Along with Will Stevens of Isles Meet Ups NYC we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Islanders' sojourn to Brooklyn's Barclays Center and some of the players we connect to that era.
In October of 2012, the Islanders announced that they would start play in Barclays Center for the 2015-16 season, ending 40+ years of glory and struggle at Nassau Coliseum. Even the most hardened haters were encouraged by the news... for about five minutes. Before they moved into the corner of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues, there were already problems; building was critiqued and criticized, the people in charge didn't have a clue, and the fans weren't happy while the players tried to make the best of it. It wasn't long before an exit strategy - which turned into UBS Arena, back on Long Island - was needed.
Still, we have a lot of nostalgia for this very strange period in franchise history, especially for some players who made their only appearances with the Islanders during it.
Whether they were disappointing trade deadline acquisitions, "veteran" presences, minor league call ups or constant healthy scratches, these players best represent the bastardized, black-clad, hipster bearded, Brooklyn version of the Islanders that, in spite of everything working against it, actually had some success.
Thanks again to Will for not only chatting but coming to us with the idea for this super duper-sized walk down Memory Lane. You can follow the Isles Meet Up groups on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook to find the one closest to you.
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