Charles Wang, Garth Snow discuss Islanders with Gary Bettman

“If it doesn’t work out on Long Island [at the current site], I’d like to be close enough so I can commute to the game and go to all the home games as best I can,” he said. “If it’s Queens, great. If it’s Suffolk, great. Obviously we want to be in this area because it’s our home.”

I’ve always said one of the reasons the team wouldn’t move to KC was because Wang likes to be an active Owner. I really can’t see him selling the team, I think he’s in a bit of a game of chicken with Hempstead. Although he’s said he won’t play a game past 2015 in the Coliseum, it sounds like he’s willing to play at the Coliseum IF there’s a plan in place for a new arena. So it’s not impossible for 2014 to come around, and a plan being made which involves a new arena but the Islanders playing at the Coliseum past 2015. Which is promising.

And Islandermania, the Mania actually means Insanity.

There had to be access by Lirr. Direct stop. Or subway. No bus. That is utter ridiculous what we have now. The Garden is probably the easiest place to get to in the tri state area. We need something like that be it queens Brooklyn LI or mars.

…..as I don’t suspect anyone will revisit quin’s ‘new goal song’ FanPost anytime soon, wanted to share what I think would be a near-perfect (if not perfect) hockey song for this team, full of SERIOUS adrenaline (but NOT a singalong, admittedly): “Ulcer” by Michael Schenker…..let me know what ya think? I absolutely LOVE his guitar tones…..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76zTDShPOXE

….which has been an ongoing problem even possibly since the Islanders had the Indians as their farm team and won the Calder Cup; a big fan stepped in to save the Falcons Wednesday but the city of Springfield is WOEFULLY bereft of ‘curb appeal; a lot of people feel as though they’re taking life i hand every time they head downtown – so I suspect the only way to make this more than just a forestalling of the inevitable (team is only averaging about 2K per game and needs to DOUBLE that ASAP) is to form a durable partnership with the local public transit agency and factor the fare into ticket prices…..

(Insert great save) “What if Roli didnt believe that age was just a number” History will be Made

Blake Comeau leads the team with 19 points (or, well, he’s tied with Tavares and Wiz). During the worst of the losing streak, I and many others on this board were calling for his head for his maddening inconsistency.

But if he continues at his current scoring pace, he’s on his way to having a 48, or possible 50 point season. Give him a hot streak or two and we’re looking at a possible 20/55 season, which for this team is All Star worthy.

With this team’s serious scoring issues, you just can’t get rid of your leading scorer. I think players like Comeau/PAP/Schremp/Grabner all pose really interesting questions for this team in the offseason, but I want to know everybody’s opinions on what we do with Comeau if he does end up leading this team in points.

Thoughts?

I understand some of the reasons for doing it in terms of the fanbase and keeping the room honest, but this IS still a rebuilding team and the playoffs were always a bit of a longshot.

Looking at it philosophically. Wang may have been holding out hope that the Shinnecock gambit would work. Since I take it that he did not comment on what the governor said, I assume he accepts that there will be no Islander-Shinnecock relationship to do an end run around Kate Murray. As that was announced a few weeks ago, MAYBE he is moving on to the next step which might be moving to Queens. We’ll see, but he does need to get off the dime on this one.

Instead, I just wanted to say Happy Holidays to everyone here. It’s great having all of you to commiserate with on a regular basis. Special thanks to Dom, JP, Webby and everyone else who runs the site.

Go easy on the Egg Nog, kids!

Mike

to this. Just a couple of thoughts.
1. Grat job by Gary Bettman for making it happen.
2. I think it is great that Mr. Wang and Garth opened themselves to questions, and a public “state of the Islander nation” address.
3. If Mr. Wang is being honest about being committed beyond the LHP, he will once again have my support. (BIG DEAL) as the owner. I find it hard to believe that it took him two years to discover that they were going to have to be creative in keeping hte Islanders in the black in Nassau County, and on that particular site. So… my jury had come to a decision, but if he is being sincere, then I will listen to his appeal and maybe reserve comment until 2012… YES… no more Wang bashing on the LHP for a whole year… Whoopeee!!!
4. There is very little to say about Snow’s job (pun intended) as GM. He was put int adifficult situation. He may have handled it better PR-wise, but every move going back to the Ryan Smyth trade has been made with the Islanders best interests right out thiere in BOLD LETTERING… though sometimes it takes months or years of interpertation… sometimes hindsight is the clearest way to see your future. I’m glad he gave his 20 minute “my story” as an explanation for cody rosen, but I’d rather of heard the intricate details of why Janks was gone… but that, understandably, will never happen. I have been a supporter of Snow, even though I have not agreed with some of his key decisions… and I will continue to be a supporter. He has not veered off course… and even corrected some issues to make sure that the team stays the course.
All in all, I know a lot of people didn’t feel like they got too much out of this, but I commend both guys for getting out there and taking calls… and trying to answer all questions logically and sincerely.
Nice Xmas present from both… and I feel better about 2011 already.

4.