The Top 4 Players to Play for The NY Islanders and Arizona Coyotes

Last night marked the end of an era as the Arizona Coyotes played their last game in the NHL. 

In a similar situation to the NY Islanders before the construction of UBS Arena, the Coyotes have struggled to find a new arena, bouncing around throughout the Phoenix area, spending the last two seasons on the campus of Arizona State in the confines of the 5,000 seat Mullett Arena.

The organization relocated from Winnipeg in 1996, spending 28 years in the desert as the Phoenix and Arizona Coyotes.

Today the league approved the franchise's sale to Utah Jazz owner, Ryan Smith, who will move the franchise north to Salt Lake City. 

Shane Doan will go down as the greatest player in the franchise's history, but there are plenty of other greats, including some who also spent parts of their careers with the Islanders.

Let’s take a look at the four best players to play for both the Coyotes and Islanders’ franchises.

Adrian Aucoin

Islanders 2001-2004
Coyotes 2009-2012

A career that spanned over parts of 18 NHL seasons, Adrian Aucoin made three-year stops with both the Isles and Yotes. 

He was acquired by the Islanders in 2001 along with Alexander Kharitonov from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Mathieu Biron and a second-round pick. After his first season with the Islanders, Aucoin re-signed on Long Island for an additional two years.

In 2003-04 he put up his best single-season stats, finishing with 11 goals and 33 assists, and was named a 2004 NHL All-Star. 

After four seasons split between the Chicago Blackhawks and Calgary Flames, Aucoin signed with the Desert Dogs before the 1999-2000 season. He’d help lead the Coyotes to the playoffs in all three seasons spent with the team and was part of the 2012 team that won the franchise's first playoff series since relocating from Winnipeg. 

Aucoin finished his Coyotes career playing in 221 games, scoring 13 times and adding 46 assists.

Thomas Greiss

Coyotes 2013-2014
Islanders 2015-2020

After playing his first four NHL seasons with the San Jose Sharks, Thomas Greiss inked a one-year deal with the Coyotes for the 2013-14 season. Though his time in Arizona was short-lived, he put up the second-best statistical season of his 14-year NHL career. His 2.29 GAA and .915 SV% were second only to his 2018-19 season with the Islanders. 

After one season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Greiss signed a 2-year deal with the Islanders with a $1.5M cap hit. 

Spending the early part of his tenure with the Islanders as the backup to Jaroslav Halak, Greiss became the starter for the 2016 playoff run. He started all 11 games of the postseason and was the goaltender of record when the Islanders defeated the Florida Panthers in the first round, the franchise's first series victory since 1993.

In 2019 while partnering with Robin Lehner in goal, the duo were the winners of the William M. Jennings Trophy, presented to the goaltender(s) allowing the fewest goals against. 

Michael Grabner 

Islanders 2010-2015
Coyotes 2018-2020

Michael Grabner joined the Islanders in 2010 after being claimed off waivers from the Panthers just before the start of the season.

That first year with the Islanders went on to be the best of his career, finishing with career highs in goals (34), assists (18), and points (52). 

During the off-season, Grabner re-signed with the Islanders, committing the next four years to Long Island, earning $3M annually.

At the trade deadline of the final year of his contract in 2016, Grabner was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs for five players, including Carter Verhaeghe, who never suited up for the Islanders.

Grabner joined the Coyotes in 2018, agreeing to a 3-year deal with a $3.5M cap hit. 

After a disappointing two seasons in the desert where he scored only 17 goals in 87 games, the Coyotes elected to buy out the final year of his contract, effectively ending his NHL career.