September 24, 2010, Islanders-in-Uniondale-until-2015 Atlantic Division Notebook for HockeyPrimeTime.com

Isles in Uniondale until 2015

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Written by Denis Gorman

Friday, September 24, 2010 16:04

Charles Wang's most recent press conference about the Lightouse Project sounded just like all the others. His Nassau Coliseum lease, which expires in 2015, is considered his best bargaining chip. It was a little after two o’clock on the afternoon of September 21 and the small Nassau Coliseum anteroom, doubling as press conference room, was unusually crowded. The Islanders had spent the morning and early part of the afternoon performing drills to their coaches' satisfaction. Now Charles Wang, Scott Gordon and Garth Snow were going to offer their thoughts to 40 or so journalists in attendance. Wang was seated at the far left of the dais with Gordon and Snow to the owner’s right, and a New York Islanders backdrop behind them. AROUND THE ATLANTIC It was within this scene that Wang wearily began to answer questions about a topic that – at least in his mind and the minds of Islanders fans – has lingered too long without resolution. “No. No. I don’t know,” Wang said when asked if there had been progress in discussions with Town Of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray regarding the Lighthouse Project. The well-chronicled project (in articles here, and elsewhere) is a redevelopment of the 77 mostly empty acres surrounding the Nassau Coliseum. The privately funded plan envisions a state-of-the-art Coliseum along with shopping, dining, office and residential buildings. It's been stuck in the proposal stage as Murray and her staff, which received the proposal almost three years ago, have questioned the resulting changes to the environment and quality of life. Recently, Murray submitted her vision of the Lighthouse Project, which Wang stated was “25 percent” of what he wanted and was “not economically viable.” “We have a lease until 2015. We’re going to be here until 2015. We pursue every option. We certainly would love to entertain whatever it is that the County or Kate Murray propose; we’ll look at it,” Wang said. “At the same time, there has been no progress. “2015 is the date when our lease is up.” The Islanders owner generated headlines in May when it was revealed in Newsday that he had spoken with New York Mets COO Jeff Wilpon regarding the viability of relocating the franchise to Willets Point, Queens, across the street from where Citi Field stands. The newspaper report also noted that Wilpon asked Wang about buying the franchise; ostensibly, in a proposed move, the Mets or Wang would buy out the automotive chop shops across from Citi Field. From there, a new arena would be the centerpiece of an urban renewal project. “We’d love to stay on Long Island. This is our home. We want to be here,” Wang said, before recalling a discussion with NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “The commissioner of the National Hockey League, Gary Bettman, said to me one time (that) ‘The biggest asset you have is an expiring lease.’ I said, ‘OK, I understand.’ ” If Bettman is correct, it can be argued that the worst card in Wang’s deck is the building itself. Despite a promising crop of youngsters, the Islanders are not seen as a destination for top-tier free agents because of the Nassau Coliseum and its lack of amenities. Snow drew the analogy of a traveler staying at a “Ritz Carlton or an Auto Lodge” when discussing the difficulty of attracting premier free agents to Long Island, before praising Wang for “upgrading the locker room” and said that the owner has never told him he could not add payroll. Notes New Jersey Devils head coach John MacLean created a top line of Zach Parise, Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk. The trio scored the three goals in a 4-3 preseason-opening overtime loss to the Rangers Thursday. Patrik Elias, Jason Arnott and Jamie Langenbrunner are now able to skate together on the second line. Elias and Arnott, re-acquired from Nashville over the summer, were two-thirds of the A-Line in 2000. For those who don’t remember their Devils history, that line was vital in the run to the franchise’s second Cup. ... HBO reached an agreement with the NHL, the Penguins, and Washington Capitals to produce and broadcast a show surrounding both franchises and the Jan. 1 Winter Classic at Heinz Field. HBO’s documentary on the 1970s Philadelphia Flyers ("Broad Street Bullies") received critical acclaim and, according to HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg, was the impetus for the burgeoning relationship with the league and the series. ... Chris Drury’s bad break may cause Derek Stepan to be a Ranger faster than anyone expected. The forward broke his finger Monday blocking a shot in practice and will miss the rest of training camp and a handful of regular-season games. Without their captain and top penalty killer, the Rangers have an opening at center. Signed away from the University of Wisconsin, the rookie Stepan has been paired with Marian Gaborik and Alex Frolov, according to the New York Post, and has played well. ... Jeff Carter “might be a Flyer for a long time,” Philadelphia GM Paul Holmgren told the Toronto Sun. Entering his sixth season in Philadelphia, Carter has scored 145 goals and recorded 132 assists. Twitter: @DenisGorman All photos courtesy Getty Images

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