By Corey Saccone, Contributing Writer
The dark days still loom around the N.H.L. lockout, but good news came from the New York Islanders organization. Owner Charles Wang has agreed to bring the team to Brooklyn to play in the Barclays Center for the next 25 years, beginning in the 2015-16 season.
Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is the current home of the Islanders on Long Island. Both the Coliseum and the Barclays Center host hockey, basketball, concerts, and events. The Islanders will be following the Brooklyn Nets, who just moved their team, logo, and name to the new billion-dollar arena.
The New York Islanders were a storied franchise in the 1980s. They won four straight Stanley Cups from 1980-1984. Since then, however, the trophy has not been hoisted on the ‘Island.’ Struggles have continued for several years now, and the Coliseum is aging by the day. This is a crucial combination for free agents, fans, and the overall play of the team.
General Manager Garth Snow has made youth and defense the main priorities for the development of the team for years to come. The Isles had seven draft picks in the 2012 N.H.L Draft. They selected one defender in each of the seven rounds, including the fourth overall pick in the draft, Griffin Reinhart. They have had several top-five drafts picks in the 2000s, including their once-upon-a-time prized first overall pick on whom they spent $150 million: Rick DiPietro. The 2015 free-agent class includes big-named stars, such as Jason Spezza and Patrick Kane.
The mixture of young talent and continuous draft picks have built the system to a high energetic level, where they will show off their skills in front of roughly 15,000 fans. The transition will be a money-making experiment.
“Having the Islanders move to Brooklyn is a bold statement for their organization,” Junior Robert Hutchinson said. “With the town of Hempstead not willing to help out Charles Wang and the Islanders, it was time to make a change.”
“By moving to Brooklyn, they are able to keep the New York name, while keeping the loyal fan base close, updating the surroundings, and the area. The business side of the deal works for the Islanders, Barclays Center, and the state of New York by creating more revenue.”
The Islanders will keep the name and logo as it is, for now. They are making many changes so the possibility still lingers.
“I would like to see new colors and uniforms,” Sophomore Ryan Shute said. “The amount of time they are taking to create everything else, why not make those kinds of changes as well?”
Mixed reactions still debate for N.H.L fans and Islanders fans on whether or not to see a brand new logo and a possible new team name, such as the Brooklyn Islanders.
Brooklyn has officially taken a step forward with the addition of the Barclays Center. Profit for organizations, such as the Nets and the Islanders, was a main reason for the switch. It is a great recruitment place for players, fans, and, of course, money.
