New York Islanders

Lore & Background

The team was founded in 1972 as part of the NHL's maneuvers to keep a team from rival league World Hockey Association (WHA) out of the newly built Nassau Coliseum in suburban Uniondale, New York. After two years of building up the team's roster, they found almost instant success by securing 14 straight playoff berths starting with their third season. The Islanders won four consecutive Stanley Cup championships between 1980 and 1983, the eighth of nine dynasties recognized by the NHL in its history. Their 19 consecutive playoff series wins between 1980 and 1984 is a feat that remains unparalleled in the history of professional sports. They are the last team in any major professional North American sport to win four consecutive championships, and to date the last NHL team to achieve a three-peat.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the Montreal Forum hung heavy with cigarette smoke and the electric hum of a packed house, waiting for Guy Lafleur to ignite a spark. Opposite them, the Islanders didn't just line up; they formed a blue-and-orange phalanx, anchored by Denis Potvin's steely gaze that seemed to stop time itself. When the whistle finally pierced the noise, it wasn't a game that began—it was a collision. The ice erupted in a cacophony of blades carving furrows and sticks snapping like gunshots. Every shift stretched into an eternity as Lafleur's grace danced against Bossy's sniper precision, while the boards shook under the weight of hits that echoed through the rafters. This wasn't merely hockey; it was a visceral battle for the soul of the league, where every goal felt like a declaration of war and the silence after a save was louder than the roar.

Reader's Guide

Following the team's dynasty era, the franchise ran into problems with money, ownership and management, an aging arena, and low attendance. Their woes were reflected on the ice, as the team has not won a division title since 1987–88, and went 22 seasons without winning a playoff series prior to the 2016 playoffs. After years of failed attempts to rebuild or replace Nassau Coliseum in suburban Long Island, the Islanders relocated to Barclays Center in Brooklyn following the 2014–15 season. In the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, the Islanders 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 was opened in 2021.

Did You Know?

• Ten former members of the Islanders have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, seven of whom—Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, coach Al Arbour, and general manager Bill Torrey—we
• The Islanders' first win came on October 12, 1972, in a 3–2 game against the Los Angeles Kings.
• Montreal Canadiens' general manager Sam Pollock was keen to acquire the Islanders' first overall pick in the 1973 draft to select Denis Potvin, but Islanders GM Bill Torrey turned the Canadiens down and selected Potvin h