwilling to deepsix it due to jobs created. I still remain unconvinced when it is a Democrat Gov who really controls the NIFA group against a Republican run Long Island. To me, this is kids playing with matches in a room of TNT, with them assuring us, it’s ok. I’m not buying it.

Just as am not buying it is going to happen until all those involved get a clue and actually show some ability to finish what they started. I am still not even convinced that $350 million, that gets allocated to build a NEW venue, is enough in this day and age where labor and building materials are sky high in cost in one of the most expensive places to do business in the United States.

So, call me more than skeptical, concerned, and just plain unconvinced. I remain open to be swayed and hope it works out. But, anyone who thinks this is a done deal or a clear path is just plain fooling themselves.

For the Referendum itself, I think that vote will go YES. Fans, the Republican machine and unions will vote for it, and take advantage of what will be a minuscule vote turnout on August 1st. But that is not the issue. The referendum is useless if NIFA does not approve the bond.

If we look at Mangano’s track record so far as Exec, he has stated that he will balance the budget….and failed. He stated that he will win in a lawsuit against NIFA, and failed. He even said he was going to cut patronage positions…still waiting there. So I am not quite going to buy that this is a done deal by a longshot.

There is also another issue… how does a team that loses anywhere from $20 to 40 million annually expect to suddenly cut a profit and pay the County their share of that $350 million dollars???? Hey, I’m not just going to be the one guy asking this question. Others are already wondering the same.

Follow me on twitter: BDGallof

Mineola, NY – May 11, 2011 –

NIFA is deeply concerned about the County Executive’s proposal and its fiscal implications for the County. There was no consultation with NIFA regarding this major proposal announced today. During the control period, greater coordination is warranted.NIFA’s approval is required for all County borrowing, including the $400 million in new debt proposed today, and for all major contracts. As we await necessary information from the County regarding the 2011 and 2012 budgets, NIFA requires details of this new plan, which must be evaluated in the context of the County’s fiscal crisis, the wage freeze on County employees and the reductions in services to County residents.# #

(will give my own take on things later tonight)

Plans for new arena announced

The bright future of the Islander on the ice — new head coach Jack Capuano, John Tavares and Michael Grabner

It has been a long while since I wrote a post about the Islanders, which is not for a lack of desire. Work has monopolized my time of late making it difficult to make posts these last several weeks. But it was not for a lack of desire to comment on a variety of observations on the Islanders — players and the franchise as a whole. As we enter the start of playoff season, the Isles will sit and watch for the 4th year in a row. This was a lost season on many levels save one — Hope!

The year began with some promise. with the Islanders beginning  the first weeks with a 4-1-2 campaign and it appeared as though they were showing signs of a renaissance for the 2010-11 season. But injuries and a coach no one wanted to listen to anymore put that renaissance on hold for at least one more season. 10 straight losses later, no one had to listen — or see — Scott Gordon any longer. And after losing 20 of 21 — the season was more or less over.

So what can be said about the Islanders as we gear up for a long summer? How do we grade the year? Well we each have our own views – and I hope you comment and share your thoughts. Mine are as follows…

The 2010-11 Season – D+/C-
I had mixed hopes for the year. I felt the Islanders could be a team that battled for a playoff spot and maybe made it if everything fell into place and they built on last seasons improvements. But 2 key injuries put a lot of pressure on the team from the drop of the puck. Still the Islanders began well enough — so it could be said that while those injuries hurt, they were not the reason why the Isles fell apart. It might be cliché to “blame the coach” but his style of coaching was clearly a problem. While it did not happen immediately after his dismissal, the more relaxed style of Jack Capuano was infectious, and the adjustments he made to the system allowed players to just play — and it had a big impact in the second half of the season. I almost liken it to the Herb Brooks approach of playing hockey — where he stresses that the right mix of players using skating and creativity with the puck can develop into a formidable team. That seems to be what happened from January to April. Some will blame Garth Snow  for not bringing in players though I see that as a short sighted excuse. As we have said time and time again — a free agent is just that; FREE — he can sign where he wants regardless of the dollars or terms on a deal, and though Snow made lucrative offers to some key personnel, the Islanders were forced to venture into the so-called “B” and “C” level players, and while no one was jumping with glee when P.A. Parenteau, Zenon Konopka, Mark Eaton, Mike Mottau and Milan Jurcina became Islanders, they were solid signings for this team, and  filled needs.

Still, the team missed the playoffs, and that was the stated goal for the team. While there were clear signs of improvement, and excitement, the first half of the season was a total dud – even with the injuries. Half a season is not good enough.For the team to take that next step, the team will need to make decisions on a number of players and while some should be relatively easy, others are likely to be a pipe dream on the part of fans.

Garth Snow – B-/C+
As mentioned above, Snow takes a great deal of heat from Islander fans and some in the media. He will garner a fair share this season for his teams failure to make it to the playoffs, but there are too many good, strong aspects to the job that he has done to give him a very poor mark.

I may be alone in believing this, but I think Snow offered more perks and dollars to Dan Hamhuis and Paul Martin then the Cannucks and Penguins. But if you are either of these two players, and are shown the Islanders who can   be competitive and a contender for a playoff spot if you sign — or you can more or less be guaranteed the playoffs with the other teams — the decision becomes easier — and in this case we are looking at two teams who could easily be in the Stanley Cup finals. So one can’t blame the players for not wanting to play here — not yet. And for those with the idea that Snow should be doing everything he can through trades to make the team better now — I direct you to review all of the trades by Snow’s predecessor before suggesting that Snow trade Kyle Okposo, Josh Bailey, Calvin De Haan and other members of the young core. The same can be said for our 1st round picks. One may think it is very easy to not make trades, but if many of us were in Garth Snow’s seat, how many of the young kids we are enjoying now would not be Islanders anymore because of panic trades? Snow’s patience may be underrated to say the least. He has stuck with his plan, and it is showing signs of real progress.

He has supplemented his excellent drafting with shrewd waiver pick ups and free agent signings. The additions of Michael Grabner, PA Parenteau, Milan Jurcina, Dwayne Roloson, Matt Moulson and Zenon Konopka have all been largely positive.

I also think his decision to put in a claim for Nabokov was the right thing to do, and any hockey person would have to agree that it was a necessity given the situation in the Isles crease at the time. Perhaps the loudest complaints were coming out of Toronto only because the Islanders beat them to the claim – which are the rules. And to ask one franchise to not play by the same rules because the Maple Leafs and their cry-baby fans did not get their way is silly. The fact that Nabokov would not report to the Islanders was an unknown factor to everyone in the NHL — considering that Nabokov’s agent stipulated that his client would play for any team should a claim be placed — I suppose he forgot to put in the qualifier in that statement. The ones who look like utter fools in all of this are Nabokov and his agent. Whether Snow decides to “toll” the contract towards next year or not, I would not want a cancer like Nabokov anywhere near my team.

There is no doubt that Snow will have his work cut out for him. The team has a large stable of strong talent — much of which is being overlooked by some. Besides the obvious players on the NHL club, the team has a deep pool of talent on the blue line in Donovan, Ness, De Haan, Wishart, Hamonic and Kessel. On offense, the Islanders have potential in players like Niederreiter, Lee, Cizikas, Rakshani, Ulstrom and Petrov — perhaps even Kabanov if he can ever get his head right. Snow took a barren tundra and has turned into a well stocked farm of talent. He deserves the credit, where it is due.

The signing, and resigning of Jurcina and Parenteau were good moves. Both players have proven to be useful to the team, and can be regular contributors. The addition of Wisniewski may have worked out better had Striet not been injured, but Snow obtained him for a song, and turned a 3rd round pick into 2 second round picks. Not bad! The addition of Grabner of waivers might be the best move of all. How other teams ahead of the Isles passed is beyond me, but Snow looks like the next Einstein for that pick up — and one can’t complain too much about the lock-up deal for Matt Moulson — another one of the scrapheap boys who is now a repeat 30-goal performer.

The one area where I would say that Snow may have failed, is in selecting a rigid coach who refused to have any flexibility with his players. By all accounts, this was a dire issue for the Islanders, and while discipline is required, adherence to a system may not be. The Islanders of old were as good as they were because they played in a manner befitting the opposition. If they played a team that was slick and filled with talent, the Isles could match them. If they went up against a physical brute team, the Islanders could beat them down. Whatever the style required, the Islanders had the answer. It seems that is more Capuano’s sensibility, and his results, garnered him a new deal as the head coach.

Scott Gordon – D-/F
How ever it will be characterized, Gordon’s systems never worked, and never came to fruition. His stifling style may have restricted players like Bailey, Okposo and Tavares and we are just beginning to see what a more creative and relaxed atmosphere is yielding. Perhaps Gordon will get another chance in another city. But it did not work out for him or the Islanders. Hindsight is 20/20 and I was excited about giving Gordon the opportunity to coach the Isles. I had no interest in some of the recycled guys being mentioned. So Gordon looked like he could be the right guy. But no one know how rigid he was and he came with a recommendations from many of his former players out of the Boston organization. Still when put into practice, and with this team, Gordon refused to modify his system and program and in the end, that cost him his job.

Jack Cappuano – B-/C+
It goes without saying that Cappy deserved the new contract. It seemed every player in the room was advocating for Jack to return behind the bench next season and they got their wish. What he was able to accomplish in half a season, despite the slow start, and with all of the adversity was noteworthy. The isles were one of the best teams in the NHL for the second half even with the injuries and problems. It will be interesting to see if Cappy remains loose and willing to allow his young players to do what they do best — that creativity.

Charles Wang – D
The only reason Charles gets a D and not an F is because he is keeping the team on Long Island at least until 2015 — but where I have a major issue is the way he has handled the development of a new arena. He should have been more vocal, and more up front with fans after Hempstead shunned him and his ideas. I also believe — as I have written numerous times — that he mishandled the entire effort to begin with. I have always believed that he could have, and should have gotten the new arena DONE first so the franchise could attract UFA players,  and boost ticket sales in a shining new building — and THEN tackle the other development angles. Still, the man is at every draft, shows up to games, and though I think he is terribly misguided and makes bad choices, his affection for the game, and the franchise is real. He must do a great deal to win over the hearts and minds and during this offseason, he can do it by working out a deal that keeps the Islanders in New York long beyond 2015.

The refusal to let Chris Botta have press credentials and the failure to retain Ryan Jankowski and Brian Trottier can likely fall on both Charles Wang and Garth Snow. Those incidents fueled much of the distaste for the Islander from their own fans as well as those around the NHL – and were magnified by the long losing streak that doomed the season. While the late season surge helped many forget the early season gaffs, it displays a lack of good PR sense and understanding. That falls under Wang — he has to adjust and mature his PR staff to be proactive and responsive if he wants the franchise to be viewed in a kinder light.

Lastly, Charles Wang made a huge mistake this fall when he raised ticket prices, concessions and parking and he paid for it big time. The losing did not help sales, but it forced the Islanders to take a long hard look in the mirror, and when they finally adopted the cheaper prices as written on many blogs (including this one) the building began to fill up — and that was happening long after we all knew the Islanders out of it — which tells you the fans will come to games for the right price. Now, with a reduced and more affordable pricing structure for plans next year, the Islanders should experience a surge in season tickets.

Worst Moments of the Season
Pick which one you feel was the worst — or add your own — these are in NO particular order — just as I recall them…
1) The Gordon firing and how deflating that was for this franchise and its fans
2) The injuries to Striet and Okposo which put the season on the wrong foot before the first game — over 600 man games lost overall is no way to make the playoffs…
3) The disasterous games in Philly and Carolina where we were not just shelled on the score board but were physically dismantled. Seeing a little punk like Briere push our players around was disturbing.
4) Rick DiPietro’s flake out against the Thrashers — a game the Isles should have won had it not been for the man with the 5¢ head
5) The Penguin game where DiPietro made another stupid move to get his ass kicked and have everyone laughing at us – again.

Best Moments of the Season
Pick which one you feel was the best of this group — or add your own — these are in NO particular order — just as I recall them…
1) The Friday Night Fights – I personally agree with what Butchie said after the game — that this was going to gel the team and its players, and I believe from that game on, it did. Depending on how things go next season, that game may be a real key moment for these players.
2) Michael Grabner winning the fastest skater competition — it filled you with real pride to see an Islander do so well on a big stage – even if he was moving so fast he was a blur…
3) Having 2 players at/above 30 goals and 5 total over 20 — it has been a very long time since we have seen such a thing for the Isles. And these players being young it bodes well for the team long term.
4) Frans Neilsen and Grabner being considered finalist for NHL awards — Grabner should at least get a nomination for the Calder and Frans Neilsen a nod for the Selke. Neither may win, but they should both be recognized.
5) Beating the Rangers in the last match up of the season — but more importantly seeing Sean Avery skate off the ice bloody and beaten to a pulp! It is neck and neck at who is the bigger scum bag P.O.S. but my vote still goes to Sean Avery over Matt Cooke.
6) The emergence of both Grabner and John Tavares — one goal post too many, other wise he would have 30 goals along with pal Moulson and Grabner. Nonetheless — those three are true NHL stars though they may not get the recognition.

In my next post, I will review individual players.…

Scott Gallof with the Photoshop

If there was ever a moment to perfectly encompass about everything about the NY Islanders season it was Brent Johnson’s fist dropping Rick DiPietro like a sack of potatoes.

Let’s revisit the situation…

Isles are being blanked 3-0. Rick lets in another sloppy goal…something very familiar to fans this season. He pushes down Matt Cooke. A fracas busts out. Brent Johnson comes down the ice. The goalies face off. Johnson lands a shot that makes DP’s already sore knees collapse. The Rick is now out for 4 to 6 weeks with facial fractures and sore knees.

My god. It is the perfect description. The perfect exclamation point for fans who have watched the antics this season.

For a team that is passing the torch left and right, has the torch been passed in the goalie position whether the team, management or The Rick likes it or not? Kevin Poulin has stellar Bridgeport numbers and was doing a very good job on the NHL level. Roloson, before being sent to Tampa was the main stalwart, even though Rick has a few flashes of some better than average play. Roloson in Tampa is 4-1 in his last 5. Unsurprising.

Fact is, despite the over exuberance by Isles announcers to some of Rick DiPietro’s play this season, he has been merely better than average in spurts. Nothing like the player of old. The spots of sore knees, bad decisions on ice, and slop goals are still very prevalent and to be honest, even more concerning.

In this season of real tough times for the Isles, nothing has been proven by their oft injured goalie. In fact, if anything, youth has been served….except in the case of The Rick who is locked to the Isles organization like an albatross around the neck thanks to Charles Wang handing him a 15 year contract.

So the Isles continue with this aberration still locked to them, while youth surrounds him and who might be rapidly catching up to him from behind. Poulin is not that far away. How about Koskinen, you ask?  Not as close. Seems to be some issues with his game that still needs to be worked out. Especially before he hits the NHL level. However, he will be called up to the NHL to be backup, as Poulin remains the likely starter.

So as The Rick dropped as if he met a 20-year old version of Mike Tyson, is it time to pass the torch? Probably not yet to the youth who is still needing time…but getting close.

Meanwhile…Nabakov has squandered his opportunity to show he can play this season besides in the KHL, and you can bet the Isles will attempt to toll his contract so that he is still Isles property next season. If Nabs wants to rectify that situation, now is the time, because the Isles would well prefer to keep Poulin developing in Bridgeport.

Whatever happens, the fact remains that when DP got clocked, Isles fans had to find it very fitting after this long haul.