Corey and Lou battle the Black Friday crowds and take BUCKET on the road…all the way to the parking lot of Long Island’s Nassau Coliseum. With Slurpees in hand, they talk about Thanksgiving football, New Moon madness, the worst ever movie flops and more. (Direct MP3 link … Recorded Nov. 27, 2009)

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The bad news out of Toronto continues.

Despite firing 61 shots on goal last night, the Maple Leafs managed to lose yet again. Undoubtedly, the first star of the game was Islanders’ goalie, Dwanye Roloson who stopped 58 of the 61 shots. The game ended with only a couple minutes remaining in overtime, with Josh Bailey scoring the game winning goal.

The leafs played pretty well, actually coming back and erasing the 3-0 deficit they found themselves in midway through the second period. However, making a comeback and still eventually losing in OT has to be deflating for the Leafs, as they had seemingly began to gain some momentum. Although the Maple Leafs are showing signs of growth and improvement, it seems as though, unfortunately, the team will be featured in the BadNewsBaird Blog for many times to come.

Read the Leafs and Islanders game summary in the Toronto Sun: http://www.torontosun.com/sports/hockey/2009/11/24/11900691-sun.html

Grabovski & co. let another one get away

Can we just throw in the towel already? Seriously, wouldn’t the world of sports be so much better off without Toronto’s crew of embarrassing franchises? The Leafs carried the torch tonight at the ACC, managing to lose 4-3 to the Islanders in overtime despite out-shooting them 61-21.

The Leafs battled back from a 3-0 deficit, clawing away after Vesa Toskala left with an “injury” late in the second period after giving up goals on three consecutive shots. The Monster faced six shots the rest of the way, coughing up the winner to Josh Bailey in overtime after a turnover gave the Islanders an easy give-and-go right on the doorstep.

Phil Kessel, Wayne Primeau and Niklas Hagman all scored for the Leafs, with Hagman’s tying things midway through the third. Kessel had 12 of Toronto’s 61 shots, but had his best scoring change (well, I guess his second-best, since he potted the best) deflected from about a foot out a minute or so before Bailey’s winner.

Of course, the NHL’s ridiculous points system will reward the Leafs for again losing in overtime, the seventh time Toronto has picked up a dirty point in 22 games this season. At 4-11-7 and tied for last in the league, the Leafs are in Tampa Bay to face the Lightning Wednesday.

Saturday’s Islanders/Blues game ended in a St. Louis 4-1 victory and it was David Perron’s 3rd period goal that put the cherry on top of this sweet victory. From his own blue line Perron weaves his wave through two defenders before continuing his nifty moves to totally fake out the goaltender and fire it in to the net while falling. Well done sir.

As usual in these situations, I’m going to cut to the completely unjustifiable chase.  We’re not getting the All-Star Game in 2012.  Kansas City is getting it.  I’ll give you a moment to recover from the shock before I continue, because believe me, this was one seriously twisted shock.  Okay.  Apparently, Kauffman Stadium recently completed major renovations.  How nice for Kauffman Stadium.  It’s brand-new, nice and clean, and very fan-friendly.  Congratulations, Kansas City; now Kauffman Stadium is just like every other ballpark that completes major renovations.

Just to review, the reason why we wanted the All-Star Game in 2012 is because Fenway Park will turn one hundred years old.  The oldest ballpark still in use in the United States of America will commemorate a century of baseball.  America’s Most Beloved Ballpark will celebrate its one hundredth birthday.  Think about what Fenway Park has seen in that time.  It’s seen the Royal Rooters, Tris Speaker, Duffy’s Cliff.  It’s seen Joe Cronin, Ted Williams, Carl Yastrzemski.  It’s seen Nomar Garciaparra, David Ortiz, 2004, and 2007.  It’s seen a team of royalty followed by a team that committed cruel and unusual losses year after year after year, followed by royalty’s return.  If there is a structure in this country that embodies the history of the game of baseball within its very foundation, it’s Fenway Park.

And Fenway Park was denied.  Why? I have no idea.  What, they can give it to New York because it’s the last year of Yankee Stadium but they can’t recognize that America’s Most Beloved, and oldest, Ballpark will turn a century old? I mean, okay, so Kansas City hasn’t had the All-Star game in forty years and Fenway last had it thirteen years ago, in 1999 when none other than the Splendid Splinter threw out the first pitch.  But Fenway only turns one hundred years old once in a lifetime.  Kansas City could’ve gotten it in 2013.  In fact, it would’ve been okay by me if Kansas City had it every year for another forty years if only we could have it this one time.  Something just doesn’t seem right here.  I think I speak for all of Red Sox Nation when I say that we are extremely and profoundly disappointed and extremely and profoundly confused.

Zack Greinke won the AL Cy Young.  I’ll be very interested to see how he pitches next year.  I don’t think he’ll be as effective.  But I do think Josh Beckett is in line to have a break-out season so dominant that not even CC Sabathia can squeeze past him in the Cy Young voting.  Tim Lincecum won it for the NL, becoming its first repeat winner since Randy Johnson.  Andrew Bailey of Oakland and Chris Coghlan of Florida were the Rookies of the Year.  Mike Scoscia and Jim Tracy of Colorado were the Managers of the Year.  I don’t think I would’ve picked Mike Scoscia.  In my mind, there were three managers this year who faced significant uphill battles and who powered through them: Terry Francona, and then Ron Gardenhire and Ron Washington.  Terry Francona managed us through a lack of shortstop, the entry of a new starting catcher, a decline in the playing time of the team’s captain, a very public steroid scandal, and the worst slump in the career of the figure at the heard of said steroid scandal.  True, every manager deals with things behind closed doors, but what makes Tito’s job so difficult is that those doors are never closed completely.  It’s the nature of sports in Boston.  Gardenhire took the Twins from zero to one-game-playoff winners without Joe Mauer in the first month of the season, Justin Morneau in the last month, or a particularly effective bullpen.  And Washington almost made it to the playoffs this year without big-name talent.  All I’m saying is that, if the award goes to a Manager of the Year within the Angels organization, it should have gone to Torii Hunter, not Scoscia.  He was the real force in that clubhouse.  MVPs will be announced tomorrow.

Again, not much in the way of business yet.  Jason Bay rejected a four-year, sixty-million-dollar offer in favor of testing the free agent market for the first time in his career.  He’s Theo’s priority, though, and I still say he’ll end up back in Boston.  The Cards have already stated that they’re not interested, preferring Matt Holliday instead.  But I think this has the potential to be one of those long, drawn-out negotiations.  By the way, let’s not forget that Jermaine Dye is also a free agent.

We released George Kottaras, who has been claimed by the Brewers.  PawSox manager Ron Johnson will be our new bench coach.  We’re reportedly interested in Adrian Beltre, and we claimed reliever Robert Manuel off waivers.  Before the offseason is done, we’ll probably re-sign Alex Gonzalez and add a low-risk, high-potential starter.  Remember: in an economy like this, you do not need to, nor should you, empty your pockets to win a World Series, no matter what the Evil Empire might assume is the best practice.

Congratulations to John Henry on winning the Woodrow Wilson Award for Corporate Citizenship.  Again, corporate social responsibility in this day and age is the way to go.  Unfortunately, though, ticket prices are up this year.  About half the seats were increased by two dollars, including the infield grandstand, right field boxes, and lower bleachers.  The field and loge boxes and Green Monster seats and standing room were increased by five dollars.  The outfield grandstand and upper bleachers weren’t increased.  Whenever you hear about price increases or decreases for tickets at Fenway, remember to always take them with a grain of salt.  Obviously we’d prefer a price freeze, but how many of us really purchase our Fenway tickets at face value anyway? I’m just saying.

So, as per usual this early in the offseason, we have more wait-and-seeing ahead.  Theo never reveals the tricks he has up his sleeve, so that’s really all we can do.

The Bruins suffered a particularly painful loss to the Islanders, 4-1.  I’d rather not talk about it.  We did best Atlanta in a shootout, though, and we eked out a win against the Sabres in sudden death.  That last one was particularly heartening, being that the Sabres are first in the division.  For now.  We’re only two points behind.  And now for the grand finale, let’s discuss Bill Belichick’s oh-so-positive judgment call on Sunday.  In the fourth quarter with a six-point lead, the Pats had the ball on their 28.  Tom Brady’s pass was incomplete.  With two minutes and eight seconds left on the clock, Belichick decided to go for it.  But Kevin Faulk fumbled the ball, and suddenly it was fourth and two.  Needless to say, we lost, 35-34, to the Colts, who are still undefeated.  I mean, it’s a tough call.  Belichick made the same decision against Atlanta and we won.  Then again, we had the lead, we had the time, and we had an opponent that wasn’t Indianapolis.  It was just bad.  It was just really, really bad.

Sawxblog/Derek Hixon

Unwatchable is a good word to describe the play of teams like the Knicks.

Now that the focus has shifted from the Yankees championship run, New York metropolitan area sports fans have had a rude awakening.

The veil has been lifted, and what we’re left with is mediocrity at best, and far beyond awful at worst.

So far this month, the Yankees have more wins (three) than the Giants, Jets, Knicks and Nets combined (two).*

That’s bound to change on Saturday when the winless Nets (0-12) play the hapless Knicks (2-9) in a Jersey swamp showdown. Somebody’s gonna lose, but somebody’s gotta win too. Plenty of good seats are still available.

Here’s the sorry breakdown, sport by sport:

NFL

The Giants, picked by many to be Super Bowl contenders, started the season with five straight wins. But the Giants were facing an easy schedule, and have lost four in a row since they began taking on some real teams.

The Jets began their season with a new coach, high hopes and three straight wins. But since then they have lost five of six, including horrible losses to the Dolphins, Bills and Jaguars.

NBA

Fans are wondering, is it possible for a team to go through an entire season without a victory? Nah, the Nets still have four games left with the Knicks, they should be able to win a couple of those.

Meanwhile the Knicks have already bailed on this season. But do they really believe that LeBron, D-Wade or any other free agent would want to play for a franchise that hasn’t won a title since 1973?

NHL

The Rangers got off to a great start with seven straight wins, but then stopped scoring goals and are now in a major rut.

The Islanders…or the Icelanders as a local radio personality refers to them….have been lousy for a quarter century.

The Devils are playing well, leaders in the Atlantic Division. But hey, nobody cares. They’re from New Jersey

*Actually the Yankees have three wins in November if you count their Halloween victory over the Phillies, which ended on November 1.

Tavares #91 blanc

So far this season the Bruins struggle to score goals. They’ve only scored more than four goals twice, have been shutout three times, and have managed only one goal five times – all leading to a mediocre 8-8-4 record, good for 10th in the Eastern Conference. Yes, the Bruins will eventually get players from those picks or they might even trade some of those for a star, but the help needs to arrive and fast.

Lucic isn’t known for his goal scoring, he’s known for his physical presence and at times his play making skills. Either way, when Lucic steps on the ice he creates chances.

Marc Savard is a natural play maker– a player that creates goals and goal-scoring chances. The previous three seasons Savard led the Bruins in assists (63, 63 and 74) and points (88, 78 and 96).

This might seem all well and optimistic but here’s where I’ll tell you it still isn’t enough.

In only six games played Kessel has notched seven points (three goals, four assists); bringing and immediate impact to his new team.

The absence of Kessel, his play making and goal-scoring ability are qualities that Chiarelli and everyone else who owns a nice comfy office in The Garden overlooked. Kessel scored 36 goals last season, leading the Bruins to the second round of the Eastern Conference Playoffs before being ousted by the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 7. Many, though, including myself, didn’t think Kessel fit the Black and Gold “mold”.

To be a Bruin you have to be tough, physical and gritty player who is willing to block shots, play tough along the boards and stick up for your teammates. Kessel hardly took the body, never blocked shots and shied away from any board play like a Freshman at a High School dance. Still, though, he scored 36 goals, nine more than the next Bruin (Michael Ryder, 27). His snap shot is nearly unstoppable and his wrist shot is unbelievably accurate. He’s the sort of player that team’s have to adjust their game plan to.

But with Kessel now gone, Chiarelli looked to some Bruins of last season and some new additions to fill the skates of the speedy winger. Marco Sturm, who was out most of last season recovering from surgery that repaired his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament, was counted on to step up and provide some of the offensive firepower. He hasn’t delivered. Blake Wheeler and David Krejci, expected to mature into more all-around players while still keeping their point totals up, are struggling to find the net like their German teammate.

Marco Sturm and the Bruins haven't done a lot of cheering lately. Sturm has only nine points (four goals, five assists) in 20 games played.

To give you some prospective, Patrice Bergeron leads the Bruins with 13 points, while the NHL leader, Anze Kopitar of Los Angeles, owns 32 points. The Bruins’ power play is defunct, their overall play is emotional and energy-packed on some night’s while others, like last night’s 4-1 loss to the New York Islanders, failed to convince me and the 14,000  or so fans in attendance last night that they were playing with a purpose.

Things need to change and quick for the B’s who are in 10th place and looking in at teams like Tampa Bay, Atlanta and even the Islanders –who have missed the playoffs the last couple years. But even with Savard and Lucic healthy and providing for the team, the B’s need them badly right now, I still think the Bruins will be looking for more.

It has been quite some time since we here at DKM have checked in with an avid contributor to the site, Richard Park of the New York Islanders, so with their recent stretch of success we thought it would be a perfect time to catch up with the veteran forward. As usual, Richard didn’t let us down and granted us a look into the season thus far.

DKM: Hey Richard thanks for stopping by with us again

Park: Not a plobrem at arr.

DKM: Well first things first, you guys have been playing some pretty impressive hockey lately, but I gotta ask you Richard, what is going on with all the overtimes and shootouts?

Park: Ahh yes we very much rike the shootouts. We arways seem to tie the other team in reguration but once shootout begins we pray our best. We have rots of good shooters who can shoot very hawwd arr the time.

DKM: How would you rate your own shootout performance this year?

Park: I have onry taken one shot in shootout. In game against Washington Capitars we go through many shooters until coach finarry had to pick me. I made good move but didn’t shoot hawwwwd enough and the big goarie stop it. If I get picked next time, I am going to do a three-sixty-spin-o-lama, just rike a super spin kick I see in kung fu movie rast night.

DKM: Oh yeah that sounds cool. Did you watch the movie with another guy on the team?

Park: Yes I did! I have young superstar John Tavares over to my house to watch it with me. He is such a nice young man, arways smiring and raughing. He enjoyed kung fu move too but he had to read subtitres because he cant understand the ranguage.

DKM: Interesting. What do you attribute most to the team’s early success?

Park: I think its because we arr work very very hawwwwwwwwd every night. Every prayer on team gives great great effort in the game and it helps us to secure the victory for the New York Isrander fans. We rove Isrander fans so very much.  They arr arways so roud so it makes us try even hawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwder.

DKM: How has veteran goalie Dwayne Roloson helped the team?

Park: Dwayne Roroson is such a rarge rarge goarie. He stops mostry arr the pucks shot at him. He reminds me of giant Godzirra brocking arr the firebarrs from the Korea porice. He is sometimes very scary to me because he is so big rike Godzirra but its ok because he is a nice, friendry man.

DKM: You mentioned John Tavares. How do you think the future looks for this kid?

Park: Oh it most definitery rooks very very bright. I think he is going to achieve rots and rots of goars and points and one day be carred the greatest prayer to ever pray for the New York Isranders team.

DKM: What do you hope this team can achieve the rest of the year?

Park: I am arways praying to the big red dragon to guide us to many victories this year. I ask him to guide us to the prayoffs and then arr the way to the Stanrey Cup Finars.

DKM: Switching gears for a second here Richard. Being a New York resident, it must have been exciting for you to see the Yankees win the World Series this year.

Park: Oh My! Very exciting indeed! The whore schitty was on pins and needers every time Yankees prayed and when they finarry won it was rike KA BANG KA BANG. I was so very proud for my good friend Hideki Matsui. He was named Most Varuabre Prayer of the series. He is a big Godzirra just rike Dwayne Roroson.

DKM: Did you get to celebrate with him?

Park: Very much so! Me and Matsui go to a big Japanese restaurant in Brookryn. We ate so much and arso drank rots and rots of expensive arcohor. Arr of the Brookryn women were very hornery with us because we are famous athretes

DKM: Sounds like a good time. Richard, thanks once again for lending us your time and good luck the rest of the way.

Park: It was a great preasure.

After another dismal performance from the Bruins tonight, maybe it’s time we all come to the realization that they’re just not that good. As one of my close friends put it, they had a lot of guys who had career years last season and simply aren’t off to great starts in 2009. A good point indeed. When you consider that slip in performance and the recent string of injuries, it just doesn’t look like the B’s are going very far this season. The good news is that it’s still early. There is plenty of time to right the ship. All I’m saying is don’t get your hopes up. A 4-1 loss to the Islanders at home doesn’t exactly scream, “We’re a playoff contender.”

On an unrelated side note, can you imagine what it must be like to play for the Cleveland Browns? Holy crap, that’s gotta suck. They just lost 16-0 at home to the Ravens and it looked like there were about 12 people in the stands for the fourth quarter. To put that in perspective, more than 12 people have actually read this blog today. And this isn’t exactly award-winning stuff. (Not yet anyway.) But seriously, Eric Mangini is absolutely pathetic. He’s lost the respect of everyone in the Cleveland locker room and I’m sure unemployment isn’t too far down the road for him. Nice job you clown.

So it happened again. Once again the team jumped out to an early lead. Once again they give it right back.

This is a disturbing trend that needs to be stopped ASAP if this team has any playoff thoughts. Sure this team managed to come back from a 2 goal deficit in the third but that hides the main problem that this tram has, which is playing ahead. If not for Tavares and Okposo being beasts then the team would have had another loss in regulation.

If this team has any hope to make the playoffs then they have to start winning these games and soon because these 1 point games are not going to cut it as the teams behind them are going to start winning games themselves. But where does the problem lie?

Is this just a young team learning how to play? Possible but unlikely since they have vets like Weight and Roloson who have been through the wars. While these wins will come when the core matures it’s not the reason why they give back multi-goal leads.

Is it the offense? It is a big culprit but not the main. With the emergences if Tavares, Okposo and Moulson it gives them a solid first line but it’s really limited beyond that. There is potential in Bergenheim and Tambellini but they have to show that they can reach it on the ice for this team to go far. The return of Trent Hunter can only help jumpstart the offense, since the return in Washington he has already scored 2 goals. The problem with the offense is that they jump out to an early lead and just lay back on their laurels and hope the defense holds it up. They don’t turn it in until late in the third, by which pointit may be to late. They need to push it and force the action for the full game.

Is it the goaltending? It does not help one bit when Roloson and Biron has trouble stopping easy shots. To be fair though it’s hard to win when you are facing 40 shots a night.

The coach has had his issues this year. His fast pace style can be wearing the team down. Especially in back to back games. Sure his lineups are frustrating. How journeyman gritty guys who can’t score like Park and Sim are on the power play and top scoring lines are not even fathomable. But it’s up to the players on the ice to keep it up. Gordan will though have to force them by hook and nook to play hard all game. Right now he’s allowing this team to slack off once they get a lead.

Which leaves us to the main problem on this team – the defense. Outside of Streit and maybe Hillen there is no one that can play this game. The Olé defense that this defense plays is maddening. Constantly giving the opponents an unobstructive view of the goal. Not clearing the garbage away from the net. It seems so simple, that even one of the first things they did in those Mighty Duck movies was to clear garbage from the net. When they manage to het the puck they fail to clear the zone. This is something they need to work on and fast. It’s not like this team lacks talent or potential, but it seems like they really have no desire to play defense. Witt was once a great defensemen but his time had passed, he has lost more then a step out there and is getting beat out there, but I will say this about him, he tries but he is just to old. Meyer and Gervais has talent and potential, but you sure can’t see it right now. It looks like they do t care a out playing defense, if they do it sure as hell doesn’t seem like it to me. Gervais turned it on late last year so there is something there though. Sutton well he is tall and has a good shot butis a traffic cone in his own zone. Again like Witt he has lost a step.

Looking back at the draft this issue could have been resolved by drafting Hedman but then the offense would have taken the hit. While I believe the decision to draft Tavares was the right one, the team will have to draft a defensemen early on in next years draft. If they can’t get Fowler then try to get one in the first 2 rounds. There is some hope in the Minors though with DeHaan, Harmonic, Ness, Kessel, and Niemi in the wings the next few years.

Changes need to be made for a sustainable run to make the playoffs.

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Islanders head coach Scott Gordon gets jiggy with it in his Boston College days. Check it out

Although the Islanders loss last Friday came in New Jersey, the Islanders still might have a little of the Devil lingering. Since the 2-1 loss to the Devils the Islanders have beaten Atlanta and an epic 22 man shoot-out loss to Washington. So why am I writing about the Islanders the answer is their record.

Through eighteen games the Islanders are 6-6-6 which I find ironic. A team that has been is heavily included in debates about their franchise moving. The Islanders have a plan for a whole new renovation where Nassau Coliseum is located. It’s just funny the team has the record they do right now and if it is a foreshadowing of things come. Could the strangeness of the team’s wins and losses be a weird result of the end of a franchise?

I do not expect much of the Islander this season, although if their first round draft pick, Tavares, pans out along with a healthy Mark Streit they could possibly be a bubble team in the playoff race. I don’t think they will finish the season 1 or 2 points out of eight place but possibly come within 10 points around the Olympic break and then slowly fade as the season comes to a close.

“I can see…a Lighthouse.  It’s Glorious!”

Welcome back, residents of Mockburg! (Mocktown? Borough of Mockery? Mockeropolis?)  It’s good to see you.

There is trouble brewing for NHL hockey in the New York City area.  The difficulties for the New York Islanders in securing civic approval for a new arena and multi-use development around the proposed facility has left team owner Charles Wang dropping not-so-veiled threats about possible relocation for the franchise with four Stanley Cups.

The Islanders have gone so far as to play a pre-season game at the acclaimed yet unoccupied, luxurious and aesthetically pleasing new Sprint Center, which pines for a major league tenant, or in this case even the National Hockey League.  Unfortunately for the hosts in KC, a.k.a. arena and sports conglomerate Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) and the city government, the town found a baseball game of more interest than the hockey game that night.  Or maybe the Chiefs-mad Kansas City crowd thought that the sad-sack Scouts had a game that night and went to Kemper Arena to see them instead of the Isles.  Unfortunately, the Scouts had bailed after two miserable seasons in the early ’70’s.  Either way, only about 5,000 eager fans came out to convince Mr. Wang that his best bet was in Kansas City according to local news reports, and KC, like Atlanta, were ready for the NHL again. 

I can only imagine what was going through Wang’s mind as he looked out on the former future home of his franchise: “Thanks for the great steaks, but apparently the worst arena in the NHL on Long Island is better than a brand new on in Kansas City.”

After returning to Long Island, he’s dropped the other shoe by threatening to move, issued deadlines, and pretty much everything he can do to wring approval for a new arena but pick up the shoe he dropped and beat it on a desk in a County Council Meeting.  We can only hope that’s coming soon to YouTube.  Unfortunately Charles Wang, you are not getting the green light any time soon on Long Island.

As an accomplished and highly suspected successful business person, you should recongnize that you will have to cut your losses with the local political machine.  You surely see that in the New York market, everyone has their hand in your pocket, everything costs twice as much to build, and most times it takes forever to get done.  For examples of these wonderful Big Apple quirks, just see what’s gone on at Ground Zero, New Yankee Stadium, Citifield, the New Meadowlands Stadium, the proposed Barclays Center in Brooklyn, and the Prudential Center that is in dangerous Newark, instead of thriving Hoboken where it was originally planned.  But after all of these lonely years out there in the middle of the parking lot, surrounded but detached from suburban Long Island, struggling with the political do-nothings, it looks as though you may have lost some perspective on the project.

Fleet Week is always popular with the Islanders Ice Girls

 The truth is, sports in New York are a Love/Hate relationship.  You’re either loved or hated, a hero or a bum.  The loss of two baseball teams, a basketball team that hops from arena to arena in the Nets, and watching both New York NFL franchises move their stadium and all facilities to New Jersey has burnt the New York Sports Fan once too often. There are 9 pro sports teams in the New York City market representing the Big Four sports, and three hockey teams to boot.  And that’s just major league sports.  Will anyone really care if there are only two hockey teams to watch in the New York area?  At least you can get to the survivors’ games via mass transit.

 How long do you think the locals will complain after how the Islanders have beaten their fan base into submission with mediocre hockey (at best) in a dump of an arena these many years?  It’s been over 25 years since the Isles’ amazing run of four straight cups.  Those fans who were adults to see those seasons have retired to Florida by now, going to Lightning games, or not going to see the Coyotes in Phoenix.  Anyone under 25 hasn’t seen anything but heartache, the banners, and the stories of glory.  No, there’ll be some tears, and it’s a horrible thing, but the best option for the long-term viability of the franchise, the NHL, and Charles Wang is this:

Move the team to the Greater Toronto Area.

NO! WHAT?! The outrage is palpable.  It is a sad thing when a franchise moves and leaves a fan base behind.  That’s why when the Islanders move to their new home, and with it the pre-approved new facility in the Toronto market, they will leave behind the name Islanders, and those 4 championships.  The name will lie dormant, but only for a little while.  A new franchise will be born, and if need be they will play in the Air Canada Center until their home arena is completed, which it must because any owner will want the revenue from their own facility instead of paying rent.

Toronto is the most underserved Hockey market in the world.  It is a crime against the fans of the highest valued franchise in the NHL that it cannot get the job done on the ice.  It seems like an inside joke between the NHL and the Leafs, the long con at its best.  No one can stop the misfortunes of the hometown Leafs, and the league fails to satisfy excess demand by putting another team in Toronto through relocation or expansion.  Scarcity is an economic driver of demand.  Well, it seems that Ontario is in a frenzy for hockey, and it’s time to listen to the market. 

By moving the Islanders there, Wang can either sell for an inflated premium, which he probably deserves for his tenure with the team (although the Mike Milbury years scarred many fans).  The Indemnity Fee to the Maple Leafs that the league has said they will set will be paid by the new owner, or by Wang if he decides to stay on with the team.  Either way, you’ve put a guaranteed revenue engine for the league in place, rescued a beleaguered franchise and moved it to Hockey Heaven.  You’ve removed the worst arena in the league from the NHL inventory.  And you’ve created an instant sports rivalry because of the relocation between the biggest city in the US and the biggest city in Canada.  And keep in mind that having some competition for the hockey dollar in Toronto might do wonders to motivate Maple Leafs management to ice a quality, competitive, playoff caliber hockey team for a change. How cool would that be for Ontario, Canada, the majority of fans and the league.  Every one is happy, except Islander fans and the owners,who would potentially lose out on a huge expansion fee because of the Toronto market’s value.

The game can handle another church in the Toronto Diocese

Well, in this fantastical world where this move happens, there is even a silver lining on Long Island for fans and the league’s coffers.  Wang will not leave the Island without a Happy Ending (Ooof).  There will be a team in New York again.  Never mind that there three teams in the area are too many, that’s a blog for another day.  But if the Brooklyn arena is finished, it only makes sense to put a team there.  Paying rent and revenue steams become an issue again, so maybe losing the team temporarily will motivate the politicos in Hempstead to move forward with approval for an arena for the reconstituted franchise on Long Island.  And the league gets to expand into the area again if they so choose, and by retaining the Islander’s name and marks, the NHL can get the new owners around paying an indemnity fee to the Rangers and Devils by arguing that the new Islanders franchise was merely suspended and not new.

Even if the new Islanders take some to reappear, at least that would improve the fortunes of the New Jersey Devils.  The animosity between Islander and Ranger fans means there probably wouldn’t be many Isles’ fans who would start rooting for their hated rivals.  New Jersey is the only other local hockey option, and people can actually get to the game by train.  Something they can’t do at the Coliseum in Nassau. By the way, this is an immutable law of successful sports arenas in the US, and a mantra of this blog.  You MUST have mass transit access.  Anywhere on the East Coast from Washington to Boston.  That’s just the way it is.  Ideally, you build in urban centers and use the facility to revitalize the downtown core.  Fans can get from Manhattan to Newark in about 15 minutes by train, so it’s not much added time or effort to get your hockey fix in a brand new arena compared to the hassle of getting to an Isles game.  Lord knows the Devils could use some fans.  Lou Lamoriello may be in the Hockey Hall of Fame, but he is no Marketing Genius.  It would be a great chance to fill those empty seats at the Rock.

In 1972, the NHL gave Long Island a franchise to keep the upstart WHA from putting a team in the newly completed Coliseum.  New York had two teams up until the 40’s, so it was a good business decision for the NHL to lock out the competition from the largest market in the country.  People were moving to the suburbs, White Flight was in full force, and the arena’s location reflected the rapidly changing demographics of the time.  But times have changed again, and people are moving back into the cities.  It’s just about impossible given the traffic congestion around New York to get from work to home to pick up the family, and then make it to the game on time.  Add that even if Wang’s vision, the Lighthouse project, even gets built, the new arena is only a small part of the project.  It is the surrounding development where Wang stands to make his money.  Just as much would be made by moving to Canada, though.  It may take a little longer, and it’s not as glamorous as building a new city on Long Island, where Wang lives.  But a franchise in the Toronto market is guaranteed to keep laying golden eggs, even if the team loses.  Just look at the Leafs.   

As much as it stings, Long Island, you’ve had your chance.  If you want to keep your team, vote out your elected officials who don’t believe NHL Hockey, the storied Islanders franchise, and a new arena are in the community’s best interests.  Elect someone who will cut through the bureaucracy.  Build a new arena and keep your franchise.  It’s that simple.  Otherwise, the NHL is leaving, and won’t return without a new building.  Regardless, it’s time for another team in the Greater Toronto Area.  Until Long Island gets their act together and resolves the embarrassment that they consider an arena, maybe it’s just an AHL territory.  It would be a shame to find out.

What Leafs games might look like if there was another team in Toronto

S. 43  11/12/09

Can anyone say wow? I am very sad to report that I missed the Caps amazing performance last night at home against the New York Islanders. Eleven seemed to be yesterday ’s (11/11) lucky number as the Caps had an 11-round shootout. Captain Chris Clark finally scored the winning goal to end a shootout that lasted more than 10 minutes long. For those of you who also unfortunately missed it or for those seeking to re-live that magical experience, here it is…

Too bad that video doesn’t actually include the winning goal, so here it is…

- Oh look at this Komi, it’s awful!

- What?… Ugh!

The Habs and the Leafs are behind the Islanders.