News: NHL National TV Schedule Released

The NHL released their national TV schedule today for NBC, NBC Sports (VERSUS), and NHL Network. The league will show over 300 games this season on the three channels. 

The New York Islanders, however, will only be on national TV for two games:

- November 7 at Boston on VERSUS
- March 31 vs. Boston on NHL Network

The Islanders will not be shown on NBC this season.

CH: Not really that surprising the Isles only have two games on National TV this year. They are still a bottom dwelling team until proven otherwise. While they are certainly an entertaining bunch to watch, there is not much star power on this team - therefore making them unattractive to the TV station. I'm not sure John Tavares is at the level of superstardom that would make him "must see TV" the way Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are. The point is simple here: if/when the Islanders get better and become a playoff team, there is no doubt they will be on for everyone to see more often than not.

Around The NHL: Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 Thoughts

Friday night, The Vancouver Canucks defeated the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals by a score of 1-0. Vancouver takes a 3-2 lead in the series, needing just one win to become Stanley Cup Champions with Game 6 coming Monday night in Boston. Roberto Luongo made 31 saves to record the shutout, and Max Lapierre scored his second goal of the playoffs to give the Canucks the lead (and win). 

You can find the Game 5 recap on TSN here:

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CH: This was a fantastic game from start to finish. Lots of mini-storylines in this game with the constant momentum switches. The Canucks broke through on a quirky goal, with Lapierre shooting from almost directly to the side of the net and Tim Thomas out of position. The puck went off Thomas and into the net to give the Canucks the lead. That said, Thomas was absolutely brilliant again tonight. He kept the Bruins in the game with some incredible saves, but it just wasn't enough as Roberto Luongo was outstanding as well. The Canucks played great team defense tonight, but when that wasn't there Luongo was there to back them up. A far cry from Games 3 and 4, and an ovation well deserved from the Vancouver crowd.

AT: I couldn't even tell if it was a real setup or just a missed shot, but knowing Bieksa it was a great way to set Lapierre up for the goal. Great way to beat the seemingly impenetrable Thomas.  You have to hand it to Lou. He deserved some (very well deserved) criticism after games 3 and 4 and he comes back home and throws up a shutout. The goalies have made this series as exciting as it is.

The one disappointing thing from this game was the constant flopping by guys like Alex Burrows and Max Lapierre. There is no doubt this series has been intense, and that's an understatement. Vancouver had 33 hits in the first 35 minutes of the game. Still, after every whistle if someone even breathed on Burrows he flopped down like a dying fish. It's unacceptable. The worst part is that on plays like the Milan Lucic slewfoot, Burrows didn't have to embellish it at all. It was a clear penalty, but he hurt himself and his team. The irony of it all was watching Chris Higgins falling on a legitimate tripping penalty, and then getting reprimanded on his bench for diving. That's the reputation the Canucks have set for themselves.

AT: They really need to leave stuff like that to soccer. This is the Stanley Cup finals.. play like it is.

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Previewing Game 6 would really just state the obvious. It will be a complete battle out there. I do have to say though, I'd like to see the Cup awarded at home for the first time since 2007. So I'll be rooting for Vancouver in a seventh game, but there's no question Game 6 will be a great one no matter the outcome.

Later today we'll have our next draft prospect preview up.

Opinion: Fourth Line Scrappers

Today on Islanders Point Blank, Chris Botta writes about how the Islanders are looking to bring back Trevor Gillies and Micheal Haley, but let Zenon Konopka go. Let's go down the line, one-by-one:

Trevor Gillies - 39 GP, 2 G, 0 A, -3, 165 PIM

Big 2010-11 Moments: Scoring vs. NYR, Eric Tangradi Hit, Scrap vs. Eric Godard


CH: Let's start with Gillies. I don't like this decision at all. By all accounts Trevor is a great guy and a great teammate, but he just doesn't bring enough to the table. Forget the fact that his hit on Eric Tangradi was the one deplorable Islander decision during that game. Forget the fact that he was suspended for 19 out of 20 games on two separate incidents. The fact of the matter is that there are about 50 other guys that can provide the same aspects to the team, on the ice and off it, that Gillies can. From a PR perspective, this makes no sense. Public relations and perception shouldn't matter, but we aren't talking about buying out Alexei Yashin here. This player is a minor role player, so it can be taken into account. This summer has widely been considered a major coup for the Islanders. Why ruin that by signing a goon?

AT: I think the major part of this was the fact that he was a huge locker room guy and very "in" with management. The difference between him and Z even though they both hold those traits is that Gillies knows he's a #13 and two-way player and will be his entire career. I don't think Z would be very happy with that, so the decision to bring back Gillies seemed logical. Again, as a #13 and on a two-way, I have absolutely no problem with this. Just don't pull a Sim on us, Trevor.

Micheal Haley - 27 GP, 2 G, 1 A, -4, 85 PIM

Big 2010-11 Moments: Goal vs. Pittsburgh, Fighting Max Talbot and Brent Johnson in the same game, Fighting Sean Avery

AP

CH: Bringing back Haley should be an absolute no-brainer. I don't necessarily think he should be a full-time NHL player, but he certainly is capable of playing at the level when he needs to. For division games, he is a major asset to have on the fourth line. He can scrap and he can play. Haley provides organizational depth where he can produce at Bridgeport and produce on Long Island in different roles. I still would look to upgrade the fourth line as far as point total and defensive play goes, but if the bottom-6 needs a fill-in, this is your guy for 2011-12. Love this idea, as long as it is two-way and he doesn't play every game.

AT: Haley is one of my favorite Islanders of recent years. He brought back that "snarl" so to speak that the Islanders were missing. He sticks up for his teammates without being stupid about it, he's not afraid to drop the gloves and does so quite efficiently, and he has a scoring touch. He did have 12 goals on the Sound Tigers. A two way deal is the best option and I'm really hoping he gets it. He'll be at the draft party and Botta indicated it shall be done soon, so we should see it happen soon.

Zenon Konopka - 82 GP, 2 G, 7 A, -14, 307 PIM

Big 2010-2011 Moments - Changing the culture of the Islanders, Teaching Max Talbot a lesson, "We are not a doormat"

CH: I liked Konopka a lot, but fact is letting him go is not the end of the world. The Islanders finished 27th place in the NHL last year, which means no spots are safe - especially that of the fourth line center. Konopka is a face-off whiz, but after that his play leaves a lot to be desired. He isn't good defensively or offensively, and sometimes lets his mouth run a little more than he should. He did so much for this team this year, as far the locker room goes. I do believe Konopka was the driving force behind the belief the Islanders now have in themselves. If the Islanders can go out and get a guy like Craig Adams (signed with PIT today) to play on their fourth line, they will be in a much better position for 2011-12. Fact is they have guys who can fight in that role already (Martin), which is what Konopka is really good for. Now, they need a defensive minded player who can take face-offs. If he has a mean streak, all the better.

AT: I originally wanted Z back, but honestly he doesn't bring much to the table once he takes the faceoff. He's not really a "good" hockey player. Great guy, great locker room presence, but big locker room guys are a dime a dozen in this league. I thank Konopka for being part of that re-ignition of snarl that the Islanders seem to have back, but his time here is up. The Islanders need to improve. Z's not going on a two-way. It's time to part ways.

Arena: The Fox Business Network Disaster

CH: Fox Business is holding a special on their network all day as part of "Red Ink" that is chronicling the pros and cons of the Nassau Coliseum site. Unfortunately, they have only seemed to focus on the negatives.

AT: I'll dissect this as Carey goes along.

CH: The first guest they had on was Mike Picker, the senior vice president of the New York Islanders. The reporter, Adam Shapiro, asked Picker legitimate questions about the project. Let's face it, no information has been released so there is not much for anyone to go on right now. Picker explained the best course of action was to go into a debt service through public financing. He explained the economic benefits are better this way as each dollar that goes into the Coliseum will be paid back to the taxpayers. The reporter then referred to Picker as Kevin, forgetting his name. Unprofessional, but it is what it is. To be frank, there was not much to be upset about through this interview. Picker handled himself well, as the questions about the benefits of a publicly funded arena are fair.

AT: Picker did a good job with tough questions faced with little info around right now. Perhaps this interview would have been a lot better after the mid-June date that Mangano promised the information on the new Coliseum. With that, I think Fox could create some legitimate, fact based questions and Picker would've been able to quell the rumors and misinformation. Though as an addict of things political my whole life, I know that's next to impossible in some cases.

CH: In the next hour, Fox Business brought on County Executive Ed Mangano. Again, fair questions were asked to Mangano. The County Executive stated that the Nassau Coliseum will close in 2015 if nothing gets accomplished there. To go along with that, Nassau County will lose jobs and revenue, which is worse than the status quo. He said the plan works because the voters will get a percentage of gross revenue that the facility takes in, which is what Picker said as well. Finally, Mangano said the Plan B if this doesn't go through is to potentially have another RFP period, but without a Coliseum. Again, all fair questions and Mangano handled himself surprisingly well compared to recent interviews.

AT: Mangano seemed prepared. He's really taking some heat from some very misinformed people. That's the life of a politician, I suppose. Mangano is, as we all have been, trying to get the facts out there in any way he possibly can.

CH: Finally, Fox Business brought on Desmond Ryan, our friend from the Association for Better Long Island. Based on what he said in Chris Botta's interview and in Newsday, it's known by now this guy is only it in for himself and not for Long Island. Ryan's plentiful misinformed opinions included that he believes the Islanders won't necessarily be leaving Long Island if they don't get a new building. He also referenced that since the Thrashers moved with a relatively new building, the same could happen to the Islanders. Finally, he said he's not sure the building will pay for itself, which to be fair is a valid point since no numbers have been released.

AT: It's almost laughable how misinformed this guy is. How long do people think the Isles will really stay at NVMC? 'Till the walls start crumbling down, as John Mellencamp aptly sang? The Isles are gone if this doesn't happen. Wang has already made it known he's explored non-Nassau/Suffolk locations and seemed quite intent on moving. And the comparison with the Thrashers is a joke. This is a team with a fanbase that HAS supported the team in years past. The Thrashers fanbase was always relatively non-existant. It's a terrible analogy.

CH: Getting back to his first two points though: How irresponsible could Fox Business be on this matter? Had they done any research on the matter, they would know there is a 30-year lease for the Islanders attached to the new Coliseum. They would also know that Commissioner Bettman and Islanders Owner Charles Wang have said more than a number of times the Islanders are not going to play in that building one minute more than they have to. Had they done any research, such as going to Long Island's newspaper or going to the most popular Islander blog on the Internet, they would have seen Ryan's true intentions.

AT: It's typical mainstream "news" media, sad to say. Pretty much all I can say on that.

CH: This feature on the Nassau Coliseum project did not outline any advantages, just faults. Now, a lot of that has to do with the fact Wang and Mangano have not released any formal details on the project. It's been more than a month after the initial press conference was held. That is just as irresponsible. However, in the interest of fairness for all parties, Fox Business was better off waiting on this story until the plan came out. They didn't do that. All I know is this feature did not help the Islanders, it did not help Mangano, and it did not help Long Island. Wang and Mangano need to release their plan - and soon, or the negative articles will continue to get worse.

AT: Well, we all know bad news gets higher ratings than good news. It's a shame, but it's the way it is. Absolutely agreed with Carey on this, it's only helped to rile up negativity that's mostly based on misinformation. The sooner this information comes out, and the more elaborate and detailed it is the better. 

Credit on the Desmond Ryan interview: Snowman39 from Islandermania
For tweets on the Picker and Mangano interviews please follow us @VoteYESNYIArena

Former Islanders: Pittsburgh Hires Bill Guerin as Player Development Coach

The Pittsburgh Penguins announced today they have hired former Islanders captain Bill Guerin to be their new Player Development Coach. Guerin will assist Penguins prospects at both the junior hockey, college, and professional levels. He last played in the NHL for the Penguins in the 2009-10 season, and played for the Islanders from 2007-2009.

CH: To start, I'm very happy for Billy. He was a great American player and I'm happy to see that he's still involved in the game. This will be a great opportunity working for a good organization with some solid prospects coming through the ranks. In a way I'm kind of surprised, however, that Doug Weight didn't recruit him for a similar role with the Islanders. Guerin still lives on Long Island full-time (near Weight), and the two have a very close relationship. That said, this is a great position for Guerin and hope that he does very well with the Penguins.

AT: Just awesome for Guerin. Very happy for him and I knew he'd catch on somewhere. I did hope he would come to Long Island as well, but he won the Stanley Cup recently with the Penguins. I guess he feels he "owes" it to them, so to speak. Good luck, Bill!

Blog Note: We are planning on recording our first podcast tonight. If all goes well, it should be up and ready to go by tomorrow.

Prospects: Kirill Petrov Doubtful for Prospect Camp

Dmitry Chesnokov announced over this over his Twitter earlier today:

Prospect Kirill Petrov said the #Islanders are inviting him to NA. He said he can't make a decision now due to "serious family problems."

No word on when exactly the Islanders are holding prospect camp yet.

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CH:  Chris Botta reported that Petrov's mother is seriously ill, which is the reason Petrov won't be able to attend the camp. Family always comes first, so there is no reason to question Petrov's commitment to the Islanders or coming to the NHL. The time for that would be after next season, when he will be a KHL free agent and eligible to sign a contract anywhere in the world. The Islanders hold Petrov's rights in perpetuity, which means there won't be any "Wheeler/Gregoire/Kessel" situation for Petrov to become a free agent.

As Botta alluded to in his article, the Islanders don't regret picking Petrov. They shouldn't. Petrov was a great gamble in that spot, and at age 21 still has all the time in the world to come to North America to play in the NHL. He was very impressive at last year's prospect camp and showed serious signs that his game would translate to the North American style. Keep an eye out this year for updates on Petrov's progress in Kazan (he was loaned back from Yugra recently).

AT: It's always seemed as if Petrov wants to come to the NHL. If he does, great. If he doesn't, it's not like he was a first round bust. Hoping for the best with Petrov's mother and hoping he can get everything worked out and put his life on the track he wants it to be. Good luck this year, Kirill. 

Around The NHL: SC Finals Game 3 Thoughts

The Boston Bruins defeated the Vancouver Canucks by a score of 8-1 tonight. The Bruins cut the Canucks' series lead in half, as Vancouver leads 2-1 going into Game 4 Wednesday night in Boston. 

AP

CH: I needed to get my thoughts together before I wrote this post because there were so many storylines to this game. Let's start with the Aaron Rome hit on Nathan Horton. What an absolute disgrace that was. I was completely speechless when I saw the hit. It was unnecessary, reckless, harmful, and with a total lack of respect for the opponent. Rome, in my opinion, should be suspended for 5 games. He should not have the privilege of potentially raising the Stanley Cup with his teammates on the ice. Mike Murphy will certainly have his hands full with this one.

Moving onto the Recchi and Lucic taunts: I have to admit I laughed, but realistically there is no place for that within the context of the game. You can't say that you're over the biting incident and then go and mock the Canucks about it. This should have been dead and buried after the NHL opted not to suspend Alex Burrows. It needs to be completely dead now.

As far as the play on the ice, it was a complete domination. I felt the Canucks had a chance to steal the game after the Bruins did not score on their major powerplay, but that never happened. Boston just took it to Vancouver, even though the Canucks did have 40+ shots. Roberto Luongo should have been pulled after the fifth goal, but Alain Vigneault gave Luongo the option to stay in. That's a point where the coach  needs to take control and pull the goalie for the sake of his confidence. However, on the flip side, Tim Thomas was outstanding tonight.

AP

Without saying much else other than the fact Boston put up an 8-spot in the Stanley Cup Finals, it's time to look ahead to Game 4. Vancouver has a ton to prove here. Roberto Luongo has a ton to prove here. However, this is not a terribly pivotal game. Vancouver has the chance to take a commanding series lead, but they will still hold home ice advantage regardless. I believe the Canucks will recover nicely and win Game 4, but no matter what this series has taken on a whole new landscape after Game 3.

AT: Man, what I would've done to be a fly on the wall in the Bruins locker room after the first period. I can only imagine what Julien said to this team. Obviously, it created a whole new perspective for the players and he encouraged them to play their hearts out the entire game and take it to them until the final buzzer. As the final score shows, they certainly did.

The taunts need to end. Okay, it's the Stanley Cup finals, but I fear it's going to turn into something a lot worse if the NHL doesn't put an end to it. As for the hit, absolutely disgusting. There was no chance for Horton to react to that. A shoulder to the head is never, ever acceptable.

Report: Winnipeg Offers GM Job to Kevin Cheveldayoff

According to NHL.com, True North has offered their vacant GM job to Kevin Cheveldayoff. The former 1988 first round draft pick of the Islanders was recently the assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks and the GM of the AHL's Chicago Wolves before that.

No word on whether Cheveldayoff has accepted or not yet.

CH: I'm not so sure I love this move from a Winnipeg standpoint. There is no question that Cheveldayoff has potential in management. He was rumored back for the Islanders job in 2006 before the position went to Neil Smith. I am just concerned that he is being shoved into a very high pressure situation in Winnipeg with a rebuilding team. That's a lot to put on a rookie GM, especially with the importance of putting a good product on the ice for the team's future in Winnipeg. Between Rick Dudley and Cheveldayoff, I think Dudley would have been a better option for Winnipeg, but it's clear True North wanted to start as fresh as possible.

AT: I also think Dudley would've been better, but as you said it's pretty obvious Winnipeg wants a new start on the team, both in management and in style.

Draft: NHL Draft Combine Held This Past Week

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Last week, the NHL Draft Combine took place in Toronto. The prospects come in for the week and interview with whichever NHL organizations want to talk to them, complete fitness testing, and get to know the other draft prospects. This post will be the first of many dialoguing our thoughts on the June 24 draft. 

If you want to read more about the Draft Combine, please visit TSN for videos and articles on the process.


CH: The draft is probably my favorite part of the hockey year other than the games. I have gotten very into the process even before the Islanders rebuild started, as it is always fun to see how happy these players become when they hear their names called. This year, the draft could go in 100 different directions, and that's just being mild. From an Islander standpoint, all we know is Garth Snow will choose the player he feels best fits the Islanders. The top 8 projected picks are listed on the right sidebar, but we've now heard that Mika Zibenajad, a Swedish center is rising fast much like Ryan Johansen did last year. We will be profiling each of the top 10 prospects before the draft as well as giving a composite, which will serve as our rankings, of a few different rankings before the draft.

Around The NHL: Drew Stafford, Winnipeg, Game 2

TSN is reporting that Buffalo Sabres forward Drew Stafford has signed a 4 year, $16 million extension with the team that will keep him under contract until the 2015 offseason. The 25 year old forward had 31 goals and 52 points last season. 

CH: Pretty slow news day in the NHL today, so this is our substitution for the top 5 countdown. Regarding this move by the Sabres, this is exactly what they needed. In recent years, Buffalo has suffered somewhat of an exodus of players leaving from players such as Chris Drury and Danny Briere to lesser "name" players such as Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder. Stafford is clearly a member of the Sabres core at this point and deserves every cent of this contract. Keep in mind that from an Islanders perspective, Michael Grabner is two years younger, scored more points, and is earning one million less per year (on the cap) than Stafford. That doesn't imply the Stafford deal is a bad one, but actually shows how great the Grabner deal could be for the Islanders.

AT: Great move by the Sabres. Stafford is going to be a continuous goalscorer in this league. He was very impressive in the times I saw him play the Isles.

In other news, TSN is also reporting the new Winnipeg team has sold 55% of it's season ticket quota of 13,000 as of yesterday. 

AT: Update as of 4:30 PM - Done. Congrats to Winnipeg... you guys showed you're definitely involved and ready to support the new team.

CH: With sales opening to the general public tomorrow, the team will have no problem getting the remaining 45%. The only question will be how fast the rest of the tickets go. This is exactly what needed to happen with the recent announcement of the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg. With this step over halfway completed, it will be interesting to see how True North responds from a hockey operations standpoint. Who will they keep? Who will they let go? Can they sign Andrew Ladd to a contract extension? Are free agents going to sign there? It will be very interesting to see what direction the new Winnipeg team goes in.

Finally, Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals is tonight at 8 PM (EST) on NBC. It should be another great battle.

AT: Do we get more biting?! Tell me we get more biting!

Around The NHL: June 1, 2011

Around the NHL will be a (somewhat) daily entry that goes over what the Top 5 NHL stories of the day are, in our opinion. So here we go:

5. Kevin Dineen named 11th Head Coach in Florida Panthers history.

Photo Credit: AP

Miami Herald     ESPN    TSN     Sun-Sentinel 

CH: This is Dale Tallon's first coaching hire as Panthers GM. Dineen is undoubtedly a good AHL coach, but as we've seen here on Long Island, the transition to the NHL game does not always carry over. However, the Panthers are a rebuilding team so the desire to hire an inexperienced coach may make sense. Overall, this is a pretty important hire for the Panthers as Tallon is putting a lot of faith in Dineen. It should be interesting to see how the Panthers respond in 2011-12 and beyond.

AT: The Portland Pirates had a great past season, even though they lost in the 2nd round. It should be interesting to see how Dineen works with such a young team. Good luck, Kevin.

4. Calgary trades 2009 1st Rounder Tim Erixon to Rangers

Photo Credit: Getty Images via Calgary Herald

Calgary Herald     ESPN     TSN     Newsday   

  

CH: This is flat out a major steal by the New York Rangers. Calgary was unable to sign Erixon, who would have re-entered the draft and could have even gone in the top 10. They say Erixon may be NHL ready. The Rangers traded Roman Horak and two second-round picks, before quickly signing Erixon before the 5 p.m. deadline. Erixon will compete for a spot on the Ranger blueline and could be part of their young core there for years to come.

AT: Erixon should be a staple in the Rangers blueline for years to come. They got a future top 4 D-Man who has already matured 2 years since the draft for very little. Great trade by the Rangers, and quite shocking - though one has to figure the Flames didn't have much of choice.

3. Gary Bettman's "State of the Union" Address

ESPN

CH: This went pretty under the radar this year, but the fact that Bettman's annual address came the day after relocation to Winnipeg was announced left a lot of intrigue for the hockey media. Amongst other things, Bettman announced that re-alignment will not occur in 2011-12. Winnipeg will play in the Southeast this year, which means they will play the Islanders four times (two on Long Island). Come 2012-13, Bettman hinted at a more "balanced schedule." Bettman also shot down any rumors of Quebec City receiving a team in the near future and also stressed harsher disciplinary actions regarding supplemental discipline.

AT: Atla--er, Winnipeg should have a fun time with all of that travel. Playing division rivals 24 times a year is going to create a lot of Delta miles for both Winnipeg and others in the Southeast division. As for Bettman's strong words on discipline, well... I'll believe that when I see it.

Photo Credit: AP

2. Colin Campbell Resigns; Shanahan Takes Over

 TSN     ESPN

CH: Had there not been a Stanley Cup Finals game last night, this would have been the number one story of the day without a doubt. This was a much needed change for the NHL, as Colin Campbell was unfit to handle the job at this juncture. The game is evolving every day, which makes it imperative a "new-school" player be the one to hand out supplemental discipline. I wish Shanahan the best of luck, because this is a thankless job and he will face a ton of criticism while doing it. However, he is unquestionably the best choice for this job right now.

AT: Adios, Mr. Campbell. There was never a decision you made that didn't make some people scratch their heads. I will give him credit for finally laying the hammer down on Matt Cooke, but in general Campbell was simply unfit, as Carey mentioned. Shanahan knows the newer, faster game and should be a bit more fair. Time will tell.

1. Vancouver Defeats Boston 1-0 in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals

Vancouver Sun     ESPN     TSN     Boston Globe

Photo Credit: Boston Globe

CH: Wow. This was a fantastic hockey game from start to finish with hard hitting, outstanding goaltending, and even some shenanigans. We'll save the commentary on the Burrows/Bergeron incident for tomorrow. This game revolved around Luongo and Thomas, who both put on a heck of a show. The goal by Torres with just seconds left on the clock to win the game for the Canucks was a beautiful play. However, Boston certainly had their chances. Their powerplay was downright brutal last night. Vancouver didn't score on their extended powerplays either, but they at least generated some chances. What I can say, is this has the chance to be a much closer series than a lot of pundits expected.

AT: This was the battle of the goalies. The 37 year old Thomas who has the agility of a cat and the younger Luongo who still doesn't get his due from some people put on one of the better Cup final games I've seen in a while. Kesler in setting up that final play to get the puck to Torres was absolutely brilliant. The best part of it all? This game 1 had a higher TV rating in Boston than game 1 of Boston vs. Los Angeles in last year's NBA final. Hockey's back, baby.

Who We Are

Welcome to Islanders Central!

We, Alex Tessler and Carey Haber (Poseidon and Isles4Ever11 on the Islander Mania forum, respectively) are two diehard Islander fans attempting to bring you a fan's perspective on current situations in Islander country, around the league and other tidbits concerning hockey. We have both lived on Long Island our entire lives and have been Islander fans for many years now. We hope to give you a source to find news on your favorite team as well as a solid place to find a different opinion. We also run the "Vote YES" Facebook page and Twitter accounts. We are not affiliated with the New York Islanders or the National Hockey League in any way, shape or form. We are simply fans attempting to communicate with the rest of the hockey world. With that said, we welcome you to Islanders Central and hope to see you as a consistent guest on our blog!