New York Islanders
Four-time Stanley Cup champions and last four-peat in North American sports.
The New York Islanders, often called the Isles, are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. They play in the NHL’s Metropolitan Division within the Eastern Conference and host games at UBS Arena. Alongside the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers, they are one of three NHL teams in the New York metropolitan area, with most of their support coming from Long Island. The franchise was created in 1972 when the NHL acted to block a rival World Hockey Association team from moving into the new Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale. After two seasons of roster development, the Islanders earned 14 consecutive playoff appearances starting in their third year. They then captured four straight Stanley Cup titles from 1980 to 1983, a run that ranks as the eighth of nine official dynasties in NHL history. Their 19 straight playoff series wins from 1980 to 1984 remains unmatched in professional sports, and they are the last North American major pro team to win four championships in a row, as well as the most recent NHL team to achieve a three-peat.
Following that dynasty, the franchise struggled with financial issues, ownership and management problems, an aging arena, and low attendance. On the ice, those troubles showed: the Islanders have not won a division title since 1987–88, and they went 22 seasons without winning a playoff series until 2016. After years of failed attempts to renovate or replace Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, the team moved to Barclays Center in Brooklyn after the 2014–15 season. During the 2018–19 and 2019–20 seasons, they split home games between Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum. For the 2020–21 season, they played all home games at Nassau Coliseum. Their new arena near Belmont Park opened in 2021.
Ten former Islanders have been inducted into 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 championship teams. Post-dynasty inductees include Pat LaFontaine, Roberto Luongo, Pierre Turgeon, and Zdeno Chára.
- Founded
- 1972
- Stanley cup championships
- 4 (1980–1983)
- Consecutive playoff berths
- 14 (starting with third season)
- Consecutive playoff series wins
- 19 (1980–1984)
- Home arena
- UBS Arena (opened 2021)
- Division
- Metropolitan Division, Eastern Conference
- Hall of fame inductees
- 10 former members
Lore & Background
The Islanders were founded in 1972 after NHL president Clarence Campbell and William Shea worked to bring an NHL team to Long Island, countering a WHA bid for Nassau Coliseum. The franchise was awarded to clothing manufacturer Roy Boe, owner of the ABA's New York Nets, for a $6 million franchise fee plus a $5 million territorial fee to the New York Rangers. Bill Torrey was named general manager and built the team through the draft, selecting Denis Potvin first overall in 1973 and hiring Al Arbour as coach. The team's first win came on October 12, 1972, against the Los Angeles Kings, but they finished their inaugural season with a record of 12–60–6, setting an NHL record for most losses. After the dynasty era, the franchise faced financial problems, ownership issues, an aging arena, and low attendance. They went 22 seasons without winning a playoff series prior to 2016 and relocated to Barclays Center in Brooklyn after 2014–15, later splitting games between Barclays Center and Nassau Coliseum before opening UBS Arena near Belmont Park in 2021.
Reader's Guide
The New York Islanders are notable as the last team in any major professional North American sport to win four consecutive championships, and the last NHL team to achieve a three-peat. Their 19 consecutive playoff series wins between 1980 and 1984 remains unparalleled in professional sports history. Ten former members have been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, including seven who were part of all four Cup-winning teams: Mike Bossy, Clark Gillies, Denis Potvin, Billy Smith, Bryan Trottier, coach Al Arbour, and general manager Bill Torrey. Post-dynasty inductees include Pat LaFontaine, Roberto Luongo, Pierre Turgeon, and Zdeno Chára. The team's early commitment to building through the draft, as articulated by Torrey, laid the foundation for their dynasty. Their move to UBS Arena in 2021 ended years of arena uncertainty following the decline of Nassau Coliseum and the temporary relocation to Brooklyn.
Did You Know?
- The Islanders' 19 consecutive playoff series wins between 1980 and 1984 is a feat unmatched in professional sports history.
- They are the last team in any major North American professional sport to win four consecutive championships.
- The team was founded in 1972 to prevent a WHA team from playing at Nassau Coliseum.
- Seven Hall of Fame inductees were members of all four Stanley Cup-winning teams.
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