If the Isles seriously get new ownership, expect a lot of changes. This team could become a serious contender within the next few years. It would be a very exciting time to be an islander fan. I hope there is truth behind this...
- Dedshark

This team will be a serious contender if they stay the course. you guys have to see some of the results of being patient??!! no? I mean We have some quality young guys on this team and have a bunch of quality prospects almost ready to compete for spots. 2 years from now..

Jt/Moulson/Nino
Grabner/Strome/Brock
Bailey/Nielsen/Okp
Casey C/UFA/Martin
(Anders Lee? Kabanov? Persson? Sundstrom? dare I say Petrov?)

Defense
Hamonic/ Streit
Mayfield/ Amack
Dehaan/ Donovan
Reinhart/pedan/ UFA/

Goalies
Poulin
Koskinen/Nillson

you really don't think this team is going to be good? Is your hatred and anger that blinding? Add a top notch UFA D-man and Forward in the mix b/c we have tons of cap room and everyone else will have cap issues.

I argued before the season started how guys on this board sht all over snow and are in love with Sather. I also said if Garth had of signed guys like Asham, Rupp and Gilroy you would have all been up in Arms. The rangers are a Great team.. why? B/c their goalie is THAT good. They live and die with Henrik. They are a one line team and that line will have to be broken up after this season. They have no defensemen who can run a PP and I am tired of all the Love Sather gets on this board while Snow gets destroyed. He is in a Sht building and has made an effort to build from the bottom up.. he has also done very well in grabbing guys off waiver wire b/c it is the only way He can get guys here without trading prospects (Matt Moulson, Grabner, Nabby .. all off waivers... and I think Hickey and Aucoin may end up being 2 more steals)

This team will be a serious contender if they stay the course. you guys have to see some of the results of being patient??!! no? I mean We have some quality young guys on this team and have a bunch of quality prospects almost ready to compete for spots. 2 years from now..

Jt/Moulson/Nino
Grabner/Strome/Brock
Bailey/Nielsen/Okp
Casey C/UFA/Martin
(Anders Lee? Kabanov? Persson? Sundstrom? dare I say Petrov?)

Defense
Hamonic/ Streit
Mayfield/ Amack
Dehaan/ Donovan
Reinhart/pedan/ UFA/

Goalies
Poulin
Koskinen/Nillson

you really don't think this team is going to be good? Is your hatred and anger that blinding? Add a top notch UFA D-man and Forward in the mix b/c we have tons of cap room and everyone else will have cap issues.
- niteislander

Agreed

I argued before the season started how guys on this board sht all over snow and are in love with Sather. I also said if Garth had of signed guys like Asham, Rupp and Gilroy you would have all been up in Arms. The rangers are a Great team.. why? B/c their goalie is THAT good. They live and die with Henrik. They are a one line team and that line will have to be broken up after this season. They have no defensemen who can run a PP and I am tired of all the Love Sather gets on this board while Snow gets destroyed. He is in a Sht building and has made an effort to build from the bottom up.. he has also done very well in grabbing guys off waiver wire b/c it is the only way He can get guys here without trading prospects (Matt Moulson, Grabner, Nabby .. all off waivers... and I think Hickey and Aucoin may end up being 2 more steals)
- niteislander

Lot's of great talent out there... sometimes it's just a #s game, timing, and getting a chance to play.

It is tough to be patient... the 5 year plan will end with lots of talent, lots of prospects, lots of cap space, and a new arena... maybe even a new owner...

It's all good!!!

PS... yes a new owner will probably mean a new GM...

In regards to the sale rumor....
No way I see Wang giving up his share of this team. He's endured huge losses for over a decade now due to the worst stadium lease in professional sports. Now he finally agrees to a deal that puts him in a MUCH more favorable atmosphere and you think he's going to sell? ReallY? By estimates, the team has experienced close to $230 million dollars since Charles took over. Even if those figures are off and it's actually half of that, why on earth would he bail out the moment the team see's light at the end of the tunnel.
Forget it, Charles is here fore the long haul. He may eventually allow for partners, but there's no way he gives up majority ownership of this team.

In regards to the sale rumor....
No way I see Wang giving up his share of this team. He's endured huge losses for over a decade now due to the worst stadium lease in professional sports. Now he finally agrees to a deal that puts him in a MUCH more favorable atmosphere and you think he's going to sell? ReallY? By estimates, the team has experienced close to $230 million dollars since Charles took over. Even if those figures are off and it's actually half of that, why on earth would he bail out the moment the team see's light at the end of the tunnel.
Forget it, Charles is here fore the long haul. He may eventually allow for partners, but there's no way he gives up majority ownership of this team.
- keaner17

It has to be part of the deal moving into somebody else's building.

Wang doesn't work well with others... Russian Billionnaire will throw money @ Wang to disappear!!!

When Prokhorov does take over... he will bring in a pretty big name to run the hockey operations.

It will be cool to be part of the Islanders again.... there will be 30 new Kaspers jumping on the bandwagon joining us on this blog...

It has to be part of the deal moving into somebody else's building.Wang doesn't work well with others... Russian Billionnaire will throw money @ Wang to disappear!!!

When Prokhorov does take over... he will bring in a pretty big name to run the hockey operations.

It will be cool to be part of the Islanders again.... there will be 30 new Kaspers jumping on the bandwagon joining us on this blog...
- jimmc7722

Not really. They already know they'll prosper off their share of the concessions and sales percentages. This was an easy choice for both sides. There was no chance the NHL was going to grant another team for the area so this was the only option for Barclay with the possible exception of an AHL team. I don't doubt that he could become a partner at some point, but I seriously doubt Wang has any plans to 'sell low' after taking losses for so long.

Not really. They already know they'll prosper off their share of the concessions and sales percentages. This was an easy choice for both sides. There was no chance the NHL was going to grant another team for the area so this was the only option for Barclay with the possible exception of an AHL team. I don't doubt that he could become a partner at some point, but I seriously doubt Wang has any plans to 'sell low' after taking losses for so long.
- keaner17

who said he would sell low?

XxNYIxX

In regards to the sale rumor....
No way I see Wang giving up his share of this team. He's endured huge losses for over a decade now due to the worst stadium lease in professional sports. Now he finally agrees to a deal that puts him in a MUCH more favorable atmosphere and you think he's going to sell? ReallY? By estimates, the team has experienced close to $230 million dollars since Charles took over. Even if those figures are off and it's actually half of that, why on earth would he bail out the moment the team see's light at the end of the tunnel.
Forget it, Charles is here fore the long haul. He may eventually allow for partners, but there's no way he gives up majority ownership of this team.
- keaner17

You fail to realize that the islanders were the pet project that came with the promise of developing the land around NVMC. That dream has been destroyed, that promise has been long found to be all lies. There is no chance Wang is still the majority owner of this team in 10 years & I would be willing to bet that he is gone from the franchise 100% within 5 years of moving to Brooklyn.

XxNYIxX

A more realistic scenario to me is that Wang creates a joint venture with Forest City Enterprises, takes part ownership of the building with Prokhorov as well as establishes a joint management group to run both the Nets and Islanders. I do recall Wang having interest in the Nets at one point. I don't see Wang going away and the Isles are his baby at this point.

who said he would sell low?

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

He would be selling low in terms of the projected team value 5-10 years from now. The moment the Isles move into that building their value jumps due to a more oprtimistic look on operational costs and revenue.

A more realistic scenario to me is that Wang creates a joint venture with Forest City Enterprises, takes part ownership of the building with Prokhorov as well as establishes a joint management group to run both the Nets and Islanders. I do recall Wang having interest in the Nets at one point. I don't see Wang going away and the Isles are his baby at this point.
- keaner17

I asked Gallof regarding the Islanders being sold rumor...he sent me back a few tweets:

B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 i was told that person tweeting it was an idiot. so... take a guess.

.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 i am told no. isles are always full of surprises but i have heard from sources NO truth to it.

B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 Wang won't sell... not for a while. wants rebuild to take shape. invested into that process, partners with Garth in that vision

B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 might that happen in several years with rebuild set/path clear/wang older/value higher... certainly

You fail to realize that the islanders were the pet project that came with the promise of developing the land around NVMC. That dream has been destroyed, that promise has been long found to be all lies. There is no chance Wang is still the majority owner of this team in 10 years & I would be willing to bet that he is gone from the franchise 100% within 5 years of moving to Brooklyn.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

It's awfully hard to dismiss the comments of people around Charles who say he's gone head over heels for the game. While I don't doubt he had a heavy eye on the development of Nassau, he also bought the team as a toy. It grew into something he became rather passionate about. I don't see him walking away prior to the moment the team reaches it's height in value and with an incredibly lucrative cable deal that grows as the years pass. I don't think Charles will ever go completely away.

I asked Gallof regarding the Islanders being sold rumor...he sent me back a few tweets:

B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 i was told that person tweeting it was an idiot. so... take a guess.

.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 i am told no. isles are always full of surprises but i have heard from sources NO truth to it.

B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 Wang won't sell... not for a while. wants rebuild to take shape. invested into that process, partners with Garth in that vision



B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 might that happen in several years with rebuild set/path clear/wang older/value higher... certainly
- kear20

EXACTLY! There is actually (IMO) more of a chance that Prokhorov goes away as he has political aspirations. The NBA ruled prior that he could be Prez of Russia and own the team, but I'm not so sure that Russia itself might not find his ownership as a conflict of interest down the line.

I argued before the season started how guys on this board sht all over snow and are in love with Sather. I also said if Garth had of signed guys like Asham, Rupp and Gilroy you would have all been up in Arms. The rangers are a Great team.. why? B/c their goalie is THAT good. They live and die with Henrik. They are a one line team and that line will have to be broken up after this season. They have no defensemen who can run a PP and I am tired of all the Love Sather gets on this board while Snow gets destroyed. He is in a Sht building and has made an effort to build from the bottom up.. he has also done very well in grabbing guys off waiver wire b/c it is the only way He can get guys here without trading prospects (Matt Moulson, Grabner, Nabby .. all off waivers... and I think Hickey and Aucoin may end up being 2 more steals)
- niteislander

What do the Rangers have to do with anything, nite? Sad to say, the Rangers aren't even worth thinking about for us. We should be more concerned with teams closer to our universe that we'll actually be fighting with, if we're lucky. At the end of the day, the Rangers will be up near the top of the standings again and their fans will without doubt be watching hockey deep into the Spring. Who cares if it's because of Lundqvist, Sather, Nash, Callahan or Gaborik? It's the truth of the matter regardless. Until the Islanders can hang with them and the other top teams in the division with some regularity, any comparison is laughable. And in general people only praise Sather here when you come out of left field and criticize the Rangers while the Islanders are stuck in the quicksand again for the sixth or whatever year in a row. Let's just worry about our own house.

I can see this happening. They already own the Nets it makes perfect sense. Wang is not getting any younger either.
- ses111

as an owner of a major sports team, the most wang has to do is...sit

You don't think if any reputable billionaire who buys this team isn't gonna fire a retired backup goalie turned GM who has done jack sh!t to improve this team? If Prokhorov/Ratner didn't fire him then I'd say they are just as clueless as Wang.
Its very difficult to believe in this franchise when Wang/Snow are in the front office. Even when we move to Brooklyn, we will still have a retired backup goalie dips!t as our GM, and a fecking arena football league dragon as our mascot. Oh, and Dee Karl as a blogger...Yippee!
- NewYawkIslandez

the fact that these even come to your mind when you think of whats wrong with the GM totally negates anything you said before that

JT gets laid out again and nothing happens. Well done, I bet JT is just so happy he signed for that hometown discount.
- Oglethorpe72

was there a game last night??? what are you talking about??

welcome to the show.

Winnipeg... not Winnepeg!!!

Dea Carl!!!
- jimmc7722

LOL.....why do those red dots show up every time I write WINNEPEG?

If the Isles seriously get new ownership, expect a lot of changes. This team could become a serious contender within the next few years. It would be a very exciting time to be an islander fan. I hope there is truth behind this...
- Dedshark

amazing...new ownership would have a few years to be a serious contender but the current ownership is expected to win yesterday. weird

amazing...new ownership would have a few years to be a serious contender but the current ownership is expected to win yesterday. weird
- LetsGoIsles

Wang has owned this team for over 20 years...

Wang has owned this team for over 20 years...
- UIF

what does that have to do with today and looking forward?

This team will be a serious contender if they stay the course. you guys have to see some of the results of being patient??!! no? I mean We have some quality young guys on this team and have a bunch of quality prospects almost ready to compete for spots. 2 years from now..

Jt/Moulson/Nino
Grabner/Strome/Brock
Bailey/Nielsen/Okp
Casey C/UFA/Martin
(Anders Lee? Kabanov? Persson? Sundstrom? dare I say Petrov?)

Defense
Hamonic/ Streit
Mayfield/ Amack
Dehaan/ Donovan
Reinhart/pedan/ UFA/

Goalies
Poulin
Koskinen/Nillson

you really don't think this team is going to be good? Is your hatred and anger that blinding? Add a top notch UFA D-man and Forward in the mix b/c we have tons of cap room and everyone else will have cap issues.
- niteislander

Simmer down cool aide man. The potential is there and this rebuild should have shown results by now. None of these kids minus stroke is a true blue chip. We constantly fill the roster with has beens and maybe so I'm not as enthusiastic as you.

what does that have to do with today and looking forward?
- LetsGoIsles

"Expected to win yesterday" implies people are suddenly becoming impatient and haven't given the man a fair chance. Twenty years and only a Shawn Bates penalty shot to show for it so far...

Edit -- Heck, even Garth Snow has had, what, six or seven years at the helm? Folks here were bashing Burke a couple of weeks ago as a failure and he had a couple of years less than that.

I asked Gallof regarding the Islanders being sold rumor...he sent me back a few tweets:

B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 i was told that person tweeting it was an idiot. so... take a guess.

.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 i am told no. isles are always full of surprises but i have heard from sources NO truth to it.

B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 Wang won't sell... not for a while. wants rebuild to take shape. invested into that process, partners with Garth in that vision

B.D. Gallof ‏@BDGallof
@kear20 might that happen in several years with rebuild set/path clear/wang older/value higher... certainly
- kear20

Exactly....the only time you sell when the value is sh*t is when you have NO CHOICE......unless you're an idiot......he may be a lot of things, but one of them is a billionaire......who started with nothing. He might be a hockey fool, but he's not a business fool...

Again, folks- this team desperately needed a building. That has been the problem since Pickett owned the team. That is why it is always bargain basement. Every owner comes in and spends a few bucks, thinking that's the problem....then learns that there's a reason why the payroll was low when he starts bleeding cash, because of the embarrassment his team plays in that no one in New York State seems to want to do anything about, even if said owner proffers several scenarios in which he might pay for it himself.

He finally did the right thing for the franchise- the thing that will make the franchise attractive to free agents, and that will eventually cause it be profitable (or at least far less unprofitable), and have success on the ice. I'll say it again- anyone who wants to complain about Brooklyn and blame that on Wang needs to pop the head out of the rectum. Nassau had 20 years and four owners to come up with a building, and it came up short- I'm not blaming that on the owner, and you can't convince me otherwise, no matter what any of you say.

He did what he always said he would- he found a way to keep them here, where we CAN go see their home games, and I'll always be thankful to him for that, regardless of any other scenario for which I might think he's a dope. You want to complain that he's the reason I still have to watch Ricky Superstar play the net when he shouldn't, and I'm right with ya....but the building is not his fault, and he finally talked himself into doing the right thing, against his OWN wishes for his team. That is the bottom line, IMO.