Islanders Anxiety: A New York Islanders podcast

Mike and Dan recap the Islanders' good week that ended in a wet fart, then take a look at a benchmark game coming up and the latest trade request from an NHL star.

The Islanders started the week with two huge but unlikely wins - in a shootout over Nashville and in overtime in Minnesota. Both games featured great performances and the structure we've come to expect from them this season. Matthew Schaefer got most of the notices, but his five minute shift in overtime against the Predators wasn't even close to the most impressive thing he did this week. A return Halloween home game against the Oilers started off bad and devolved into a circus before settling as a 4-0 loss. The best thing they can do now is wipe the slate clean of it and make it just a blip in this long season.

They'll get the chance to do that this week against the defending Stanley Cup champion Hurricanes. If they can hang with Carolina or even beat them, it will go a long way in determining how the rest of the season goes. Then it's another home game against the Devils and their new goalie, Connor Hellebyuck. They need to win at least one before heading to California next week.

Finally, we discuss Nikita Kucherov's surprise trade request and how it ties back to Dylan Larkin's ongoing trade saga. Kucherov hasn't set his career on fire the way Larkin has, but the way these have been covered is as annoying as the knowledge that the Islanders will not be a landing spot for them or any other premier player who's available.

More than anything, this team needs a talent upgrade. But between their own slow pace, locked in contracts and status outside of the rest of the NHL, they're going to need to get creative.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends!

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⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan recap the Islanders' up-and-down week, look ahead to a scary schedule and bring receipts to an epic Master Sens Theatre.

The Islanders won one fun game, lost a game in overtime they were the better team in and then lost to a contender that overmatched them by a lot. With four regulars out of the lineup, their already pop gun offense and frequent missed opportunities looked even worse. They also have some games coming up in places they never win, making the mediocre results they got much more dire. There were things to like, like electric Matthew Schaefer goals, players who needed it cashing in and Pete DeBoer's structure still being executed well. But the reality of what this team is is settling in, and the good feelings from last week are fading.

We also discuss the team's unforced error of trying to "explain" Mat Barzal's absence and when - or if - he'll be back in the lineup. This also ties back to early season attendance issues and the lingering UBS Arena parking problem the organization doesn't seem to want to address. It would be great to make people feel good again with some wins in unlikely places and at home on Halloween. But the Magic 8 Ball isn't coming up in their favor.

In the second half, we also discuss the Connor Hellebyuck trade to New Jersey and the Metro Division before diving into an operatic Master Sens Theatre about the already legendary Brady Tkachuk return game. Everyone loves how Ottawa fans brutalized their former captain all game long, which is a far cry from how they treated Islanders fans who did the same thing to their traitorous returning captain back in 2019. But don't take our word for it; we've got the tweets, articles and quotes to prove what we know was true.

Make sure to come to our next meetup at Zofia's Hideout (82nd St, NYC) on Tuesday for the Islanders-Predators game.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan are joined by Pascal Morency and Blog Box veteran Tom Liodice to discuss the tough guy's time with Bridgeport and one preseason game with the Islanders.

Pascal Morency has a well-traveled career in hockey, providing grit, scoring and community service to teams across Canada, the US and Europe. He spent three seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, then one of the tougher teams in the AHL. Although he only had one preseason game in a New York Islanders jersey, it was a memorable one, with Morency coming to the aid of a fallen Kyle Okposo after he was laid out on a dirty hit by Calgary captain Dion Phanuef.

In the first half of the episode, we talk with Tom about the legendary Islanders Blog Box and what it was like covering the team as a fan in those early internet days. We then discuss Morency's impact and our lasting impressions from the one game most will remember him playing for the organization. It was a dark time for the Islanders, and seeing one of their bright young stars get injured in a meaningless game made it just a little bit more painful. Players like Morency helped us feel that at least someone had our back.

Then in the second half, we're joined by Morency himself, as he candidly recounts his time in Bridgeport, his fondness for those years and for the community he served so readily, his favorite teammates and some memorable fights. He talks about his continued closeless with another Sound Tigers soldier, Trevor Gillies, having to learn how to fight with one hand after one particularly gruesome injury and once tussling with a guy named Robin Big Snake. True story.

Thanks again to Pascal for joining us and sharing his great memories. And a huge thanks to Tom for not only being a great guest himself, but putting us in contact with Pascal. We also have a Weird Islanders Extra! bonus podcast with Tom where we discuss a photograph that's a snapshot of what kind of team the Sound Tigers had in the late 2000's.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends:

•

Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, and our Al Arbour and The Island merch which benefit dementia research. Use the code ANXIETY20 to save 20% off an order of two items.

•

The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit https://Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.

Drum sfx via https://Zapsplat.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan effusively praise the Islanders for their gutsy performance in Toronto on Saturday night, and celebrate with some Master Leaf Theatre.

The Islanders have won some games over the last few years, but none have made us as proud to be fans as Saturday's 4-1 win over the Maple Leafs. Down bodies going into the game and losing two more during it, the visitors took it to the home team as if they had something to prove. The victory meant more than just two points; it mean coach Peter deBoer's system can work and the players can execute it and win. The two preceding games - a win over Vancouver and a shootout loss to Ottawa - being shaky and less than impressive made Saturday's triumph even more sweet.

The news might get worse but for now, they have to follow up those good vibes starting with games against Anaheim and LA at home, then a Central Division road trip that begins in Dallas on Sunday. Winning at home is key, especially if you want the fanbase to believe as much as the players do. We finish with, of course, some post-game Master Leaf Theatre readings that prove once again that A. no one outside of us watches the Islanders and B. Leafs fans love expecting the best and then letting gutless performances like Saturday reorder their reality. But hey, at least Gavin McKenna and the coach are cool with each other.

Our next meetup at Zofia's Hideout (82nd St, NYC) will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan recap a week of close-but-no-cigar games and discuss the season-ending injury to Alexander Romanov (and Igor Shesterkin).

In losses to the Rangers and Lightning, the Islanders showed some good things, but ultimately came away with zero points, which is a problem even this early in the season. At 2-3-0, they once again are starting a campaign in a middling, alternating way, while teams around them have hit the ground running. True, it could always be worse (just look at the Blackhawks, who the Islanders beat last Thursday), but it's fair to wonder why it's never better, and why no one ever demands more from these players who supposedly care so much about winning and each other. The Islanders somehow never have enough to beat the good teams and have to have everything go exactly right in order to come away victorious against even the bad ones.

In the second half, we look ahead towards another week of winnable games. Returning with at least a .500 record is a must but is it too much to ask for three straight wins, against one bad team and two pretty good ones? It is for these guys. We also look at both the human toll and the on-ice effect of the Romanov injury. While the boys in the room will miss their fallen teammate, don't hold your breath for any reinforcements or replacements. As for Shesterkin, don't worry; the Rangers will be fine. They always are.

We'll be recording our Monthly Mail Bag podcast for October, so be sure to get to Patreon.com/IslandersAnxiety, sign up for the Country Club tier and get your questions in. The podcast will release on Tuesday exclusively for Country Club tier subscribers.

Our next meetup at Zofia's Hideout (82nd St, NYC) will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more.

Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harold Griffin, guitarist and songwriter for Long Island-based punk band Koyo, helps us kick off Season 6 of Weird Islanders by talking about distinguished defenseman Dennis Seidenberg's odd path to the team.

Seidenberg was both unlikely and perfect for the Islanders at the same time. A Stanley Cup champion in Boston and as solid and respected a player on the ice as you'll find anywhere, he suddenly found himself bought out of his contract at 34-years old. After a great showing for Team Europe at the World Cup of Hockey, GM Garth Snow signed Seidenberg to a one-year contract just before training camp, one of the most Islanders-esque moves we've ever seen. It turns out the big German still had a lot in the tank and provided the young team with the same steady play he was already known for. Although injuries derailed his second season with the club, he found a new and very important role in a longstanding Islanders lineage: as landlord to one of the team's up-and-coming stars.

Harold talks to us about how Long Island, the Islanders and sports have shaped him and his band, Koyo. We reminisce about Seidenberg's short Islanders tenure, his surprisingly sick stat line of that first season, the Isles' connections to the Bruins and the "New York Saints" spring of a few seasons later, and how Seidenberg has become one of the most Long Island-Weird Islanders ever. We also sneak a surprise extra Weird Islander in there, who even more surprisingly comes up again in our next episode!

Thanks again to Harold for coming on. We also have a Weird Islanders Extra! bonus episode where he tells us about getting harassed by Canadians for wearing Islanders gear on stage

and other observations from rock n' roll touring. Check out Koyo on YouTube, Spotify, Bandcamp or wherever you get your music and see them on tour starting this December at Warsaw in Brooklyn.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more.Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan recap the Islanders' first two games of the season, including an emphatic and historic home opening win over the Devils, as well as bring forth the first Master Leaf Theatre of a new year.

The Islanders went into the season with some bad vibes. The postseason was long and disappointing, even the new guys on the roster felt stale and the GM tried to bullshit the fanbase by talking about how much he "tried" to make meaningful changes. It didn't feel better after a blah 2-1 loss in Toronto, of all places, in Game 1. But Game 2 was different - with a cascade of goals, solid all around play and the first NHL tally for "The Agent of Chaos" Victor Eklund, who also got a happy birthday singalong, it was a party for everyone in blue-and-orange. Suddenly, the future seems bright again for what feels like the first time in years.

We hope to keep the good times rolling into Week 2, with games against the rising Rangers, beatable Blackhawks and litmus test Lightning on the horizon. These games will give us a true indication of what this team and season will be like for the next... [checks notes]... 82 games?

Of course a game against the Leafs means a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre for the new year. This one needs almost no introduction before it goes off the rails biblically (literally). We also have rookies skipping optional skates with their coach's blessing, more detail on a goal song than anyone will ever need and a computer masquerading as a man all the way to one of the most powerful seats in the land. It's an epic kick off to a fan favorite bit that keeps on giving.

Thanks again to everyone who came to either Zofia's Hideout on Wednesday or the game on Saturday (or both) and stopped by to say hello. We really appreciate the face-to-face meetings and kind words. Our next meetup at Zofia's will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27. More info to come.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more.Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan wrap up the Islanders preseason and prepare for the start of real games, while making two big announcements for this week.

The Islanders went 1-3 in the preseason, with some standout performances, a few injuries, a slew of guys sent to Hamilton and one free agent signing - hulking defenseman Logan Stanley. The games themselves didn't do much to get us excited for the season, and some of the moves also left us feeling a little bit of deja vu. The Islanders are asking a largely holdover crew to reverse the path they've been on for several seasons. They can start by once again becoming hard to play against, something they haven't been in a long, long time. It's possible that they surprise us this season - waiving Pierre Engvall was one surprise - but we find ourselves on the doubting side when we should be at our most joyful.

In the second half, we talk about the games against the Maple Leafs and Devils that kick off the new campaign, and how beating two good but flawed teams would do wonders for our mood. The Islanders have only won 14 of 53 home openers, which is a pathetic number. It would be great to get No. 15 this Saturday. We also take a quick look around the rest of the NHL and see who we think will be good, bad, disastrously funny or fun to watch without the worry we always bring to Islanders games.

Be sure to come to Zofia's Hideout, 84th Street in NYC on Wednesday for a meet up and viewing of the Islanders' season opener. Or say hello to us on Saturday at the Islanders home opener at UBS Arena against the Devils. We'll be in Sect. 101 in between periods.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan return for Season 11 to run through some summer news on and off the ice, the Islanders' first preseason game and their super specific predictions for the season.

From the outside, it didn't look like the Islanders did much this offseason. But sickos like us know that's not the case. There's a new captain, a new assistant GM, a new minority owner, a new (actual human) winner of the third jersey design contest, and a new streaming home for the team with the worst name we've ever heard. There's also a "luxury item" the team might be able to see again this season. Sadly, the news isn't all good, as Mat Barzal will miss most of camp with inflammation. At least, that's what we think this weirdly-worded release says. We also say good bye to a guy we talked about A LOT last season. Uh, good luck to everyone involved.

In the second half, we "recap" the Islanders 2-1 preseason loss to the Devils and get used to Pete DeBoer's plainspoken pressers, which are a welcome change. We also look at some recent articles featuring Matthew Schaefer being awesome and the Islanders getting a fair, if realistic shake from an outlet that usually doesn't. Finally, we give some predictions on games, moves, awards, celebrities and other stuff we see happening around the Islanders and the NHL this season. We also pay our respects to late NHL coach and broadcaster Barry Melrose.

Thank you all so much for listening all these years. We're lucky and grateful that our show has now passed the decade mark, which is rarified air for podcasts. We're looking forward to bringing you our offbeat observations about this team for a long time.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan reconvene after some family time to talk about the Islanders third jersey design contest and an article at The Athletic.

After 80,000 submissions, a fan-designed jersey has been chosen for the Islanders to wear in the 2027-28 season. The contest was the brainchild of the Islanders Lord Business himself, Kelly Cheeseman, who can pat himself on the back for a job well done. But we expected to see a little more creativity or "funk" in the final choices, not hear more about how the 54-year-old NHL team is a "Challenger Brand." The final choice was fine but how we got there raised some questions that may never be fully answered.

In the second half, we discuss The Athletic's NHL front-office confidence rankings for 2026 and the Islanders' middling place that shows the disconnect between how the public sees the roster and how fans do. Usually, it was non-Islanders fans thinking too little of them and fans having belief. Now, it's flipped, and the NHL at large sees an okay team and fans see a directionless disaster. It's a new dynamic that should raise some eyebrows in the front office and make them see how the customers are looking at their product.

Thanks for listening and sticking with us all off season. Our first official episode of the season will release on Monday, Sept. 21, so we've got about a month to go before we get the machine rolling again.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

(Please enjoy this special bonus episode of Country Club Atmosphere, our non-hockey podcast exclusively at Patreon.com/IslandersAnxiety. To hear the rest of the series and get other extras, consider a subscription. Thanks!)

Mike walks us through a scandal that has rocked the world of English cricket, involving a beloved captain, a nightclub dust-up and some hasty retreats.

Ben Stokes is a big deal in British cricket. He's an all-rounder who's captained the Black Caps to huge victories. He's not a buttoned-up Brit, either. He's more Oasis than The Beatles. But an unfortunate past-curfew incident in an afterhours club with (ironically) another English sports club caused the England and Wales Cricket Board to strip his captaincy, get his coach fired and cast a pall over their upcoming tests. After cooler heads prevailed, Stokes returned... only to abruptly retire in an even more disappointing and unfortunate layer to this entire shit shepherd's pie.

Mike explains the whole sordid affair to us and gives us some North American analogs to help us better understand who these people are and what they represent. Along the way, we hit on the World Cup final (and its halftime show) and villains becoming coaches of teams that hate them. We also pay condolences to a recently passed cricket legend and his connection to Black Sabbath, which we just made up. Also, Dan may have found a new team to cheer for.

Thank you all for listening and we hope we've sparked your interest for England's next test cricket match on August 19 versus Pakistan.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a spiritual sequel to "A Canesmas Carol," we examine Hurricanes' owner Tom Dundon's decision to put his wife and five kids - none of whom work for the team and some of whom are in elementary school - on the Stanley Cup.

There are written and unwritten rules about whose names can be engraved on the Stanley Cup. Rich asshole Dundon seemed to break all of them by putting his entire family on it ahead of - and in some cases, instead of - team members who helped actually win the championship. This is an egregious breach of established hockey protocol that angered even some of the Hurricanes' biggest cheerleaders, in and out of their fanbase. This was a bridge too far, and may have - finally - shown people who this guy really is, despite all of the Twitter mutuals he may have hired.

We dramatize a selection of writing about this topic, from the serious to the satirical and from full length explainers to tweets and Reddit posts. The only people okay with this are the ones willing to stick up for the poor, put-upon billionaires who are just trying to make their kids happy (while ruining life for the rest of us).

We didn't expect to do a sequel to our last Special Presentation, but we're glad we were able to and keep the series going.

Works Cited:

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Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon has names of wife, kids engraved on Stanley Cup above actual players By Chuck Schilken LA Times, 7/10/26

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Why Hurricanes owner is facing criticism for having entire family engraved on Stanley Cup by Daniel Chavkin, The Sporting News, 7/10/26

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Carolina Owner Faces Backlash for Engraving Kids’ Names on Stanley Cup by Eric Fisher, 7/10/26

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I’m Not Sure There Are Enough Dundons On The Stanley Cup by Barry Petchesky, Defector, 7/9/26

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Jeff Marek, Twitter, 7/8/26

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Mike Harrington, Twitter, 6/9/26

•

Mark Lazerus, Twitter, 6/9/26

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Josh Yohe, Twitter, 6/9/26

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Chris Johnston, Twitter, 6/9/26

Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan examine the newest Islanders and the plan going forward, say goodbye to those who left via free agency - especially former captain Anders Lee - and wrap up their 10th podcast season.

Islanders GM Mathieu Darche made some smart, short-term pick ups on the first day of free agency, signing winger Matias Maccelli, goalie Vitek Vanacek and an "850K Club" of other depth pieces. While the moves themselves were fine, what they didn't do was move the needle for the team, who once again find themselves in tough to make the playoffs next season. The plan of having the cap space in 2027 to make bigger moves makes for an easy sell to fans, but it doesn't make the current team any better on the ice. There's a "shifting deck chairs on the Titanic" feel right now, even if the new guys might have some promise.

We also bid farewell to favorites Marc Gatcomb, Maxim Shabanov and Anders Lee, who all had their moments on Long Island. Seeing Lee, the longtime captain and one of the best post-Dynasty Islanders ever, sign with Utah makes us sad, but not mad. The contract he got from the Mammoth was too much for where the Islanders are going, and the ovation he gets when he returns to UBS Arena will be thunderous, reflecting all of the many things he did for the franchise off the ice and over 900-plus games. Not that the people who will now cover him have ever watched any of them...

Finally in the second half, we go around the league and discuss some of the smarter and more bizarre moves other teams made. The Capitals got better, the Leafs got... some guys, the Panthers got even nastier, the Kings got older and infinitely more hilarious and the Rangers remain the Rangers. Along the way, we sneak a little Michael Russo Non-Mystery in there, too.

We thank all of you for listening over these 10 seasons, and we look forward to coming back in October. We try to have some fun every episode and appreciate you all coming along for the ride. We'll have stuff all summer long for Patrons so stay tuned.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more.

Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan recap the Islanders picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, look ahead to a shallow free agency pool and bring forth a new, delusional Master Leaf Theatre.

The Islanders didn't make any big splashes in Buffalo but didn't come away as one of the draft's big losers, either. By focusing on defensemen - highlighted by first round pick Malte Gustafsson, who sounds like a Swedish clone of Adam Pelech - they went the safest route possible. Which is fine, but hardly sexy. And while some fans wonder why so many of their defensive prospects shoot from the same side, the fact is there's no guarantee any of these guys make the big club any time soon. We also discuss Matthew Schaefer's entertaining performance at this draft and the re-signing of Tony DeAngelo to another safe, fine deal.

In the second half, we talk about some free agents we could see (and would rather not see) the Islanders take a run at. None of these older guys deserve any kind of term, but some might be helpful on shorter, more frontloaded deals. We also look at how some teams in the Metro Division got much better over the weekend, which is never not annoying, and serve up a Master Leaf Theatre that not only boosts the Boys in Blue and White but also changes the trajectory of the NHL and every American player in it. Cancel those plane tickets to Florida, fam.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Along with our friend Lisa, aka IslesChick, we reveal the 2026 winner of the Don Cutts Trophy as the Weirdest Islander of the Year for 2026.

It was a weird season for the Islanders, who had good streaks and bad and historic performances and horrible ones on the way to a disappointing finish. Within that journey were standout players for many reasons, mostly the wrong kind. We saw AHL guys get cups of coffee when they deserved more, goalies with more personality than wins, players we forgot were still with the organization getting traded and players acquired from surprise teams scoring hilarious goals who then had one shockingly bad game after another. And those were the guys who didn't win!

Our 2026 Weirdest Islander of the Year experienced a season no one will forget. A tidy piece of offseason business, he had an auspicious and tantalizing debut followed by a few middling games and then... nothing. For months. Game after game, week after week, there he was, in the starting lineup to provide exactly zero on the scoresheet. The coach and players loved him but the fans understandably didn't. And by the time he was dealt away, he had to have two picks attached to him including an extra first rounder. What's the opposite of flipping a beat-up house and restoring it for a profit? It was this.

The winner of the Weirdest Islander of the Year is awarded the Don Cutts Trophy for his efforts. The concept of Weirdest Islander of the Year comes from Patron Will Forthman.

WEIRDEST ISLANDER OF THE YEAR:

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2024 - Robert Bortuzzo

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2025 - Tony DeAngelo

Thanks again to Lisa for coming on. She's always great, and you will probably see her and her husband Dave at any Phish concert in New York this summer. Follow her on BlueSky and enjoy her long-running message board, Islander Mania.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends:

•

Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, and our Al Arbour and The Island merch which benefit dementia research. Use the code ANXIETY20 to save 20% off an order of two items.

•

The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit https://Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.

Drum sfx via https://Zapsplat.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

What was supposed to be an easy episode about the draft turned into a look at a wild few days in the NHL and where the Islanders sit among the craziness.

We don't know anything about prospects. So we reached out to our Patrons and asked them who they'd like to see the Islanders draft this Friday. A few names rose to the top for a variety of reasons, some good and some silly. Most of all, we want the Islanders to come out of Buffalo this weekend with a clear direction and a plan forward. Some nice prospects would be good, too, of course. But there's a difference between working towards a goal and just keeping the lights on.

A few teams around the NHL are certainly working towards their goals, although it's hard to see what some of those are. The Panthers grabbed Brady Tkachuk with the goal of winning another Stanley Cup, and the Senators replaced their captain by using one of their acquired picks to get William Eklund from the Sharks. The Blackhawks and Capitals spent a lot to get Bo Byram and Jordan Kyrou, respectfully, which makes us think the Islanders might be better off playing it safe. But the reality is, they might not have a choice. With a lot of older players locked into long, expensive contracts, they don't have the wiggle room to maneuver the way other teams do, which means there's a good chance next season's team looks a lot like last season's. That's certainly a direction. Just not the one we want.

Along the way, we make some predictions about the draft, come to a startling revelation about the Islanders involvement in one of Wednesday's trades and lament the hiring of longtime Islander villain Pascal Dupuis to their front office. Really, guys?

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan chat with Islanders first round pick and true renaissance man Josh Ho-Sang about hockey, his music, spreading positivity and a variety of other topics.

Islanders fans will remember him from his dramatic drafting, his electric plays on the ice and the headlines he made during his time in the NHL. But Josh Ho-Sang is so much more than that. He's still playing hockey and is using his experiences to help the younger generation of players navigate the world in and beyond sports. He's also producing music that is sincere and heartfelt while paying tribute to the artists that inspired him at difficult times in his life.

It's a free flowing conversation that covers a lot including the Knicks' historic Game 4 comeback over San Antonio, watching anime, writing a song for baseball star Juan Soto, some of his favorite moments in hockey and the joys of listening to Frank Sinatra before gametime. Ho-Sang is candid about what he's learned over his career, the limits of "letting ballers ball," his journey from NHL player to "pro," and his appreciation for the Islanders organization and the fans on Long Island. Above all, his messages to be kind, learn from mistakes and know how your actions affect others are more keepsakes we can take from him in addition to our very fond memories of his time with the team.

Thanks again to Josh for sharing with us and for being so open. You should check out his music on Spotify and follow him on Instagram if you're not already. We'd really love to see him at an Islanders Alumni Night some day.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends:

•

Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit https://Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike and Dan recap signings and rumors, and reflect on how the Knicks' championship makes them think about the Islanders' chances of reaching the same pinnacle.

Bringing back Long Island product Marshall Warren is a nice move, especially since the defenseman showed some promise in just a few NHL games this season. But beyond him (and fellow re-signee Daylan Kuefler), Islanders world has been full of rumors and rumblings. A "report" from Ottawa got everyone worried about a Mat Barzal trade, a trade request out of Detroit got everyone excited about acquiring Dylan Larkin and all's quiet on the Anders Lee front, which makes us both sad and curious about the future. All of this will probably amount to nothing but in the middle of summer after five straight bad seasons and without the guard rails that were once in place, this is the bed you sleep in.

In the second half, we preview some content we have coming out this week, then look at how the Knicks' long-awaiting championship makes us feel about the Islanders' odds of doing the same. With a show called "Islanders Anxiety," our outlook should be obvious. But maybe there is that sliver of belief and hope that we can grow again. Sadly, we don't trust the current braintrust to help.

Finally, we reveal the winners of our sweepstakes for t-shirts/hoodies, a varsity jacket and two customized Islanders jerseys. Thanks to everyone who signed up and entered and special thanks to The Pinot Project and Vintage Ice Hockey for proving these great prizes.

We'll be back after the draft and then once again after the second day of free agency to wrap up the season.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more.Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

Along with longtime beat reporter Arthur Staple, we discuss Nino Niederreiter's odd Islanders tenure and the lessons we can take away from it even today.

Nino Niederreiter was one of a string of high first round picks that, at the time, seemed like safe bets by the Islanders. Strong showings at the World Junior Championships and with the WHL's Portland Winterhawks didn't change anyone's minds. But after enduring one of the most trying and confusing rookie seasons of all time, and after being kept in the AHL as the 2013 NHL lockout ended, Niederreiter and his agent decided they were tired of waiting. His trade request was eventually granted, which begat yet another few years of debate and disagreement between fans. While Niederreiter went on to have a productive, well-traveled 1,000-game NHL career, his season and change on Long Island still raises many questions.

So, in an effort to get some answers, we turned to an expert who saw the whole saga unfold. Arthur tells us how mistakes made by team management led to sour feelings, how things could have gone differently and how a long-lambasted trade ended up being a boon for the Islanders. We also hear stories about that early rebuild team and the ties between the players, tales of even more draft picks gone awry and the time he almost got killed by a sleepy cab driver in Pittsburgh.

It's always a pleasure having Art on. Once again, he doesn't disappoint in this, his first ever single player appearance on Weird Islanders: The Podcast! Be sure to listen to him on Hockey Night New York and on the Tri State Hockey Podcast. This episode has a little Easter Egg hidden in it as well. See if you can find it!

We also have a quick Weird Islanders Extra! bonus episode with Art about a heated (and hilarious) confrontation he had with former Islanders coach Jack Capuano.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends:

•

Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit https://Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN).

Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices

From the creators of Master Leaf Theatre comes a tale of the duality of man, of corporate greed and of a rich asshole who is also very cheap.

The Carolina Hurricanes are currently in the Stanley Cup final against the Vegas Golden Knights. What many hockey fans may not know is that at the end of March, Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon purchased the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA for about $4.8 billion and immediately set about cutting costs that sent red flags up all over the basketball world. So while hockey people think of Dundon as a savior, NBA people think of him as something else: "El Cheapo."

Along with our actual British friend Gavin Taylor (and with ample inspiration from Charles Dickens and Ebenezer Scrooge), we dramatize just a few of the articles that have outlined Dundon's frugality and the writers who have come to his defense, including one Master Leaf Theatre All Star. There is mascot drama, hotel fee drama, t-shirt drama, coaching search drama and mass layoffs that are neither dramatic nor funny, but are sadly a fact of life in 2026.

It's possible that Dundon wins a championship as early as this week. He'll still be a rich, weird, cheap asshole.

Works Cited:

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Chris Mannix’s Notes: Checkout time for Portland, Sports Illustrated, April 15

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Ranking All the Ways New Blazers Owner Tom Dundon Is Reportedly Trying to Save Money During Playoff Run by Liam McKeone, Sports Illustrated, April 22

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Blazers owner Tom Dundon discusses relocation, cost-cutting measures, Billups’ arrest, more by Joe Freeman, The Oregonian, May 16

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Blazers lay off dozens as new team owner takes over by By Joe Freeman and Bill Oram, The Oregonian, May 20

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How a controversial new NBA owner funded an NHL powerhouse to the Stanley Cup Final by James Mirtle, The Athletic, June 2

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“Should we root for or against the Carolina Hurricanes as Blazers Fans” r/RipCity, June 5

Further Reading:

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There's a new contender for worst owner in sports by Drew Magary, SFGATE, April 28

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Before Tom Dundon Agreed to Buy the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Accused the Company He Created of Predatory Lending by Tony Schick and Conrad Wilson,ProPublica, October 3, 2025

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The NBA’s Newest, Cheapest Owner Shows How Billionaires Ruin Sports by Quinn Everts, Current Affairs, May 27

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‘Give it some time:’ Inside Tom Dundon’s NHL success amid Trail Blazer uncertainty by Bill Oram, The Oregonian, May 26

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Tom Dundon revealed: Trail Blazers owner opens up about layoffs, Portland politicians and ‘Jail Blazers’ by Bill Oram, The Oregonian, May 30

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more.Visit our friends!

•

⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research.

•

⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena.

•

Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion.

•

Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://megaphone.fm/adchoices