Tread Cautiously - There is a reason for people to oppose the new Stadium plan.
by garik16 on May 11, 2011 8:36 PM EDT
Email
Print
The Lighthouse was quite possibly just a foolish dream. It was never clear where some of the funds would come from; Wang never stopped claiming that he had enough funds to build it even as time went on, Wang lost more money, and the economy grew worse.
But regardless of how much of an idealistic dream it may have been for Charles Wang, it required zero public funds. To Approve it, the County did not need to spend money. Which made the plan easily supportable for anyone who was a rational human being (not Kate Murray). The opposition was just plain silly or even stupid.
The Setting:
The current plan is different. It requires a clear amount of public spending and not an insignificant amount. This, from a county whose finances are bad enough that a State agency now runs its finances.
How the County got here is unimportant. Suffice to say, both parties are to blame for the county getting into a situation where things got precarious, and then some last action by the current administration put things over the top. The key however is that despite what some may claim, the county's finances are in disarray, and to prevent bankruptcy the state agency known as NIFA (Nassau Interim Finance Authority) has taken over county finances.
NOTE, NIFA's control is not complete - they CANNOT raise (or lower) taxes on their own. In essence, NIFA is an oversight board, which must approve any fiscal action. Think of them like the President - they have a veto, but they can't pass laws on their own. They can block plenty of things: Union wage increases, borrowing, etc. They can't actually add anything.
More importantly, NIFA is unelected. Certain individuals on NIFA may be members of political parties - at least one is a described "conservative" who even supported Mangano's candidacy, and at least one is a democrat - but none of them are politicians. They tend to be bank executives. They do NOT feel political pressure. As such, the "uproar of the public" will have much less effect on them than legitimate politicians...rather they will do what they feel is correct.
The Plan
In this current climate, Mangano (with Wang's support) has proposed this plan. It requires a ton of public spending to come from somewhere. The word currently being used to explain where is "bonds," which is a fun way of saying: "we'll figure out how to pay for it later." (Bonds involve the county essentially getting loans in exchange for payment later).
The question of course, is HOW will the county pay for it. Remember, the funds will have to be paid back eventually by someone. And the County is hardly in a great financial position to do so. Mangano himself...has not explained how he expects the money to be paid back. To quote Newsday:
But he repeatedly suggested that the plan "is intended to not cost taxpayers a single dime."
However, pressed for details about the revenue-sharing agreement — and whether those figures would be available to the public before the August vote — Mangano said, "If it can be done, it will be."
Neither Mangano nor Wang was able to provide specific dollar figures regarding what county residents should expect back in return for the $400 million bonding approval.
This is not an uncommon thing for politicians, especially recently. They announce a plan that they claim makes total fiscal sense, spin tons of good press....and never get around to fixing the holes in the plan that make the whole thing nothing more than a mirage.
Now, perhaps Mangano does have a legitimate idea about where the money will come from (do remember, he's vigorously anti-Taxes).
Conclusion:
But overall it CANNOT be said that there are not questions about this plan that need to be answered. And NIFA will need them answered to give approval. And so should the public, in answering this referendum.
Which gets me back to the point of this post. We, Islander Fans, need to remember that there IS more than one side to this argument. Do not confront the opponents of the plan with pure vitriol and slander; do not simply accuse them of partisan bias or hypocrisy. Engage them in dialogue instead...most of these people have the big picture of the county in mind, which is a good thing to have (especially if the Isles will remain there).
This is not an easy issue to talk about, unlike the Lighthouse. There IS a legitimate debate. We have to understand that.
Submitted FanPosts do not necessarily reflect the views of this blog or SB Nation. If you're reading this statement, you pass the fine print legalese test. Four stars for you.
52 comments
|
3 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
At heart, this is a typical bonds-for-stadium deal
. . . which almost always ends up poorly for municipality. Mangano’s nonsensical “it can be done,” etc, is just the same old “tax cuts raise revenue,” up is down bullshit.
As a NYC resident and taxpayer, I don’t really care whether Nassau county residents throw their money away on this. I just think it’s extremely odd that this is the plan that they’re running with when LHP was superior in every conceivable way.
The Referendum itself
will have a heavy price tag and might be enough grounds for NIFA to prevent the whole thing from even happening. A lot more info is needed before Isles fans can rejoice
If Newark Can Get It Done, Nassau County Should Be Able To
Newark is a basket case, and yet the State of New Jersey, Essex County and Newark got an arena done, albeit in a shitty neighborhood away from most of the fan base in northern New Jersey. (As a NJ taxpayer, I’m sure I paid a share.)
My question is: Where is the State of New York on this? They somehow found money to help Buffalo get its arena, but they don’t seem too interested in LI.
As far as the merits, unless Wang just couldn’t come up with anywhere near enough funding, how is a new NVMC and yet another minor league baseball stadium better than new retail and residential uses in that footprint? Boggles the mind.
Independent minor league baseball is not exactly the most stable business either so I wouldn’t consider that a real good investment. Sussex County, NJ’s stadium is empty, as the New Jersey Cardinals moved out and the Sussex Skyhawks folded. Bears and Eagles Riverfront Stadium still hosts the Newark Bears, but the Bears have had to move to the Can-Am league (shitty) from the Atlantic league (less shitty). And then there’s the new stadium and team in Rockland County in New City/Ramapo. (The funding was by bond issue AFTER the taxpayers rejected a referendum. Nasty fight, still in litigation, but stadium construction continues because the court refused to issue a stay.)
The only minor league teams around here that are solid are the Cyclones and SI Yankees because they’re affiliated, and the LI Ducks and Somerset Patriots because they have discrete suburban fan bases who don’t want to travel to Queens and the Bronx on a regular basis.
Finally, it’s a good thing the casino was moved to Belmont. Putting a casino next to a professional sports venue, a university and a federal courthouse would have been insane.
by rmblifn on May 11, 2011 11:38 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Couple of differences:
First, Newark didn’t have a team beforehand. Second, Newark wasn’t in a fiscal crisis.
The baseball and casino is a good question, but that’s a Mangano issue.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
Newark isn't/wasn't broke? I beg to differ
The only reason Newark wasn’t “officially” broke was that the city was being kept afloat by the state. As it still is. And the state has been running the schools.
it's a matter of expectations and whatnot
Nassau County is one of the richest counties in the country, with supposedly the highest property taxes. Newark not so much. Makes the fiscal crisis worse.
With Newark, the hope is that the State’s acts will make the city better. Nassau, not so much.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
You're Right on the Supposed Rationale With Newark
But IMO, it’s insanely stupid. Yes, let’s plop a hockey team with a suburban fan base right in the middle of gang and drug infested downtown Newark.
You know how shitty things have gotten in Newark? Weeknight Newark Bears games start at 5:35 p.m.
I worked in Newark for five years before the arena was built, only a couple of blocks from the arena site. I still go to the courts there. It’s depressing. It’s gone backwards. And it’s noticeable despite the spin from Jeff Vanderbeek and his consigliere with bulbous head who insists on firing coaches.
THAT is correct garik
Newark was “broke” and WAS bailed out by the state.
We are all Islanders, even if we are in Jersey!
by Russel Ginart on May 12, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
some local TV coverage
CBS News 2 by Jennifer McLogan. good Chopper 2 video of the arena area. Video starts with a rowdy yet small union crowd and ends with some classic Nassau NIMBYs.
Fios News 1 with Holli Haerr. Seeing Murray’s huge smirk behind Wang’s speech is a dead giveaway that this option has no chance in her mind.
as far as minor league teams go, Mets Triple-A team Buffalo Bison has a 2-year lease expiring at the end of the 2012 season at Coca Cola Field which is coincidentally nearby the Sabres HSBC arena . Perhaps they could be the mystery team occupying a new baseball stadium at Mitchel Field – closer to CitiField for Mets call-ups and better weather than Buffalo.
There was a negative spin...That wasnt fair and balanced, thats for sure...
They only played negative tax payer opinions…But I’m afraid the truth hurts and this isn’t gonna happen…I just don’t see tax payers voting to pay for this, not during these times…Its fucked up because Wang would’ve paid for a way better project…I wonder if Wang has other ideas to keep the Isles in NY…Wang said, there will be risks and that the tax payers should trust them??lol hahahah, yeah right!!
Reporter: Mangoloid, will you provide estimates of the costs to tax payers..
Mangoloid: Wewewe will praprapravide esesestimates…Will that be for the ARENER???Seriously, this guy speaks like an uneducated moron and hes a stutterer, lol…
But how much will this actually raise taxes?
There are (as of 09 census)459k households in nassau county and there has to be some non-county household tax funding so that number is gonna be smaller then we think. Max, it would increase taxes on 459k households by under $900 for 1yr if it was "completely paid out by household county taxes(which is highly unlikely). And as JP said in the other thread, that money goes to the people for the most part, by having local companies put the stadium together and local companies with the sales/maintenence of the coliseum when it’s done. The money does return to the people in some form, and will make money in the long run, especially with a 30yr lease(which is a huge investment).
Then we’ll talk about long island. Both my grandparents lived in nassau county for most of their lives. Both had to work 2 jobs to pay taxes and get by to feed their average sized families. Nassau County has always been a high-priced middle-upperclass overall community for the most part compared with other areas. High taxes are nothing new to citizens here. My dad is a business owner that works over 50hrs a week to get by comfortably. Acting like this “small” tax increase, which has immediate financial impact for some residents and pays for itself back to the county in the long run, kills taxpayers is ludicrous. I know, for some people this might be a little hard to swallow, but unless you’re living paycheck to paycheck, this tax increase will have little to no impact on a household personally.
And as isles fans, we are most likely gonna be pro this either way, but it’s illogical to think that this plan would make up for it’s losses in the long run, especially if you have a business or work for a business that works on/at the NVMC now. Just think how much revenue 1 Cup or 1 long playoff run would bring this county. If this team gets any repeat playoff success, the county is going to be elated. They let this team leave, and they are going to crying as they’ve pissed away a ton of money when this team wins 2 cups in the next decade.
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game, whom won 4 consecutive cups. I'm bleeding Blue and Orange.
Let's go Islanders! Beep...Beep...Beep.Beep.Beep.
Datsyuk IS the best player in the nhl
Some numbers to add to the conversation:
Jim Castellane, president of the Nassau-Suffolk Building Trades unions, applauded the proposal.
“With unemployment reaching 30 percent in the trade sector, this project is critical to the 65,000 workers I represent,” he said.
And I can’t find a number, but I have to think hundreds of people rely on jobs at the nvmc year round or jobs that survive off of something directly related to/supplying nvmc. So hundreds would go unemployed if this didn’t happen, and even more building workers/builders wouldn’t get extra “needed” work to feed their families.
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game, whom won 4 consecutive cups. I'm bleeding Blue and Orange.
Let's go Islanders! Beep...Beep...Beep.Beep.Beep.
Datsyuk IS the best player in the nhl
First of all, a union leader is ALWAYS going to support a construction process.
And NIFA already doesn’t care about them (NIFA is basically instituting a wage freeze on union workers).
They’re irrelevant.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
Once again, no one should doubt a massive construction process is at least a temporary boost to the economy.
The question is whether it’s AFFORDABLE to the COUNTY.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
I posted something that responds to this in a way in Sal's thread.
This is going to be hard to follow now that we have 5 threads discussing the topic. lol
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game, whom won 4 consecutive cups. I'm bleeding Blue and Orange.
Let's go Islanders! Beep...Beep...Beep.Beep.Beep.
Datsyuk IS the best player in the nhl
Here, here, garik.
There will be dissenters, and many will be well within reason to do so. I’m certainly hoping for a yes vote, but it’s very important to treat opponents of the project with respect, even if it is not reciprocated.
Well written, sir.
NIFA
so they can’t stop the actual referendum VOTE, but even if the residents vote yes, they can veto it I guess?
I’m actually kind of happy to have them around assuming they’re really looking out for the best interests of the county and not just looking to treat Mangano like a red-headed step child.
NIFA needs to put aside the fact that they’re upset Mangano tried to go around them and judge the proposed “county investment project” on its merits to potentially help the county grow economically.
Unfortunately, it’s been well documented that promises made by politicians looking to build stadiums about how it will “reinvigorate the local economy” is mostly bullshit.
My hope is NIFA cuts thru the bullshit, determines the viability and decides accordingly.
(this is all a crazy pipe dream I’m sure as politics are involved, so the best interests of the public is usually secondary).
"It don't make you a bad person" - Ron Bennington
Pauly
where did you see they can’t stop the actual referendum process?
They can't.
They van VETO the spending, I don’t think they can veto any voting mechanism.
Writer at Beyond the Box Score and The Hardball Times
Pitchf/x enthusiast.
NIFA
I’m actually kind of happy to have them around assuming they’re really looking out for the best interests of the county
Yeah, you’d hope/expect they are a good presence in all this. Not sure why Ed has been so dismissive of them. There has to have been some backchannel contact we don’t know about.
Lighthouse Hockey: Stay classy, my friends. Er, stay thirsty, my brother. Aw hell, whatever.
Things I'm not sure of but feel free to answer/confirm/consider
I think Nassau County is old…young people can’t afford to live here (because of the high property values and taxes), old people are on fixed incomes.
Older people probably have little interest in money that will be paid back to them by 2045 (shit by that time I’ll be 73 so honestly, I have little interest in that either).
Does anyone think this is a ploy to get NIFA to back the Lighthouse Project instead? It really sounds like it’s destined to fail now…and you know what’s even more amazing? The county is now going to probably spend a ton more money to investigate the ramifications, hold hearings and votes and spend money on talking about if things can get done. It wastes time, energy and money and it’s mostly because the democratic process also ensures that the stupid and self-interested be heard while informed and competent have to sit by and convince. I feel bad for Wang and the Islanders…things should be much simpler than they are…guy has money and can so it, let him do it, county is not allowed to buy a ream of paper, sorry, you’re not allowed to buy a stadium.
Kate Murray is still an ass.
When the Isles make us drink, we curse Milbury through a monocle and with our pinkies out. Lighthouse Hockey & Chivas-All Class.
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHhockey
by Keith Quinn on May 12, 2011 8:27 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Could be
The whole thing seems like a diversion to me. Circus-like announcement out of nowhere. Little actual information.
Be great if it ended up being a somewhat scaled back Lighthouse Project, paid for by Wang, and then some government funding to improve infrastructure, i.e. public transportation. That could be win, win all around.
by afrosupreme on May 12, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm right with you afro...
I have a feeling that is what is going to happen…
Wang benefits by eventually buying the land and developing it himself (with Rechler).
The county sells the remaining property to raise funds to pay off debt principal. The land generates property tax revenue once it is developed.
They build infrastructure to support new development… paid for by SCALED BACK LHP… new schools, more police a firehouse… more jobs… paid for with NEW tax revenue… and… sustaining current revenue by not losing the coliseum.
well.. I think that was with you..
well.. I think that was with you..
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
More or less
I’m thinking that the county could even initially invest money in something like public transportation and some road projects if Wang picks up the tab on the Coliseum and whatever else he builds along with it.
The reality is no matter how you want to spin it as construction jobs, service jobs, etc., Islander fans garner 99% of the benefits of a new Coliseum. And that should not come from the community at large.
But as you say, even a scaled back LHP with MORE than just the Coliseum could generate money for not just Wang, but the surrounding community. And that could actually make a difference in the long run.
"announcement out of nowhere. Little actual information."
Yeah, I can’t decide if something else is afoot as a backup, or if this is purely their way of ramming it through quickly and evading the usual politics.
I think it’s significant that Murray, Mangano and Wang are all on the same script though.
Lighthouse Hockey: Stay classy, my friends. Er, stay thirsty, my brother. Aw hell, whatever.
"Do not confront the opponents of the plan with pure vitriol and slander"
But, but, but…. you can’t spell “Islander” without “slander”!!!!
Only half a year 'til Opening Night! ... *Sigh!*
by ICanSeeForIslesAndIsles on May 12, 2011 8:52 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
It's simple math...
Wang pays like 7 million a year in rent to operate the Islanders
An Event Management Company pays let’s say 12 million a year to operate it when it’s not in use by the Islanders.
That’s 19 million a year without any other income. 400 Million through 30 years is 13.3 million. I’m sure there’s more money I haven’t thought of, to pay off interest and make the county a profit that isn’t in place NOW.
It's too bad...
The Federal gov’t doesn’t have a time machine to go back and recoup this money and build us 50 new Coliseums…
Since 2002, the United States has given Pakistan over $20.7 billion in combined military, economic and humanitarian aid, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS).
I wouldn't be surprised if people voted against it simply because that's what Long Islanders do.
Oppose EVERYTHING. Except strip malls. We, for some reason, friggin love those.
The political areener is just too palooted...
How much would they raise by selling the remainder of the land to developers. Once the coliseum is done, and that property becomes more of a Town Center/Hub can’t they build apartments there? If LHP process was honest then they should have passed all environmental tests and infrastructure constraints to build housing there. If it was viable with leased property (I don’t get how you sell real estate that is leased from the county) why not buy it and develop it with less hassles. The county loses a headache, and derives property taxes once it is developed… those taxes help fund infrastructure which creates jobs… If scaled down from the LHP to some measure… maybe everybody wins.
sorry… I’m in a happy place i REFUSE to come out of… for now.
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
TOH
Thinking out loud…if the County just sold the land, the buyer still has to get TOH zoning approval for any redevelopment, right? Does TOH even want anything different than a little arena and maybe a few modest buildings there?
Lighthouse Hockey: Stay classy, my friends. Er, stay thirsty, my brother. Aw hell, whatever.
TMC is probably a better source...
She had her finger on the pulse… but the LHP Mantra was, “this is what THEY wanted”. So i assume that the original request had included the housing, the office space and the ballpark.
..or maybe somebody just isn’t being “honest”… what are the odds?
boy, I wish I knew how to work the sarcastic font.
It has always appeared odd to me that the plan called for housing on land OWNED by the county. There is PUBLIC HOUSING… but it’s not supposed to be developed FOR PROFIT. But again… I’m in IT, not RE… so this is all… as you said… thinking out loud… which.. when I do it… exposes a lot of dead brain cells.
Lighthouse Hockey: where "you better check yourself before you rec yourself" -bobl
If your life isn't pathetic enough already, follow me on twitter @JPinVA
The housing and destination stuff
Was what the COUNTY (maybe it was state too) wanted, not the ToH. ToH apparently wants unicorns and pots of gold and shit
When the Isles make us drink, we curse Milbury through a monocle and with our pinkies out. Lighthouse Hockey & Chivas-All Class.
Website: Lighthousehockey.com Twitter: @KeithLHHhockey
by Keith Quinn on May 12, 2011 6:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Some information regarding original LHP
You are right the county wanted the destination point stuff(such as the convention center). The convention center and Coliseum were to be loss leaders of the development. Charles & Co. were to make their money off the residential and commercial spaces.
Like they said above me
My impression was all that stuff was what the County wanted, and the Town (and Garden City types specifically?) were more like, “Um, no, just a new roof and gutters on the arena is fine thanks.”
Lighthouse Hockey: Stay classy, my friends. Er, stay thirsty, my brother. Aw hell, whatever.
My guess......
Is that if NIFA is able to stall the referendum date and cloud the whole concept, than I agree with Afrosupreme that a hybrid will emerge. My view is not a scaled back LH project that could drag on for years, but rather Wang putting say 150 M in escrow toward meeting the revenue stream needed to pay off the bonds. Then I can see why anyone could oppose this for economic reasons. The next objection of course could be the old NIMBY argument and that would be countered by the fact that anything beats the current Barn even with added traffic due to better attendance at Isle’s games and at concerts etc.
By you saying "ugly" I expected- well, ugly. This sort of talk is completely expected.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on May 14, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait a second, there was already 1 member of the NIFA against it though,
and there is only 1 quote from them, probably from the same guy who opposed it immediately. We really don’t know what the whole board thinks, especially prior to a conference and debate between them. Maybe/probably just a bad egg?
Proud Islanders fan, the organization that iced the greatest team to ever play the game, whom won 4 consecutive cups. I'm bleeding Blue and Orange.
Let's go Islanders! Beep...Beep...Beep.Beep.Beep.
Datsyuk IS the best player in the nhl
Possible.
NIFA’s job is to help Nassau County get out of this mess long term, not destroy the county and lose what is unquestionably its largest gross revenue generator. They just want details.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on May 14, 2011 1:56 PM EDT up reply actions
This guy even mentioned that, historically, new arenas dont work out for the tax payers but they do for the owners of the sports franchise's...
I don’t like this guys attitude…Wish he would STFU, lol
Maybe it's the same douche bag looking for attention...
MC, I have nothing to base this one…See, I beat you to the punch..hehe
Hey, you did say “maybe” right? You werent like “Let me tell you something- its a 100% fact that this is the same guy and I happen to already know that he is definitely doing nothing but looking for attention- trust me.”
Anyway, yeah- Id personally like him to STFU, too- but the only way ideas like this can be refuted (if indeed they can) is for them to be brought up in the first place.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on May 14, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
It was arrogant of Kate Wangano rush out an announcement of this magnitude without being prepared for anything thrown at them...
Seems like they came up with this great idea without doing the research to make sure its viable… They’re literally putting the cart before the horse…Mangano even admitted this is a “cart before the horse scenario”, describing the borrowing and pay back plan…Not a direct quote
I think they knew this was coming...
but they decided this was the best time to start pumping it.
Let Us Go, Islanders! (Ever notice how strange that sounds without the contraction?)
by TheMetalChick on May 14, 2011 11:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Lighthouse Hockey
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
Featured Stories
Islanders Schedule
In Association With
Latest Puck Daddy - NHL from Yahoo! Sports
- Why the Devils and the Kings are evidence the Capitals shouldn’t trade Alex Ovechkin
- Eulogy: Remembering the 2011-12 New York Rangers
- Stanley Cup Final: 5 keys for New Jersey Devils and Los Angeles Kings
- Friday’s Three Stars: Devils head to Final; Brodeur, Kovalchuk the difference in Game 6
- Devils eliminate Rangers in Game 6, ending fear of the past, setting course for the future
SBNation.com Recent Stories
1979-80
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 24, 1980: Tonelli to Nystrom. At long last, the steady build of the New York Islanders from expansion doormat to surprise semifinalist to annual contender reaches the promised land: Buoyed by a late season trade for Butch Goring that gave the team the depth up the middle GM Bill Torrey had been seeking, the Islanders knock off the Philadelphia Flyers in six games.
The victory justified the faith in coach Al Arbour who guided them from their second season to their first Stanley Cup seven seasons later. The Islanders would not be the first expansion team to win the Stanley Cup, but they would be the only one capable of a dynasty.
1980-81
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 21, 1981: This time it was much easier. After falling to "only" 91 points in the 1979-80 season, the Islanders returned to their division title tradition, piling up 110 points -- a whole 13 points over second-place Philadelphia.
Between the quarterfinals (where they beat the upstart Oilers in six games) and the finals, the Islanders reeled off eight consecutive wins -- with a four-game sweep of archrival Rangers in between. As they defeated the Minnesota North Stars in five games for their second Cup, their goal difference in the final was a combined +10.
1981-82
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 16, 1982: Another year, another landslide title. The Islanders won the Patrick Division by a whopping 26 points over the second-place Rangers, and were seven points clear of their nearest competition for the President's Trophy, the still-not-quite-ripe Edmonton Oilers.
A first-round scare against the Pittsburgh Penguins turned in the Isles' favor thanks to John Tonelli's heroics, and a true dynasty was on its way: Past the Rangers in six games, then an eight-game sweep of the Quebec Nordiques and Vancouver Canucks to run away with the Stanley Cup.
1982-83
Source: Uploaded by user via NYIslanders on Pinterest
May 17, 1983: Not so fast, whipper-snappers. The Edmonton Oilers' steadily rising challenge for league supremacy took them all the way to the finals for the first time, where the New York Islanders summarily dispatched them in a four-game sweep. For the Islanders, the Dynasty was secured. For the Oilers, it was a powerful lesson in where talent ends and the demands of playoff hockey begin.
Four years, four Cups, 16 consecutive playoff series wins (a record that would grow to 19 until the rematch with the Oilers the following year). Mike Bossy scored 60 goals yet again, and Wayne Gretzky became acquainted with Billy Smith's crease.
