NY Islanders make a bittersweet about face involving their radio broadcasts

The New York Islanders have officially done an about-face on radio broadcasts, naming Alan Fuehring as their new play-by-play voice for the 2025-26 season. Fuehring will call about 70 games this year, most solo, with occasional guest analysts. It’s a huge moment for him — after nine years behind the mic for Bridgeport and several MSG fill-in stints, he’s earned his shot. Fuehring already knows the players, he knows the organization, and at just 35 years old, he represents a fresh energy on the broadcast side.

But as exciting as this step forward feels, it’s impossible not to acknowledge the mixed emotions that come with it. For months, the assumption was that Islanders radio was going away completely in favor of full TV simulcasts — an idea that was met with heavy criticism from fans and media alike. The backlash seems to have worked, as the team pivoted back to a dedicated radio play-by-play call.

The bittersweet part? Chris King and Greg Picker, the voices Isles fans have relied on for years, are still on the outside. King, who had been part of the Islanders’ radio fabric since 1998, and Picker, who joined in 2013, weren’t brought back. Their energy, chemistry, and connection to the fanbase helped define Islanders radio for a generation. For many, it doesn’t feel quite right to move on without them.

Fuehring is an exciting choice, but that doesn't mean some fans won't have mixed emotions about how this all transpired. The problem is how the Islanders got here: from dismissing their long-time team, to nearly eliminating radio altogether, to finally course-correcting with Fuehring but leaving behind two voices who poured decades into the job.

So, yes, Islanders fans can look forward to Fuehring making the call when the puck drops on Oct. 9 in Pittsburgh. But when that opening faceoff hits, it’ll be hard not to think about the voices we won’t be hearing anymore.