i agree..seattle and quebec city will get teams..just a matter of who they get
- NYI78

As far as what I am hearing that Phoenix will be moved to one of those. I am figuring more Seattle as for Quebec I dont think the arena will be ready by the time the Islanders have to make a descison. Also Dallas is in trouble of moving as well. If they take up both locations then that is good news for us!!

After Martin, Jurcina is the only other guy on the team who has layed guys out.
- kindlyrick

I guess I just don't see it that way. Not saying he doesn't use his body at all, but he plays too soft for a man of his size.

There's a brand new arena being built in Seattle that's looking to house an NHL/NBA team. I'm still optimistic that in the long run the team will stay in Nassau right now, but that article definitely wasn't any positive news.
- eichiefs9

KC has a brand new state of the art Arena already built and are desperately looking for tennants.

This team WILL be in Brooklyn if Nassau doesn't get off its a**....guaranteed. That TV contract is a gold mine they WON'T get anywhere else. They'll figure out how to deal with the building.
- dcb1

Brooklyn is a nice thought, and I'd be happy with that, but the more you take into account all the facts it's going to be hard. I'm also not sure that Wang is going to want to go back to not getting parking/concession revenue. Eric Hornick had an article last night talking about the severe lack of parking (they're going to have to stack cars with a hydraulic lift) also. Couple that with the small seating capacity and I just have a hard time believing that, when the dust settles, Brooklyn will be a legit option. I hope I'm wrong and it is.

Time to switch up coaches. Inconsistent play has to do with preparation. The team has tools. Im not saying a full set of tools but inconsistency in play reflects on prep and prep is the job of the coaches. You can point a finger at a lot of players for a lot of things but when a different team shows up each night, it's the fault of the coach.
- jmo16

I agree with you. I don't think the isles are any worse than Ottawa Florida Toronto...yet they are behind them in the standings. Also as stated they are routinely not ready to play and/or look tired when they have an easy travel schedule comparatively.

KC has a brand new state of the art Arena already built and are desperately looking for tennants.
- niteislander

I know, but they clearly didn't have much of a hockey market. They proved that when the Isles had their preseason game there and nobody showed. Seattle would likely attract more hockey fans.

3 pts in the last 19 games. All 3 on the PK. Matt Martin (not as offensively gifted) 5 pts in the last 19 games. Please explain..................

Not for nothing but somehow I was credited with a secondary assist all the way from the 300 section. Bailey hasn't even done that on the ice.

Edit: Oh and I forgot to put in that he averages 1:00 of PP time per game on a team in the top 10 on the PP.
- BringBackBalky

- LetsGoIsles

You have been quiet today, usually you are a lot more witty

- LetsGoIsles

He isn't innocent but he has tried. Where I blame him is his silence with the fan base.
- Isles316

He's got nothing to say. What can he say? He can't tell the fans "I won't move the team". He loses his leverage with Nassau County. He can't say "i'm shopping the team" or "I'm going to move them" because he'll lose what little fan support for the franchise he currently has. He's stuck saying nothing.

Bottom line: question CW's motives for buying the team all you want to, but this debacle with the building is not on CW. Its all on the local politicans and developers who want to screw CW. CW and the Isles are TENANTS of a county-owned building. Yet if you listen to the politicans who opposed the referrendum, its CW who should pay for a new place. They expect CW to pay to demolish a county-owned building, pay to build a new county-owned buiding on county-owned land and to pay the County annual rent for the privilege of spending over a half-billion dollars of his own money to build the county a new arena. Forgive CW if he doesn't jump at that wonderful offer.

I rip CW apart for how he's run the team. I think he's done a bad job running the organization. But I don't fault him for the arena nonsense. The guy offered to build a $3.8 Billion, privately owned redevelopment of a wasted, 77-acre concrete slab in the middle of nowhere, including a new arena, and the politicans F-ed him. Now, those same crooked politicans want to make him pay for an arena on county-owned land. Forget it. If I was CW, I would have told Nassau to F off a long time ago (the wrong move, admittedly, from a negotiating standpoint).

Everyone thinks CW is full of s**t when he says the arena by itself isn't profitable. Well, if he's so full of s**t, why hasn't anyone refuted his claims with actual projections or numbers? Why hasn't anyone come forward and offer to build CW a privately owned arena and have the Isles as an anchor tenant?

If you want to be pissed at someone/something with respect to the arena situation, look no further than the politicans in Nassau County and the TOH, the local business and commercial real estate owners who opposed the Lighthouse and the ABLI, who's membership didn't stand to profit from the Lighthouse.

I think I'm done ranting now...

I know you said you are done with the Bailey argument, but I do have one question. Has Josh Bailey ever played with anyone on this team that the organization see's as a "future" player on the team? Can anyone name any player that Bailey has been paired with who is top 6 forward material? I cannot. He's been given the shaft since he's been drafted. For whatever reason they will not allow Bailey to play with "2nd line wingers". The kid was a playmaker in juniors, and to me is one now, yet they have him playing a checking line role. Im extremely confused by this.
- kindlyrick

I think you have to earn top six minutes. Bailey is a center and for the length of his career, he has never out-played Nielsen. He certainly isn't going to get a shot over JT. So, because of his play, he's been relegated to third-line duty. I think Bailey should be skating with Martin and Nino and see where it goes. Both of those wingers are "the future" or at least part of it. But, until Bailey begins to produce on the third line, he shouldn't sniff the top two lines. You earn ice time and promotions to the top lines at the NHL level. You're not just given those minutes (unless you're Brian Rolston).

I think Grabner is the bust here. I know he's fast as crap, but big whoop........he doesnt have the hands to match his speed, and his physical play is non existant. So whats left??? You can have 4 breakaways a game but if you cant bury, you have no worth.
- kindlyrick

I don't think he's a bust. He's going to have between 50-60 goals over a two year stretch when this season ends. That's not too shabby. I don't think Grabs is a 30 or 40 goal man, but to average about 25 a season, that to me isn't a bust.

Personally I'm just tired of reading about it. I want something to get done. It's a black cloud hanging over ths franchise and it's only getting darker and bigger. I would bet on them staying but if ground isn't broken by the fall on anything new then what? The Brooklyn arena is too small. Bettman has said on wfan that it is not an option. Nassau needs a new arena and where has Suffolk been since levy declared he would take them three years ago.

It's not a lock that they stay and the longer this goes on the better the chances that they are gone.
- Isles316

Says who? The Barclays is set up for 14,500 seats for hockey games and 70 or so luxury suites. The MTS Center in Winnipeg seats 15,000. Why is that arena sufficent, but the Barclays is not? Bettman is saying that an 500 extra upper bowl seats makes or breaks an arena for "usefulness"? I don't buy it. If the MTS center is sufficient, so is the Barclays.

Besides, the Coliseum only seats about 1,700 more people than the Barclays will and the Isles can't get 14,500 people a night anyway.

Says who? The Barclays is set up for 14,500 seats for hockey games and 70 or so luxury suites. The MTS Center in Winnipeg seats 15,000. Why is that arena sufficent, but the Barclays is not? Bettman is saying that an 500 extra upper bowl seats makes or breaks an arena for "usefulness"? I don't buy it. If the MTS center is sufficient, so is the Barclays.

Besides, the Coliseum only seats about 1,700 more people than the Barclays will and the Isles can't get 14,500 people a night anyway.
- Jethro09

Some people are actually complaining now about the parking being too small and virtually non-existent. Fact of the matter is this, most people are going to take public transportation to that location anyway so it's not a big deal.

I don't think he's a bust. He's going to have between 50-60 goals over a two year stretch when this season ends. That's not too shabby. I don't think Grabs is a 30 or 40 goal man, but to average about 25 a season, that to me isn't a bust.
- Jethro09

If Grabner could convert on a breakaway he would have 30 already.

Some people are actually complaining now about the parking being too small and virtually non-existent. Fact of the matter is this, most people are going to take public transportation to that location anyway so it's not a big deal.
- BringBackBalky

http://www.nyiskinny.com/...er-parking-nightmare.html

He's got nothing to say. What can he say? He can't tell the fans "I won't move the team". He loses his leverage with Nassau County. He can't say "i'm shopping the team" or "I'm going to move them" because he'll lose what little fan support for the franchise he currently has. He's stuck saying nothing.

Bottom line: question CW's motives for buying the team all you want to, but this debacle with the building is not on CW. Its all on the local politicans and developers who want to screw CW. CW and the Isles are TENANTS of a county-owned building. Yet if you listen to the politicans who opposed the referrendum, its CW who should pay for a new place. They expect CW to pay to demolish a county-owned building, pay to build a new county-owned buiding on county-owned land and to pay the County annual rent for the privilege of spending over a half-billion dollars of his own money to build the county a new arena. Forgive CW if he doesn't jump at that wonderful offer.

I rip CW apart for how he's run the team. I think he's done a bad job running the organization. But I don't fault him for the arena nonsense. The guy offered to build a $3.8 Billion, privately owned redevelopment of a wasted, 77-acre concrete slab in the middle of nowhere, including a new arena, and the politicans F-ed him. Now, those same crooked politicans want to make him pay for an arena on county-owned land. Forget it. If I was CW, I would have told Nassau to F off a long time ago (the wrong move, admittedly, from a negotiating standpoint).

Everyone thinks CW is full of s**t when he says the arena by itself isn't profitable. Well, if he's so full of s**t, why hasn't anyone refuted his claims with actual projections or numbers? Why hasn't anyone come forward and offer to build CW a privately owned arena and have the Isles as an anchor tenant?

If you want to be pissed at someone/something with respect to the arena situation, look no further than the politicans in Nassau County and the TOH, the local business and commercial real estate owners who opposed the Lighthouse and the ABLI, who's membership didn't stand to profit from the Lighthouse.

I think I'm done ranting now...
- Jethro09

I just want him to not ignore his fanbase. Especially season ticket holders that live and die with this team. As for your other points, you are dead on. I still think if you factor in everything he owns because of the islanders that he isn't losing as much as he says but all good business men do that.

It's funny the 3 men up for Re doing the property lost out to the lighthouse group years ago. It's funny how they are number one in line now to win. Thanks Kate Murray!

Says who? The Barclays is set up for 14,500 seats for hockey games and 70 or so luxury suites. The MTS Center in Winnipeg seats 15,000. Why is that arena sufficent, but the Barclays is not? Bettman is saying that an 500 extra upper bowl seats makes or breaks an arena for "usefulness"? I don't buy it. If the MTS center is sufficient, so is the Barclays.

Besides, the Coliseum only seats about 1,700 more people than the Barclays will and the Isles can't get 14,500 people a night anyway.
- Jethro09

Says bettman.

http://www.nyiskinny.com/2012/02/barclays-center-parking-nightmare.html
- eichiefs9

Yeah I thought someone on here mentioned it already but didn't remember who.

Says who? The Barclays is set up for 14,500 seats for hockey games and 70 or so luxury suites. The MTS Center in Winnipeg seats 15,000. Why is that arena sufficent, but the Barclays is not? Bettman is saying that an 500 extra upper bowl seats makes or breaks an arena for "usefulness"? I don't buy it. If the MTS center is sufficient, so is the Barclays.

Besides, the Coliseum only seats about 1,700 more people than the Barclays will and the Isles can't get 14,500 people a night anyway.
- Jethro09

Im not against it but I'm not sure the NHL is for it long term. And you can't compare it to the jets situation. They already lost a team because of financial woes. That building doesn't have the revenue streams either

What body is it that he uses because it certainly isn't his. He'll throw an occasional check but for a man of his size he plays much smaller.
- BringBackBalky

he is #58 in the nhl in hits with 115....not terrible considering hes only played in 44 games....if he played for all 55 games he would have 144 hits, good for 25th

I think you have to earn top six minutes. Bailey is a center and for the length of his career, he has never out-played Nielsen. He certainly isn't going to get a shot over JT. So, because of his play, he's been relegated to third-line duty. I think Bailey should be skating with Martin and Nino and see where it goes. Both of those wingers are "the future" or at least part of it. But, until Bailey begins to produce on the third line, he shouldn't sniff the top two lines. You earn ice time and promotions to the top lines at the NHL level. You're not just given those minutes (unless you're Brian Rolston).
- Jethro09

Lucky you added that last comment cause my Rolston comment was on the tip of my tongue, or should i say keyboard

Says bettman.
- Isles316

Mr. Bettman needs to get a math lesson. No way an arena in Brooklyn, NY with 70 luxury suites and 14500 seats for a hockey game is ""insufficent" for an NHL team, yet an arena with 15000 seats and less luxury suites in Winnipeg, Manitoba is "sufficent" for an NHL team.

All that nonsense is just Bettman posturing for the team to get a new arena in Nassau with more seating than the Barclays so it will generate (potentially) more revenue for the team and the league than the Barclays. Maybe a new, 18000-seat arena in Nassau is both optimal and better for the NHL and the Islanders, but the Barclays is "sufficent" regardless of what Mr. Bettman says.

I don't think he's a bust. He's going to have between 50-60 goals over a two year stretch when this season ends. That's not too shabby. I don't think Grabs is a 30 or 40 goal man, but to average about 25 a season, that to me isn't a bust.
- Jethro09

I think he will never hit the 30 goal mark in his career again. Perhaps thats not a bust, but I dont see him doing as well as he did.

Mr. Bettman needs to get a math lesson. No way an arena in Brooklyn, NY with 70 luxury suites and 14500 seats for a hockey game is ""insufficent" for an NHL team, yet an arena with 15000 seats and less luxury suites in Winnipeg, Manitoba is "sufficent" for an NHL team.

All that nonsense is just Bettman posturing for the team to get a new arena in Nassau with more seating than the Barclays so it will generate (potentially) more revenue for the team and the league than the Barclays. Maybe a new, 18000-seat arena in Nassau is both optimal and better for the NHL and the Islanders, but the Barclays is "sufficent" regardless of what Mr. Bettman says.
- Jethro09

Could very well be