Feature Barclays Inaugural Season…Could Be THE Season for Islanders A new era in Islanders hockey by Staff Post September 18, 2015 Members of the media take a guided tour of the Barclays Center during the start of New York Islanders first preseason skate at the arena. The team will call the Barclays Center home at the start of the 2015-16 season. (Sept. 12, 2013) (Credit: James Escher) Tradition has a new home, along with a new sweater, helmet, and last minute trades. Before we know it the puck will drop in Brooklyn for the first time in a regulation season game. The New York Islanders have been in the news as of late, with the passing of all star coach Al Arbour on August 28, and recently the trade of longtime Islander Michael Grabner. On September 16, the Islanders unleashed their brand new third jerseys. The black and white (similar style of the NBA Brooklyn Nets) themed sweater was traditionalized with an Al Arbour memorial shoulder patch, bringing some of the old into the new. In larger news, it was an interesting off-season for the Isles with the historic signing of the first Chinese player Andong Song to the massive trade of Michael Grabner with the Toronto Maple Leafs. In exchange for Grabner the Isles picked up Taylor Beck, Matthew Finn, Christopher Gibson, Tom Nilsson and Carter Verhaeghe. Beck, 24, forward, appeared in 62 NHL games last season with the Nashville Predators, scoring sixteen points (eight goals, eight assists). Nashville selected the St. Catherines, ON, native in the third round (70th overall) of the 2009 NHL Draft. Finn, 21, was Toronto’s second round pick (35th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft. The Toronto, ON, native spent his first professional season with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL last season, totaling one goal and two assists in 28 games. The defenseman led the Guelph Storm to an OHL Championship in 2013-14. Gibson, 22, goaltender from Karkkila, Finland. Played in 45 AHL games with the Marlies last season, he posted a 24-17-3 record with a 2.42 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage. The Los Angeles Kings selected Gibson in the second round (49th overall) of the 2011 Draft. Nilsson, 22, played 44 AHL games with Toronto last season. Nilsson was a fourth-round selection (100th overall) in the 2011 Draft. Verhaeghe, 20, forward from Toronto, served as captain of the Niagara IceDogs of the OHL last season. The Maple Leaf’s third-round (82nd overall) selection in the 2013 Draft, Verhaeghe won gold with Team Canada at the 2013 Under-18 World Junior Championships. Along with the Grabner trade the Islanders had quite a bit of action right before the opening of training camp. Brock Nelson signed a three-year contract for $7.5 million and PTO invite Steve Bernier signed a one-year deal. The Isles proved to the league last season that they are here to win, although the playoffs ended in the first round, the Isles showed they have what it takes to be a Stanley Cup contender. With depth in their goaltending team, and the strong defense and offense led by Captain John Tavares, the question is can the boys bring the cup home to Brooklyn this season? The Islanders take the ice for the first time this upcoming Monday for a preseason game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Post Views: 1,645 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Staff Post Latest posts by Staff Post (see all) In The Zone Announces Initial Podcast Lineup - November 13, 2020 The Essential Resources You Need to Start Your Own Gym in 2020 - February 6, 2020 Wilder vs Fury II – How the second fight will be different to the first? - February 5, 2020 Early turnovers, defensive struggles plague the Scarlet Knights - January 26, 2020 Related TopicsAl ArbourAndong SongBarclays CenterBrock NelsonCarter VerhaegheChristopher GibsonMatthew FinnMichael GrabnerNew York IslandersSteve BernierTaylor BeckTom Nilsson Click to comment You must be logged in to post a comment Login Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 Lochte, Dressel and Ledecky all Chasing Gold at 2021 Tokyo Olympics by Anthony Paradiso | posted on April 18, 2021 You Know I’m Right, Episode 109: The Athletic’s Marc Carig (Audio/Video) by Nicholas Durst | posted on April 19, 2021 Whoop Rewards Employees With $100 Each Month To Sleep by Inesh Chari | posted on March 22, 2021 You Know I’m Right, Episode 106: Newsday’s Neil Best (Audio/Video) by Nicholas Durst | posted on April 12, 2021 More in Feature You Know I’m Right, Episode 113: New York Post Columnist Phil Mushnick (Audio/Video) On the 113th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 112: New York Jets’ Insider Brian Costello (Audio/Video) On the 112th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 111: New York Giants’ Insider John Schmeelk (Audio/Video) On the 111th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 109: The Athletic’s Marc Carig (Audio/Video) On the 109th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... Liberty in an Empire State of Mind as Playoffs Arrive Subway Series Set to Take Place in Queens