Mike and Dan put as much effort into recapping the Islanders' first two post-trade deadline games as the players put into playing them. Instead, they spend more time lamenting just how old, slow, sloppy and depressing the team looked in both, one of which was an actual win. One night after Ilya Sorokin stole two points in San Jose, the Islanders sl…

Mike and Dan analyze the Islanders' trade deadline moves and non-moves and how they will impact the team on and off the ice. With the trade of Brock Nelson to Colorado just after midnight on deadline day for a conditional first round pick and prospect Calum Ritchie, the Islanders waved goodbye to their most consistent forward of this era. Removing …

Along with comic book writer and owner of many weird Islanders jerseys Keith Dallas, Mike and Dan remember defenseman Mike Mottau, whose short stint on Long Island was also very eventful. After winning a Hobey Baker Award at Boston College and playing for the Rangers, Flames and Devils, Mottau washed ashore as a free agent, looking to help the youn…

It's trade deadline week and after three more weird games in a weird season of a weird era, we still have no idea who the Islanders are or what they'll do. They started with a home ice faceplant against the Rangers - predicted by Mike - before stealing two points in Boston. Then they beat the Predators - predicted by Dan - which started as a laughe…

Mike and Dan recap a haunted game against the Dallas Stars and look ahead to what might effectively be the final week of the Islanders' regular season. Sure, it was one game but, boy, did a lot happen. Weird goals, crushed hope, crazy calls and The Hockey Gods and the Islanders taking turns shooting feet. This team still lives on the same edge they…

Along with NHL documentarian Pinholes Graham, Mike and Dan remember Jamie Heward, a quality defenseman whose super power was simply showing up everywhere. Drafted by the Penguins and spending years in the minors, Heward got his big break with the expansion Predators before joining the Islanders for just one year. That undermanned and underpaid team…

Mike and Dan chat with Arthur Staple of The Athletic about Brock Nelson, Noah Dobson, James Hagens and a number of Islanders topics. After briefly discussing on the Four Nations Face-Off (yes, we gave in), we dive into the uncertainty surrounding the Islanders on an off the ice. Nelson's free agency is first, of course, and Art maintains his feelin…

Here's a sample of this month's Patreon-only Monthly Mail Bag, which is (mostly) dedicated to Brock Nelson, who might be in his final days with the only NHL club he's ever known, or might be on the verge of a contract extension that will be ridiculed no matter how reasonable it is. The full version includes our answers to questions about rebuilds, …

Mike and Dan recap where the Islanders are at the Four Nations break and discuss some recent rumors surrounding them. Despite a hot January, the Islanders are still four points out of a playoff berth with a large group of teams surrounding them and a disconcerting amount of injured players. While the winning streak pulled them out of the basement, …

Mike and Dan make their picks to each create a team of Weird Islanders from the past 25 years. It's been quite a journey for the team since 2000, from highs and lows to mercenaries and stalwarts to kids and veterans and three home arenas. And through all of it there were weird players who only wore the blue-and-orange for a short time. So we each p…

Mike and Dan take stock and take cover as the Islanders rack up both wins and casualties in a battle against the Hockey Gods. By stretching their winning streak to a "disastrous" seven games - before a gallant, teasing loss to the Stanley Cup champion Panthers - the Islanders reinserted themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff race. That's the …

With yet another defenseman (and a goalie) landing on IR, Lou Lamoriello was forced to make another acquisition to keep the Islanders afloat and we are forced to talk about both. In an addendum to Monday's episode, we discuss the signing of Tony DeAngelo and our feelings about bringing the quarrelsome defenseman into the Islanders' fold. But we als…

Mike and Dan discuss a week of unfortunate injuries and surprising wins for the Islanders and how they've had almost no effect on their place in the standings. Beginning with a win over the then-red hot Blue Jackets before a back-to-back that included a boring but needed win over the Flyers and a surprising OT win over the revamped Hurricanes, the …

Mike and Dan talk with IslesEbay master Craig Dixon about Tommy Söderström, the shambolic Swedish goalie who lost a lot of games in his short time as an Islander. Söderström parlayed international success into a stint with the Flyers, who sent him to Long Island in exchange for the pariah Ron Hextall. Sadly, Söderström didn't fare any better, and "…

Mike and Dan discuss the Islanders' win over the Sharks on Brent Sutter Ring of Honor Night that, while pleasant enough, did little to change anything about this team or its season. For once, the Islanders took care of business beating a bad, under-the-weather opponent. Too bad it comes more than halfway through a season in which they've been farti…

In their first emergency podcast of the year, Mike and Dan react to the Islanders' back-to-back losses to start their homestand and how little fight they have shown all season. Tuesday's 2-0 loss to Ottawa and Thursday's 5-3 loss to Philadelphia represent something of a breaking point. A team that once showed pride in the Islanders logo and in Long…

The Islanders have finally won three (3!) in a row including impressive victories in Vegas and Utah and Mike and Dan feel satisfied and relieved in a way they haven't all season. An unexpected shutout against the Golden Knights gave way to a gritty win against Utah that could have been "one of those games," were it not for a dogged effort to get th…

Dan chats with current Rangers and former Islanders beatwriter Colin Stephenson about Brett Lindros, who was expected to be a star but was forced to retire far too soon due to concussions. Following in the footsteps of his brother Eric, who was already a force in the NHL, Brett was a charming, well-spoken boy in a man's body when the Islanders sele…

Mike and Dan look back at an exciting overtime win over the Bruins that left them feeling more upset than joyous thanks to the sluggish season the Islanders have had. Following two losses to the Maple Leafs that straddled the new year, neither was looking forward to Sunday's game in Boston. But the Islanders took a lead, blew it, and then won on Bo…

Mike and Dan react to another one win, two loss week for the Islanders, who remain consistently inconsistent and with little motivation on or off the ice. We've been frustrated and angry but now, more than anything, we're simply bored by this team, and our relationship with them might need to be reexamined. The team is mediocre or terrible at every…

Mike and Dan welcome back Hockey Night in New York host Sean Cuthbert to discuss Robin Lehner, the very rare one season wonder for the Islanders. Brought in by Lou Lamoriello after the exit of John Tavares, Lehner and the Islanders was originally a marriage of necessity. They needed a goalie and he needed a place to play after getting out of the NH…

Dan and Mike (and little Emmy Lou) celebrate a solid win over Toronto with new episodes of both Master Leaf Theatre and Ranger Piece Theater. After a disastrous and disappointing shutout loss in Carolina on Tuesday, hopes were low going into Saturday's Hockey Night in Canada tilt against Gord's favored sons. But with a healthy, balanced lineup, som…

A sample of our Monthly Mail Bag podcast for December of 2024 covers accountability, trade deadline boosts and possible replacement GMs. To hear the full version, visit Patreon.com/IslandersAnxiety and sign up for our Country Club tier. There, you can hear another hour-plus of questions about potential trade options, both expected and not, the ongo…

Mike and Dan have a lot to say after the Islanders' loss to Chicago on Sunday, little of it good. Do these guys even want to win games? After a "normal" loss to the Kings and a "feel bad" win over the same Blackhawks on Thursday, the Islanders faced a bad team they had already seen that was on a back-to-back. So, of course, they lost in brutal fash…

Along with LHH's Steven Smith, we remember Viktor Kozlov, the big center who had a big season and an enormous game at a famous arena in his one season as an Islander. Going from draft bust to valuable player after a trade from the Sharks to the Panthers, Kovlov eventually joined the mercenary 2006-07 Islanders and immediately became one of their mo…

Mike and Dan recap a half good/half bad week for the Islanders and how back-to-back wins shouldn't distract from the very real problems they still have. In losses to the Canadiens and Kraken, the Islanders looked like a team that was ready to punt the season. Listless and ineffective, they seemed to be crying out for help, even as their general man…

Dan and dad again Mike recap the Islanders' week of infuriating losses and one must-win before turning their attention towards Manhattan and the first Ranger Piece Theater of the season. In the run-up to American Thanksgiving and the day immediately following it, the Islanders did what they do best: blow third periods against beatable teams. They h…

Joined by NY Sirens goalie and die hard Islanders fan Abbey Levy, we remember Joey MacDonald, a back-up turned starter who had the game of his life for an undermanned and lottery-bound squad. After spending years in the AHL for the Red Wings organization, MacDonald came to Long Island to play the same role in Bridgeport. But an injury to Rick DiPie…

Mike and Dan recap a needed win and two more blown-lead losses as the inconsistent Islanders reach (yet another) pivotal week in the season. A regulation win over St. Louis at home on Saturday felt good (except for now ex-Blues coach Drew Bannister) but it came after a disappointing shootout loss in Calgary and a disastrous regulation loss in Detro…

Mike and Dan reflect on the Islanders' Western Canada road trip so far, which has included one good game, one bad game and one unfortunate game. They were lucky to escape Edmonton with a point (and without giving up Connor McDavid's 1000th) thanks to great performances by Ilya Sorokin and Anders Lee, but followed it up with an inexplicably great pe…

Joined by Islanders commenter (and new podcaster) Isles Den, we remember Marc-Andre Bergeron, a surprisingly important short-time player for a number of NHL teams. Anyone who watched Bergeron play, either before or after his season-plus stint on Long Island will no doubt immediately picture a very small man skating up and down the ice scoring power…

Mike and Dan look back at a good week for the Islanders that had a bitter ending, and how they make it difficult to just be a fan. After an unexpected comeback win at home against the Penguins and a, dare we say "normal," win against the Senators in Ottawa, the Islanders returned to their regular ways, blowing a lead and losing in overtime to the D…

Mike and Dan react to an eventful week for the Islanders that featured a slew of injuries, a surprise win and three more frustrating losses. After shooting blanks again in winnable games against Anaheim and Columbus, the Islanders went to Buffalo, where they had not won in three seasons. Despite losing Mat Barzal before the game and Adam Pelech, Mi…

Joined by frequent prospect watcher Jake from the Skates at the Stakes podcast, we remember Aatu Räty's surprise drafting and splashy debut for the Islanders before he became part of a massive trade. Once expected to be a Top 10 pick, Räty's stock dropped precipitously in his draft year and he fell to the Islanders in the second round, which seemed…

Mike and Dan take turns ranting about the Islanders' week in which they were shut out (again), blew a bunch of leads (again) and generally did what they always do (again). In the span of five days they managed to get lose in regulation 1-0 after allowing just 11 shots, win in overtime after their best defenseman gave the puck to a player on the oth…

Mike and Dan recap a week of good and bad, as the Islanders stay in the thick of the Metro despite some characteristically bizarre games. They start with Saturday night's home game against Montreal in which the nine-round shootout wasn't even the weirdest part. One person's "great atmosphere" is another's unsustainable, impossible parade of inexcus…

Mike and Dan kick off Season Four with their first actual former Islander, as defenseman Deron Quint joins them to discuss his five games with the team during their 2007 stretch run, his long hockey career in the NHL and overseas and his new second career. Quint was brought over from Europe by Garth Snow with the Islanders in desperate straights to…

Mike and Dan recap the first two games of Islanders season, which were annoying, frustrating and disappointing after a summer of excitement. In their season/home opener against the Utah No Names, the Islanders played all their hits - blown leads, bad penalty killing, an overtime loss - leaving fans angry and discouraged. A busy 3-0 loss to Dallas i…

[Note: This episode originally ran exclusively at our Patreon page on August 21, 2024. As promised on the episode, since John Tavares was not signed to a contract extension before the Leafs' season began, the episode is now free for all to enjoy.] This summer, John Tavares was removed as captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs in favor of Auston Matthew…

Mike and Dan discuss the waiving of Pierre Engvall (and others) ahead of the Islanders' season opener this week against the Utah Sister Wives. Putting Engvall and the six years left on his contract on waivers was a bold move by Lou Lamoriello but it illustrates just how the team has changed and how Engvall's signature brand of ineffectiveness can't…

Mike and Dan "recap" the Islanders preseason so far including roster spot battles, empty intrigue and the mystery of Ilya Sorokin's status. With about 60% of their exhibition games over (of which Mike has watched zero minutes of, per his standard policy), the Islanders' are shaping up along expected lines. But a few players are vying for an open sp…

Mike and Dan recap some newsworthy items from Islanders Rookie Camp including PTOs to Keith Kinkaid and Matt Martin, and the absence of Cal Clutterbuck. After working out at Northwell Health all summer, Islanders fan Kinkaid finally gets a chance to play for his boyhood team. While the goalie's energy is infectious, it forced Lou Lamoriello to addr…

Mike and Dan get together on a Monday in the middle of August to discuss a notable move for the Leafs and a massive celebration for Islanders fans. Announced via tweet by Pat Brisson mouthpiece Darren Dreger, John Tavares has been replaced as Toronto's captain by Auston Matthews, a move that has little to do with the official party line of Matthews…

A short sample of our latest Monthly Mail Bag podcast, exclusively for Country Club tier subscribers at our Patreon page. We start with whether the Islanders as currently constructed are good enough to compete in a (somewhat) rejiggered Metro Division, Patrick Roy's possibly identity for his players and who might end up surprising people this seaso…

Mike and Dan empty their tanks on the Islanders free agency signings, the draft, the Rangers imploding and The Wedding of the Century. It's been a busy few days on Long Island, and they've been good for the Islanders. Despite the craziness of free agency day, they signed speedy winger Anthony Duclair and brought back defenseman Mike Reilly on two v…

Mike and Dan look back at Kyle Okposo's Stanley Cup and Kyle MacLean's new contract before looking ahead to the NHL Draft and free agency with Ethan Sears of the NY Post. With the Panthers' 2-1 victory over Edmonton in Game 7, their long-suffering fans can finally feel some relief, while we can chuckle at the Oilers' failure, ESPN's issues and how …

On March 30, 2024 at the new Offside NYC in Manhattan, Mike and Dan were joined by listeners to hear their stories of their favorite Weird Islanders. We were gifted with tales of getting a Weird Islander jersey recognized in the desert, running into actual Islanders on Caribbean beaches, and rival neighbors preying on our loyalty, as well as with a…

In this special free sample of our latest episode of Country Club Atmosphere, Mike talks about how the NHL and the Islanders managed to seep into his time at the T20 Cricket World Cup games played at Eisenhower Park in the last couple of weeks. He tells us why ex-cricket players make better on-air talent than ex-NHL players, how one visiting journa…

Enjoy this sample of June's Monthly Mail Bag podcast. Here, we look at sad fanbases, the death of Capfriendly, celebs at Islanders games and the least worst name choice for the NHL's newest team. Later, we tackle some different possible timelines for the Islanders, body switching, time travelling and uses for a few other super powers. We also discu…

Joined by David Skurnik of Skurnik Wines and The Pinot Project, Mike and Dan remember the short Long Island stint of "superstar journeyman" Olli Jokinen. Jokinen arrived and left in two of the worst trades in Islanders history. In between, he was ridiculed by his general manager, dismissed by fans, endured long slumps and trade rumors, and only fin…