New York Islanders: Hockey Night in Canada Weighs In on Isles

New York Islanders ownership is looking for a top executive and Hockey Night in Canada offers some new information.

The gentlemen at Hockey Night in Canada made the New York Islanders a topic of discussion. While it was generally a follow up to Arthur Staple’s piece regarding Isles ownership searching for a top executive, it added some meat to the story.

Staple’s piece felt conveniently timed for Isles fans sitting back and seeing inaction to their quickly plummeting team. The cries for Garth Snow’s job and the coaching staff’s heads (and vice versa) have been loud, with very little response. Of course there’d be no response to fan frustration, but on the business side of things, it’s not exactly prudent to sit back while it implodes.

So Elliot Friedman and his merry band bring more information to the table. Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky have been busy. There have been conversations with Wayne Gretzky – with the very quick and certain caveat that the Great One isn’t coming to Long Island. There’s been contact with Luc Robitaille, who has done tremendous work in Los Angles.

The refreshing part about these names is not just their successes elsewhere, but the newness of the faces. They’re not deeply entrenched in the Islanders organization and that’s become necessary.

At the same time other names important to the history of the Islanders franchise – Kelly Hrudey and Pat Flatley – have been contacted for help in the reinvigorating cause.

A Show of Good Faith

As part of a frustrated fanbase, there’s nothing one can do but get angry at inaction. Of course everyone has answers as to what should be done. We all know that old adage about opinions and… yeah. Everyone’s got one.

Of course we all believe new ownership should have had this done within a month of taking control of the franchise. Of course it’s logical to take control and toss Snow on his ear straight off for the mess he’s made. Read into that what you will.

We’ve got Snow. We’ve got Capuano and his talent for the destruction of skill. The last three wins have been a sort of balm for some voices. Or again just covered the issues enough to get the team by.

We’ve gotten used to that, but the promises of Ledecky, especially, still stick. A fifth ring doesn’t come this way. John Tavares doesn’t stay this way. It’s been looking like this new ownership is  dud.

Next: The Unfair Treatment of Ryan Strome

Staple’s piece was convenient. Friedman and Hrudey added some meat. The fans of this team needed it. We’ve been patient a long time and most of us will continue that trend with a show of good faith. This is a promising start.