Eyes On Isles
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Islanders legacy still haunts Rangers fans more than they admit

One look at the New York Islanders historical track record should scream why they're not the "other" NHL team in New York.
ByTodd Matthews|
Apr 10, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Marc Gatcomb (16) attempts a shot defended by New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller (8) during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
Apr 10, 2025; Elmont, New York, USA; New York Islanders center Marc Gatcomb (16) attempts a shot defended by New York Rangers left wing J.T. Miller (8) during the second period at UBS Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images | Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Okay, I get it. Yes, the Rangers are a lot older than the Islanders, they had a more established fanbase in New York, and the Manhattan location has its advantages. The Isles also don't historically have the same reach as the Rangers, especially before the tech age introduced satellite and, later, streaming.

So, it's easy that, from an outsider's perspective, one to see the Islanders firmly entrenched as the 'other' New York team. But given their history, despite a much later start and a smaller fanbase, should they be?

Just because a team hasn't been around for as long, and because their fans are more concentrated in one region, it doesn't mean the more successful team out there should be the "other" team in Gotham City.

Yeah, the Rangers have the most recent Stanley Cup title (1994) and Cup appearance (2014), but they also have just that 1994 Cup since the Expansion Era kicked off. Before that, they won in 1928, 1933, and 1940. So, for all it's worth, the Rangers don't hold the same level of success as the Isles.

It's hard to call the Islanders the "other" team in New York based on success

Sure, the Rangers have won more Presidents' Trophies (four) than the Isles, who've yet to win one. But the "regular season championship's" only been around since 1985-86, shortly after the Isles authored the NHL's greatest dynasty of the last 50 years.

That's four Cups in four seasons; it took the Rangers a lot longer than that to string together four Cups. The Rangers have just two conference championships to their name while the Isles have six, with their first coming in 1978, 16 seasons before the Blueshirts snagged one.

The Rangers have two more division championships than the Isles, but the two teams are deadlocked at six apiece between the Islanders founding in 1972 and today. Blueshirts fans can boast that their team holds the all-time edge in the series, 161-146-19-10, but as far as overall success goes, the Isles reached it in a much shorter time.

The Islanders aren't the Jets, Mets, and Nets

in the other major pro sports leagues, the New York Giants have overshadowed the Jets, and the Mets are a far-cry from the Yankees, while the Knicks seem to outpace the Brooklyn Nets. But, as for the Rangers and Isles? You can claim that the Isles, historically, have just as much if not more than the Rangers.

So yeah, the Blueshirts may have the larger fanbase, they've been around forever, and, more recently, they've been the better team. But when you look at everything from an objective lens based on how well a team has fared, the Islanders shouldn't be that "second team" in New York.

From a personal standpoint, the nickname is one of my favorite in all of sports because of its regional significance. As far as uniqueness goes, it's right up there with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Colorado Rockies, Minnesota Twins, and Vancoouver Canucks.

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