NY Islanders Game Originals launches: Own a piece of history… if you can afford It

The New York Islanders and collectible culture company cllct rolled out their new Game Originals line this week, and it’s got fans buzzing—and maybe double-checking their wallets.

On the one hand, the concept is awesome. You can literally buy the gear the boys wore on the ice. Game-used jerseys, gloves, skates, even pucks from special moments. It’s the kind of stuff you dreamed about as a kid, and now it’s sitting there behind the glass at UBS Arena and online at IslandersGameOriginals.com.

But here’s the catch: the prices are no joke. Want a puck used during the Isles’ 50th Anniversary season? That’ll run you $50. Jerseys? Get ready to pony up more than $800 (at that's only for Luca Sbisa jersey), and if you’ve ever thought about flying the ice rink outside UBS in a pair of skates straight from an NHL locker room, it’s over $300—which, honestly, might be the best deal of the bunch… if they actually fit your feet.

The initiative is being pitched as fan-focused, and it does scratch that itch of owning a tangible slice of Islanders history. Courtney Lynch, the Isles’ VP of Retail Operations, put it best: this is about connecting fans to “unforgettable moments on the ice.” And it’s true—these aren’t just souvenirs, they’re artifacts.

"Islanders fans live and breathe their team 24/7, and they have a hunger for game-used equipment and gear," Lynch added. "With Islanders Game Originals, we're providing a real, authentic connection to our players and unforgettable movements on the ice by creating one-of-a-kind items from game-used materials. We are thrilled to launch this effort and cannot wait to see where it goes."

The good news is that proceeds benefit the Islanders Children’s Foundation, so at least some of that cash is going back into the community. And for diehards, there’s no price tag too steep to hang a sweat-stained Anders Lee jersey in the man cave. So yes, the gear is pricey, but for Isles fans who bleed blue and orange, it’s about owning a piece of the story and Islanders history.

Still, something tells me that Sbisa jersey is going to end up on the discount rack.