New York Islanders facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New York Islanders |
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| Conference | Eastern |
| Division | Metropolitan |
| Founded | 1972 |
| History | New York Islanders 1972–present |
| Home arena | UBS Arena |
| City | Elmont, New York |
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| Colors | Blue, orange, white |
| Media |
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| Owner(s) | New York Islanders Hockey Club, L.P. (Scott D. Malkin, governor) |
| General manager | Lou Lamoriello |
| Head coach | Patrick Roy |
| Captain | Anders Lee |
| Minor league affiliates | Bridgeport Islanders (AHL) Worcester Railers (ECHL) |
| Stanley Cups | 4 (1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83) |
| Conference championships | 6 (1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84) |
| Presidents' Trophies | 0 |
| Division championships | 6 (1977–78, 1978–79, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1987–88) |
The New York Islanders, often called the Isles, are a professional ice hockey team. They are based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders play in the National Hockey League (NHL). They are part of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. Their home games are played at UBS Arena. The Islanders are one of three NHL teams in the New York metropolitan area. The other two are the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers. Most of their fans live on Long Island.
The team started in 1972. The NHL wanted to stop a rival league, the World Hockey Association (WHA), from putting a team in the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. After two years of building their team, the Islanders quickly became successful. They made the playoffs for 14 seasons in a row, starting with their third year. The Islanders won four Stanley Cup championships in a row from 1980 to 1983. This was one of the greatest sports dynasties in NHL history. Their 19 playoff series wins in a row from 1980 to 1984 is a record no other professional sports team has matched. They were the last team in any major North American sport to win four championships in a row, and the last NHL team to win three in a row.
After their dynasty era, the team faced problems with money, ownership, and an old arena. Their struggles showed on the ice. They had not won a division title since 1987–88. They also went 22 seasons without winning a playoff series until the 2016 playoffs. After many tries to fix or replace Nassau Coliseum, the Islanders moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn after the 2014–15 season. For the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, they split their home games between Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum. The Islanders played all their home games in the 2020–21 season at Nassau Coliseum. Their new arena near Belmont Park opened in 2021.
Ten former Islanders players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Seven of them—Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, coach Al Arbour, and general manager Bill Torrey—were part of all four Stanley Cup-winning teams. Later players like Pat LaFontaine, Roberto Luongo, and Pierre Turgeon were also inducted.
Contents
- Team History
- Starting the Team (1972–1974)
- Becoming Stronger (1974–1979)
- The Dynasty Years (1979–1983)
- After the Dynasty (1983–1991)
- New Players and the 1993 Playoff Run (1991–1995)
- Ownership and Team Struggles (1995–2000)
- New Owners and Playoff Return (2000–2006)
- New Management and DiPietro's Contract (2006–2009)
- The Tavares Era Begins (2009–2015)
- Moving to Barclays Center and Playoff Win (2015–2017)
- Barzal's Rise and New Management (2017–Present)
- Team Identity
- Season-by-season record
- Players and Personnel
- Television and Radio
Team History
Starting the Team (1972–1974)
In 1972, a new hockey league, the World Hockey Association (WHA), wanted to put its New York team, the New York Raiders, in the new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum. County officials did not want the WHA team there. William Shea, who helped bring the Major League Baseball's New York Mets to the area, was asked to bring an NHL team to Long Island.
NHL president Clarence Campbell was open to adding a second team in New York. However, the New York Rangers did not want more competition in the area. Eventually, Campbell and Shea convinced the Rangers' owners to agree. The Rangers would get money for sharing the New York area. Also, having an NHL team in Nassau County would help keep most Rangers fans in New York City.
On November 8, 1971, the NHL gave a team to clothing maker Roy Boe, who also owned the American Basketball Association's New York Nets. This deal included a $6 million fee for the team and a $5 million fee to the Rangers. Another team, the Atlanta Flames, was also added to keep the league schedule balanced.
The name "New York Islanders" was announced on February 15, 1972. Many thought the team would be called the "Long Island Ducks" after a local team. Local newspapers soon nicknamed the team the "Isles." The Islanders' arrival meant trouble for the Raiders, who had to move from Madison Square Garden.
Bill Torrey, a former hockey executive, became the team's general manager. The Islanders picked veteran players like Ed Westfall, Gerry Hart, and Billy Smith in the 1972 expansion draft. They also drafted young stars like Billy Harris, Lorne Henning, and Bobby Nystrom. Torrey decided to build the team by drafting young players instead of trading for older ones. He said, "We'd have to develop our own stars." Westfall was named the team's first captain.
The Islanders won their first game on October 12, 1972, beating the Los Angeles Kings 3–2. In their first season, the young team had a record of 12 wins, 60 losses, and 6 ties. This was the worst record in NHL history at the time. However, they did beat the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins 9–7 on January 18, 1973.
Finishing last meant they got the first pick in the 1973 draft. Montreal Canadiens' general manager Sam Pollock wanted to draft Denis Potvin, a young defenseman called "the next Bobby Orr." Pollock offered a lot of money, but Torrey chose Potvin. Torrey also hired Al Arbour as coach. Potvin won the Calder Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year. The team still finished last, but they allowed 100 fewer goals than the season before. They also got their first win against the Rangers on October 27, 1973. Their 56 points were a big improvement from the previous season.
Becoming Stronger (1974–1979)
In the 1974 draft, the Islanders added young forwards Clark Gillies and Bryan Trottier. In the 1974–75 season, the Islanders made a huge improvement. They earned 88 points and made the playoffs for the first time. They beat the New York Rangers in the first round. J. P. Parise scored the winning goal just 11 seconds into overtime of the final game.
In the next round, they were down 3–0 in games against the Pittsburgh Penguins. But the Islanders made an amazing comeback, winning the next four games to take the series. Only a few other major North American sports teams have done this. They almost did it again in the next round against the Philadelphia Flyers, coming back from 3–0 down to force a seventh game. But the Flyers won Game 7 and went on to win the Stanley Cup.
The Islanders continued to improve in 1975–76, earning 101 points. This was their first 100-point season. Rookie center Trottier had 95 points and won the Calder Memorial Trophy. This was the first of four straight 100-point seasons for the team. Despite their regular season success, the Islanders had disappointing playoff losses from 1976 to 1979. They lost to the Montreal Canadiens in the semi-finals in 1976 and 1977.
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In the 1977 draft, Torrey picked Mike Bossy. Bossy was known as a great scorer. Coach Arbour convinced Torrey to pick him, saying it was easier to teach a scorer to play defense. In the 1977–78 season, Bossy won the Calder Trophy and scored 53 goals, a rookie record. The team won their first division title. Six players scored 30 goals or more, showing how well Torrey's draft strategy worked. But they lost in the quarterfinals to the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 7.
In 1978–79, the team had the best record in the NHL. Trottier won the Hart Memorial Trophy as league MVP and the Art Ross Trophy for most points. Bossy scored 69 goals. Despite their great regular season, the Islanders lost to the Rangers in the semi-finals. This loss made the players determined to win the Stanley Cup.
Off the ice, the team had financial problems. Owner Roy Boe sold the team to John Pickett. Pickett made Torrey the team president. Pickett also signed a very good TV deal with SportsChannel. This deal helped keep the team on Long Island for many years.
The Dynasty Years (1979–1983)
After the 1979 playoff loss, Coach Arbour decided to focus more on playoff performance than regular season wins. In 1980, the Islanders won the Stanley Cup for the first time.
Before the playoffs, Torrey traded popular veterans Billy Harris and Dave Lewis for center Butch Goring. Goring's arrival was called the "final piece of the puzzle." He was a strong two-way player. His presence meant opponents couldn't just focus on the top line of Bossy, Trottier, and Gillies. New players like Duane Sutter, Anders Kallur, Dave Langevin, Gord Lane, and Ken Morrow also helped a lot.
In the playoffs, the Islanders beat the Los Angeles Kings and the Boston Bruins. In the semi-finals, they faced the Buffalo Sabres, who were one of the best teams. The Islanders won in six games to reach the finals. They played against the Philadelphia Flyers, who had been undefeated for 35 games in the regular season. In Game 1, the Islanders won 4–3 in overtime. In Game 6, Bob Nystrom scored the winning goal in overtime. This gave Long Island its first Stanley Cup championship. Bryan Trottier won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP. Most of the players on the 1980 team were drafted and developed by the Islanders.
The Islanders were dominant for the next two seasons. Bossy scored 50 goals in 50 games in 1981. The Islanders lost only three playoff games that year. They beat the Minnesota North Stars in five games to win their second Stanley Cup. Goring won the Conn Smythe Trophy. During their sweep of the Rangers, Islanders fans started chanting "1940!" This referred to the Rangers' last Stanley Cup win in 1940.
In 1981–82, the Islanders won a record 15 games in a row. They finished with a franchise-record 118 points. Mike Bossy set a scoring record for right-wingers with 147 points. In the playoffs, they faced the Pittsburgh Penguins. John Tonelli scored the tying goal and the overtime winner in Game 5. After beating the Rangers, they swept both the Quebec Nordiques and the Vancouver Canucks. This gave them their third straight championship. Bossy scored the Cup-winning goal and won the Conn Smythe Trophy.
The next year, the Edmonton Oilers with young superstar Wayne Gretzky were getting a lot of attention. In 1982–83, the Oilers had a better regular season. But the Islanders swept them in the Stanley Cup Finals to win their fourth straight championship. Billy Smith was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner for shutting down the Oilers' offense. Gretzky did not score a goal in the series. After the game, the Oilers realized how much effort it took to win the Stanley Cup.
After the Dynasty (1983–1991)
In the 1983–84 season, the Islanders finished tied for the best record in their conference. They were trying for a fifth straight Stanley Cup. They beat the Rangers in the first round for the fourth year in a row. Then they defeated the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadiens. This set up a rematch with the Oilers in the finals. This time, the Oilers beat the Islanders, winning their first Stanley Cup. The Oilers also ended the Islanders' amazing 19-series playoff winning streak. This is still the longest streak in professional sports history.
The Islanders remained competitive for a few more years. But some of their star players from the Cup teams left. The owner, John Pickett, also stopped putting as much money back into the team. This made it harder to replace departing talent. In the mid-1980s, they faced tough competition from the Philadelphia Flyers and the Capitals.
In 1986, Nystrom retired, and Clark Gillies left the team. Coach Arbour retired after the 1985–86 season. He was replaced by Terry Simpson. In the 1987 playoffs against the Capitals, the Islanders were down 3–1 in the series. But they came back to tie it. This led to one of the most famous games in NHL history: the "Easter Epic." Goalie Kelly Hrudey stopped 73 shots. Pat LaFontaine scored the winning goal at 1:56 a.m. on Easter Sunday morning, after four periods of overtime. The Islanders lost to the Flyers in the next round. Mike Bossy retired after this season due to back pain.
In the following season, the Islanders won another division title. But they lost in the first round of the playoffs to the New Jersey Devils. Denis Potvin retired after the playoffs. He held records for most goals, assists, and points by a defenseman. The team's good luck with drafting players also started to run out.
The 1988–89 season was tough. The Islanders won only seven of their first 27 games. Torrey fired Simpson and brought Arbour back. But the team finished with one of the worst records in the league. It was their first losing season and first time missing the playoffs since their second year. Smith, the last original Islander, retired. The team's ownership changed, and they signed a good TV contract with MSG Sportsnet. In the next season, the Islanders made the playoffs but lost to the Rangers. Bryan Trottier left the team. The 1990–91 season saw the team miss the playoffs again.
New Players and the 1993 Playoff Run (1991–1995)
Pat LaFontaine was unhappy with the team's struggles. In October 1991, Torrey made two big trades. He sent LaFontaine and others to the Buffalo Sabres for Pierre Turgeon, Benoit Hogue, Uwe Krupp, and Dave McLlwain. He also traded captain Brent Sutter to the Chicago Blackhawks for Steve Thomas and Adam Creighton. These new players, along with Derek King, Ray Ferraro, Patrick Flatley, Vladimir Malakhov, and Darius Kasparaitis, gave the Islanders a new start. However, Torrey was forced to resign, and Don Maloney became the new general manager.
In Maloney's first year, 1992–93, the Islanders made the playoffs. Turgeon had a great season and won the Lady Byng Trophy.
Ray Ferraro became a playoff hero, scoring two overtime winning goals against the Capitals. But after winning Game 6, the Islanders were upset. Their star player, Turgeon, was hit from behind by Dale Hunter and was injured. Hunter received a long suspension.
The Islanders' next opponent was the Pittsburgh Penguins, who had won the Stanley Cup twice in a row. The Penguins were heavily favored. But the Islanders pulled off a huge upset! Goalie Glenn Healy played amazingly well. David Volek scored the winning goal in overtime of Game 7. Newsday newspaper called it "a Miracle!" This was the last playoff series the Islanders won for 23 years. Turgeon returned for the next round against the Montreal Canadiens, but he was not fully recovered. The Islanders lost to the Canadiens in five tough games. The Canadiens then went on to win the Stanley Cup.
Maloney made some changes after the season. The Islanders barely made the 1994 playoffs. They were then swept by the Rangers, who went on to win the Cup. This was the Islanders' last playoff appearance until 2002. Coach Arbour retired for good, and Lorne Henning took over. In the lockout-shortened 1994–95 season, the Islanders missed the playoffs.
Ownership and Team Struggles (1995–2000)
By the end of the 1994–95 season, Maloney was criticized by fans. He traded Turgeon and Malakhov to the Montreal Canadiens for Kirk Muller and Mathieu Schneider. He also traded Hogue to Toronto for young goalie Eric Fichaud. The team's leading scorer, Ferraro, also left. Fans were unhappy about trading Turgeon. Muller did not want to join a rebuilding team and was soon traded.
Before the 1996 season, Maloney hired Mike Milbury as head coach. The team also changed its logo to a fisherman holding a hockey stick. Fans hated it, and rival Rangers fans called the Islanders "fishsticks." The team went back to its old logo as soon as they could. The team finished last that year. Maloney was fired, and Milbury took over as both coach and general manager. Milbury later stepped down as coach but remained general manager.
During this time, the team struggled on the ice. There were also problems with ownership. Pickett sold the team to John Spano in 1996. But Spano was a fraud and did not have the money to buy the team. He was later sent to prison. The NHL was criticized for not checking his background properly. The story was even made into an ESPN documentary called Big Shot.
Pickett finally sold the team to a group led by Howard Milstein and Steven Gluckstern. They initially tried to build a better team by trading for players like Trevor Linden. But when the team still missed the playoffs, the new owners decided to cut costs. They traded or released many popular players to save money. This included star scorer Zigmund Palffy and captain Linden. Attendance at games dropped even more.
New Owners and Playoff Return (2000–2006)
In 2000, Computer Associates executives Charles Wang and Sanjay Kumar bought the team. Fans hoped this would turn things around. The new owners allowed Milbury to spend money on players. However, some of his first moves were unpopular. He traded future stars Roberto Luongo and Olli Jokinen for Oleg Kvasha and Mark Parrish. Milbury also surprised everyone by picking Rick DiPietro first in the 2000 draft, instead of other top players. Reporters and fans were confused and angry. Milbury was nicknamed "Mad Mike" for his controversial decisions. He fired coach Butch Goring and hired Peter Laviolette.
Before the 2001–02 season, the Islanders made three important additions. They got Alexei Yashin from the Ottawa Senators. They traded prospects for Michael Peca, who became the team's captain. They also got goalie Chris Osgood from the Detroit Red Wings. These additions helped a lot. The team started the season with a great record and finished with 96 points, a huge improvement. In the 2002 Stanley Cup playoffs, they faced the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Islanders lost a very physical series in seven games.
Despite the promise, the Islanders started the 2002–03 season slowly. They made the playoffs but lost in the first round to the Ottawa Senators. Milbury fired Laviolette and replaced him with Steve Stirling. In the next season, the Islanders again lost in the first round of the playoffs, this time to the Tampa Bay Lightning.
After the 2004–05 NHL lockout, the Islanders made moves to improve their offense for the next season. They traded Peca for Mike York and signed Miroslav Satan. They also changed their defense. Yashin was named the new captain. The team's play was inconsistent, and Stirling was fired midway through the season.
New Management and DiPietro's Contract (2006–2009)
On January 11, 2006, Milbury announced he would step down as general manager. Neil Smith was hired as general manager, and Ted Nolan became head coach. But Smith was fired after only about a month. He was quickly replaced by the team's backup goalie, Garth Snow, who retired from playing to take the job.
On September 12, 2006, the Islanders signed goalie Rick DiPietro to a 15-year, $67.5 million contract. This was believed to be the longest contract in NHL history at the time. DiPietro, owner Wang, and Snow all felt it was a good move.
Most experts thought the Islanders would be a bad team. But Snow traded for forward Ryan Smyth in February 2007. Injuries to DiPietro caused problems, but the team still made the playoffs. They qualified with a late-season winning streak. They lost their first-round series to the Buffalo Sabres in five games.
In June 2007, the team bought out captain Alexei Yashin's contract. Many other players left. In July 2007, the Islanders signed Bill Guerin to a two-year contract, and he became the new captain. Mike Comrie, Andy Sutton, and Jon Sim also joined the team. That summer, former coach Al Arbour returned for one game to reach 1,500 games coached. He signed a one-day contract and coached the Islanders to a 3–2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team stayed in the playoff race until many injuries caused them to drop in the standings.
At the 2008 NHL entry draft, the Islanders traded down to pick center Josh Bailey. They also added Mark Streit and Doug Weight. The team fired coach Ted Nolan and replaced him with Scott Gordon. Snow traded Comrie and captain Bill Guerin before the trade deadline.
In the 2008–09 season, the Islanders finished last in the league. This was their worst record since 2000–01. After the season, they won the draft lottery, giving them the first pick in the 2009 NHL entry draft.
The Tavares Era Begins (2009–2015)
To rebuild the team with young talent, the Islanders picked John Tavares first overall in the 2009 NHL entry draft. Tavares was considered the top prospect. The Islanders also drafted defenseman Calvin de Haan, Casey Cizikas, and Anders Lee. These players would become important parts of the team.
The 2009–10 season started slowly. The team struggled with injuries and finished near the bottom of the standings again. This led to them getting the fifth overall pick in the 2010 draft. They drafted young forwards Nino Niederreiter and Brock Nelson. The 2010–11 season also started with a long losing streak. Coach Scott Gordon was fired and replaced by Jack Capuano. The team also got Michael Grabner, who scored 34 goals and was a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy. This season also featured a big fight between the Islanders and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The next season was a great year for Tavares. He was named an assistant captain and had 31 goals and 50 assists. He was also chosen for the NHL All-Star Game. His teammate Matt Moulson also had a strong season. Despite their top players, the team finished near the bottom of the league. They used their early draft pick in the 2012 draft to select defenseman Griffin Reinhart.
On August 1, 2011, voters in Nassau County rejected a plan for a new arena. This followed owner Charles Wang's failed plan to build a new development. People started to wonder if the team would move.
On October 24, 2012, the Islanders announced they would move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the 2015–16 season. They signed a lease to stay there until 2040. The team kept its name, logo, and colors. The move did not need the Rangers' approval because Brooklyn is on Long Island.
In the 2012–13 season, the team had a long unbeaten streak. On April 23, 2013, they made the playoffs for the first time since 2007. Goalie Evgeni Nabokov helped them. They lost in six games to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first round.
On September 10, 2013, Tavares became the 14th captain in Islanders history. The team traded Matt Moulson for Thomas Vanek. Vanek played well with Tavares and Kyle Okposo. But he wanted to become a free agent, so he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens. The Islanders missed the playoffs in 2014.
In the 2014 off-season, the Islanders made several moves to improve the team for their final season at Nassau Coliseum. They got goalie Jaroslav Halak and signed him to a four-year contract. They also signed Mikhail Grabovski, Nikolai Kulemin, and goalie Chad Johnson. On October 4, they traded for Johnny Boychuk from the Boston Bruins and Nick Leddy from the Chicago Blackhawks.
The NHL approved the sale of the Islanders to businessmen Jon Ledecky and Scott D. Malkin in October 2014. They became full owners in 2016.
The Islanders finished the 2014–15 season with 101 points. They played the Washington Capitals in the first round of the 2015 playoffs. On April 19, 2015, John Tavares scored in overtime to win Game 3 for the Islanders. The Islanders lost Games 4 and 5 but won Game 6 to force a Game 7. However, they lost Game 7 to the Capitals. Game 6 was the Islanders' last game at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum for a while.
Moving to Barclays Center and Playoff Win (2015–2017)
In June 2015, the Islanders drafted Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier. They also drafted Andong Song, the first Chinese player drafted by an NHL team.
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The Islanders played their first game at Barclays Center on October 9, 2015. They lost in overtime to the Chicago Blackhawks. The team finished fourth in their division with 100 points, earning a playoff spot. In the first round of the playoffs, they faced the Florida Panthers. Goalie Thomas Greiss played well. The Islanders won Game 5 in double overtime with a goal from Alan Quine. In Game 6, Tavares tied the game late and then scored the winning goal in double overtime. This gave the Islanders their first playoff series win since 1993! In the second round, they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.
In the summer of 2016, longtime Islanders Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Martin left the team. Snow signed Andrew Ladd and Jason Chimera to fill their spots. The 2016–17 season started poorly. Coach Jack Capuano was fired and replaced by Doug Weight. Capuano was the second-winningest coach in team history. Goalie Jaroslav Halak was sent to the minor leagues.
In early 2017, there were rumors that Barclays Center wanted to remove the Islanders due to low attendance. The arena was also not ideal for hockey. Commissioner Gary Bettman said the team was looking into building a new arena at Belmont Park.
Despite winning their last six games, the Islanders missed the playoffs by one point in 2016–17.
Barzal's Rise and New Management (2017–Present)
On February 9, 2018, rookie Mathew Barzal had his third five-point game. He was only the second rookie to do so in NHL history. Barzal finished the season with 85 points. He led all NHL rookies in points. Barzal won the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year. He was the first Islander to win the award since 1997.
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In the 2018 off-season, the Islanders announced that Lou Lamoriello would be their new president of hockey operations and general manager. Barry Trotz was hired as head coach. Captain John Tavares left the team to join the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent.
In the 2018–19 season, the Islanders split their home games between Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum. This continued for two more seasons until their new arena, UBS Arena in Elmont, was finished. The Islanders had a successful 2018–19 season, making the playoffs at home for the first time in 17 years. Nassau Coliseum hosted their home playoff games. In the first round of the 2019 playoffs, the Islanders swept the Pittsburgh Penguins. But they were then swept by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round.
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In February 2020, it was announced the Islanders would return to Nassau Coliseum for the 2020 playoffs and the 2020–21 season. This was until UBS Arena opened. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the 2019–20 season. The Islanders qualified for the playoffs and beat the Florida Panthers. They then defeated the Washington Capitals in five games. After a tough seven-game series against the Philadelphia Flyers, the Islanders reached the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 1993. However, they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games. In December 2020, the team's ownership took full control.
The Islanders made the playoffs again in the shortened 2020–21 season. They beat the Penguins and Bruins. But they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning again, this time in seven games.
The Islanders started the 2021–22 season with a long road trip while UBS Arena was being finished. Many players got COVID-19 before the first home game on November 20, 2021. They lost their home opener. Brock Nelson scored the first Islander goal at UBS Arena. The Islanders won their first game at UBS Arena on December 11. They missed the playoffs after three straight trips. On May 9, 2022, coach Barry Trotz was fired and replaced by Lane Lambert. In the next season, the Islanders made the playoffs but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes.
After a difficult start to the 2023–24 season, coach Lane Lambert was fired on January 20, 2024. Patrick Roy was hired as his replacement. The Islanders finished third in their division but lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.
Team Identity
Logo
The original Islanders logo was a circle with "NY" over a map of Nassau and Suffolk counties. The bottom of the "Y" looks like a hockey stick with three orange stripes and a puck. The team name is written below, and the tip of the "I" points to Uniondale, where Nassau Coliseum is.
Before the 1995–96 season, the Islanders tried a new logo. It showed a fisherman holding a hockey stick. Fans hated it, and rival Rangers fans called the Islanders "fishsticks." The team went back to a modified version of the old logo as soon as they could. The only change was the colors, from royal blue to navy blue.
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In 2008, the Islanders added four orange stripes to the hockey stick in their logo. These stripes represent their four Stanley Cup wins. This became the team's main logo in 2010.
For their 2014 NHL Stadium Series jerseys, the Islanders used a simpler "NY" logo. Versions of this have appeared on other jerseys since.
Jerseys
The Islanders started in 1972 with classic-style jerseys. One was white with orange and royal blue stripes. The other was royal blue with white and orange stripes. The design stayed mostly the same until the 1994–95 season.
Before the 1995–96 season, the team changed its jerseys. The fisherman logo was used, with navy blue, brighter orange, teal, and gray. The jersey also had a lighthouse patch and wavy stripes. Fans disliked these jerseys. The team brought back the old circular "NY" logo on alternate jerseys in 1996–97. They adopted these permanently in 1997–98.
Before the 1998–99 season, the jerseys went back to a traditional design. They kept the navy blue and bright orange. They added a shoulder patch with four bars to show their four Stanley Cup championships. An orange alternate jersey was added in 2002.
For the 2007–08 season, the Islanders redesigned their uniforms for the new Reebok Edge system. These jerseys looked similar but had numbers on the right chest.
A royal blue throwback jersey was introduced the next season. Before the 2010–11 season, this throwback became their new home jersey. A matching white road jersey was also unveiled.
For the following season, they had a black alternate jersey with gray shoulders. The team name was on the front. These were not very popular and were used only for two seasons.
During the 2014 NHL Stadium Series, the Islanders wore a special jersey. It had a chrome "NY" on the front. This jersey became an alternate in the 2014–15 season.
The Islanders retired the Stadium Series jersey after one season. They replaced it with a new black alternate jersey for their move to Brooklyn. This version had very little blue and orange. The four white stripes on the sleeves represent their four Stanley Cup wins.
When the NHL switched to Adidas in 2017, the Islanders kept their main jerseys. They also released a new blue alternate jersey for the 2018–19 season. It had an updated "NY" logo and a map of Long Island on the collar.
In the 2020–21 season, the Islanders released a "Reverse Retro" uniform. It used the navy blue and bright orange colors from 1995 to 2010. A second "Reverse Retro" uniform in 2022–23 used the "Fisherman" design but with fewer teal elements.
During the 2024 NHL Stadium Series, the Islanders wore navy blue jerseys with a thick orange stripe. "ISLES" was written in navy blue letters within the orange stripe.
Mascot and Ice Crew
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The Islanders' mascot is named "Sparky the Dragon." In the mid-1990s, the Islanders had a mascot named "Nyisles." Nyisles was later brought back in December 2022 with a new look.
From 2001–02 to 2014–15, the Islanders had an "Ice Girls" crew. These women skated onto the ice during breaks to clean the snow. Starting in 2015–16, a co-ed ice crew replaced the Ice Girls.
Season-by-season record
- This is only a partial list of the last five seasons. For the full season-by-season history, see List of New York Islanders seasons
Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against
| Season | GP | W | L | OTL | Pts | GF | GA | Finish | Playoffs |
| 2019–20 | 68 | 35 | 23 | 10 | 80 | 192 | 193 | 5th, Metropolitan | Lost in conference finals, 2–4 (Lightning) |
| 2020–21 | 56 | 32 | 17 | 7 | 71 | 156 | 128 | 4th, East | Lost in Stanley Cup semifinals, 3–4 (Lightning) |
| 2021–22 | 82 | 37 | 35 | 10 | 84 | 231 | 237 | 5th, Metropolitan | Did not qualify |
| 2022–23 | 82 | 42 | 31 | 9 | 93 | 243 | 222 | 4th, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 2–4 (Hurricanes) |
| 2023–24 | 82 | 39 | 27 | 16 | 94 | 246 | 263 | 3rd, Metropolitan | Lost in first round, 1–4 (Hurricanes) |
Players and Personnel
Current Roster
Updated March 1, 2017
| # | Nat | Player | Pos | S/G | Age | Acquired | Birthplace |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 |  |
Josh Bailey | RW | L | 35 | 2008 | Bowmanville, Ontario |
| 72 | |
Anthony Beauvillier | LW | L | 28 | 2015 | Sorel-Tracy, Quebec |
| 30 | |
Jean-Francois Berube | G | L | 33 | 2015 | Repentigny, Quebec |
| 55 | |
Johnny Boychuk | D | R | 41 | 2014 | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 25 | |
Jason Chimera | LW | L | 46 | 2016 | Edmonton, Alberta |
| 53 | |
Casey Cizikas | C | L | 34 | 2009 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 15 | |
Cal Clutterbuck (A)  |
RW | R | 37 | 2013 | Welland, Ontario |
| 44 | |
Calvin de Haan | D | L | 34 | 2009 | Carp, Ontario |
| 24 |  |
Stephen Gionta | C | R | 41 | 2016 | Rochester, New York |
| 84 |  |
Mikhail Grabovski |
C | L | 41 | 2014 | Potsdam, East Germany |
| 1 |  |
Thomas Greiss | G | L | 39 | 2015 | Füssen, West Germany |
| 3 | |
Travis Hamonic (A) |
D | R | 34 | 2008 | St. Malo, Manitoba |
| 14 | |
Thomas Hickey | D | L | 36 | 2013 | Calgary, Alberta |
| 66 | |
Josh Ho-Sang | C | R | 29 | 2014 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 86 |  |
Nikolay Kulemin | LW | L | 38 | 2014 | Magnitogorsk, Soviet Union |
| 16 | |
Andrew Ladd (A) | LW | L | 39 | 2016 | Maple Ridge, British Columbia |
| 2 | |
Nick Leddy | D | L | 34 | 2014 | Eden Prairie, Minnesota |
| 27 | |
Anders Lee | LW | L | 34 | 2009 | Edina, Minnesota |
| 42 | |
Scott Mayfield | D | R | 32 | 2011 | St. Louis, Missouri |
| 29 | |
Brock Nelson | LW | L | 33 | 2010 | Warroad, Minnesota |
| 50 | |
Adam Pelech | D | L | 30 | 2015 | Toronto, Ontario |
| 11 | |
Shane Prince |
C | L | 32 | 2016 | Rochester, New York |
| 10 | |
Alan Quine | C | L | 32 | 2013 | Belleville, Ontario |
| 4 | |
Dennis Seidenberg | D | L | 43 | 2016 | Villingen-Schwenningen, West Germany |
| 18 | |
Ryan Strome | RW | R | 31 | 2011 | Mississauga, Ontario |
| 91 | |
John Tavares (C) | C | L | 34 | 2009 | Mississauga, Ontario |
Honored Members
The Islanders have retired eight jersey numbers to honor important players:
| No. | Player | Position | Career | Date of retirement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Denis Potvin | D | 1973–1988 | February 1, 1992 |
| 9 | Clark Gillies | LW | 1974–1986 | December 7, 1996 |
| 19 | Bryan Trottier | C | 1975–1990 | October 20, 2001 |
| 22 | Mike Bossy | RW | 1977–1987 | March 3, 1992 |
| 23 | Bob Nystrom | RW | 1972–1986 | April 1, 1995 |
| 27 | John Tonelli | LW | 1978–1986 | February 21, 2020 |
| 31 | Billy Smith | G | 1972–1989 | February 20, 1993 |
| 91 | Butch Goring | C | 1980–1985 | February 29, 2020 |
Eight former Islanders players are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. These include Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Pat LaFontaine, Roberto Luongo, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, and Pierre Turgeon. Bossy and Potvin were the first Islanders inducted in 1991. Turgeon was the most recent in 2023.
Two team builders, Bill Torrey and Al Arbour, were also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Lou Lamoriello, the current general manager, was inducted in 2009.
The Islanders also have their own Hall of Fame. Five of the Hall of Fame players (Bossy, Gillies, Potvin, Smith, and Trottier) are in it, along with Bob Bourne. Other members include Ed Westfall, Ken Morrow, Patrick Flatley, Kenny Jonsson, John Tonelli, and Butch Goring. Brent Sutter will be inducted in January 2025.
Two other banners hang with the retired numbers. One honors Al Arbour for coaching 1,500 games. The other honors Bill Torrey, who was a general manager and president for the team. His banner features his trademark bowtie.
The NHL retired Wayne Gretzky's No. 99 for all teams in 2000.
Franchise Records and Scoring Leaders
Bryan Trottier holds the team record for most points (1,353) and most games played (1,123). Only Trottier, Mike Bossy, and Denis Potvin have scored over 1,000 points for the team. Potvin is the only defenseman in the top ten scoring leaders.
- Scoring Leaders
These are the top-ten point-scorers in Islanders history.
- * – current Islanders player
Note: Pos = Position; GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; P/G = Points per game
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- Individual Season Records
- Most goals in a season – Mike Bossy, 69 (1978–79)
- Most assists in a season – Bryan Trottier, 87 (1978–79)
- Most points in a season – Mike Bossy, 147 (1981–82)
- Most penalty minutes in a season – Brian Curran, 356 (1986–87)
- Most points in a season (defenseman) – Denis Potvin, 101 (1978–79)
- Most points in a season (rookie) – Bryan Trottier, 95 (1975–76)
- Most wins in a season – Jaroslav Halak, 38 (2014–15)
Team Captains
| Captain | Term |
|---|---|
| Ed Westfall | 1972–1977 |
| Clark Gillies | 1977–1979 |
| Denis Potvin | 1979–1987 |
| Brent Sutter | 1987–1991 |
| Patrick Flatley | 1991–1996 |
| Bryan McCabe | 1997–1998 |
| Trevor Linden | 1998–1999 |
| Kenny Jonsson | 1999–2000 |
| Michael Peca | 2001–2004 |
| Alexei Yashin | 2005–2007 |
| Bill Guerin | 2007–2009 |
| Doug Weight | 2009–2011 |
| Mark Streit | 2011–2013 |
| John Tavares | 2013–2018 |
| Anders Lee | 2018–present |
The Islanders have had 15 team captains. The first was Ed Westfall. Michael Peca is the only other captain to win an award during his time as captain. Denis Potvin was captain for the longest time, from 1979 to 1987. Bryan McCabe served for the shortest time.
The team had no captain in the 1996–97 season and the 2000–01 season. The Islanders' current captain is Anders Lee, named on October 4, 2018.
General Managers
The general manager is Lou Lamoriello. He took the job on June 5, 2018.
Head Coaches
The current head coach of the Islanders is Patrick Roy. He was named to the role on January 20, 2024.
Television and Radio
Most Islanders games are shown on local sports channels MSG Sportsnet and MSGSN 2. Brendan Burke is the play-by-play announcer. Former Islanders player Butch Goring is the color analyst. Shannon Hogan is the studio host.
Islanders radio broadcasts are mainly on WRHU (88.7 FM) in Hempstead. Some games are on WEPN-FM and WRCN-FM. WRHU is the student radio station of Hofstra University. Chris King is the play-by-play announcer, and Greg Picker provides color commentary.
The Islanders are unique because they use a non-commercial radio station as their main outlet. This is because other New York area teams fill most available sports radio stations.
WCBS started airing Islanders games in 2016. The games later moved to WNYM and WMCA before being consolidated on WEPN in 2019.
