ISLANDERS CANCEL CHINA TRAINING CAMP
Cite issues with NHL Players Association
12:10 pm - As broken exclusively by Katie Strang of Newsday (subscription required), the Islanders’ training camp trip to China in September has been cancelled.
It appears the Islanders are blaming the cancellation of the trip on disagreements the team has had with the National Hockey League Players Association. Strang cites a source saying that the PA requested to send representatives to China in advance of the Islanders’ visit. That is certainly a reasonable request. Charles Wang objected.
Without citing a source, there is also this curious passage in the Newsday report:
It is believed that Wang also opposed the PA’s request for a donation to the PA that would be gifted back to fund children’s hockey programs in China. Wang is already responsible for such development programs in his home country.
Apparently a large deposit for the trip was due from the Islanders on Friday and once they became aware of such requests from the PA they abstained from putting the money down.
It would be an understatement to say all of the above is bizarre.
Reached early this afternoon, NHLPA spokesman Jonathan Weatherdon said the agreement between the Islanders and PA did indeed include a donation request – it actually says “respectfully suggested” in the paperwork - that the union’s Goals and Dream Fund and Islanders would present to youth programs in China.
Weatherdon said, “Without question, our suggestion of a donation was not a deal-breaker. Our approval of this trip to China was without precedent. We simply thought the donation was a nice idea for both of us. In no way should it be considered the reason why the Islanders have cancelled their trip.”
Weatherdon also said the Players’ Association was surprised to hear an advance trip to China by their representatives would be a problem. “Does the U.S. Olympic Committee not go to the site of the Olympics before the Games to make sure all training, medical and housing facilities are up to par”? said Weatherdon. “That should be a major responsibility of the Players Association. Our players expect us to be involved on their behalf.”
For a story I wrote for FanHouse in February, I contacted an NHLPA official (still employed there) to get an understanding of how the union came to approve the trip. There is a rule in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that states NHL teams cannot conduct training camp outside North America without the authorization of the NHLPA.
The official told me the union conducted a formal review of the trip with Rick DiPietro and a few other Islanders players. Said the official: “Once an appropriate training camp schedule was determined between the Islanders, the NHL and the NHLPA, the tour had the support of the Players Association.”
It all sounded so unofficial, hazy and preliminary, but that could be hindsight. You have to wonder: why didn’t the Islanders just cancel the trip and not say anything? Between the team, Chinese officials and the union, it would not have been difficult to keep a lid on it.
So now the Islanders move on, after staff members spent months butttoning down the details of the complicated training camp in China with trips to four cities over nine days. As much as the players and coaches knew the opportunity might be once in a lifetime, their legs, hearts and minds will thank them in October.
A source told Point Blank this morning that the city of Saskatoon would welcome a second straight visit by the Islanders. Saskatoon had a two-way option with the Islanders for a training camp before the team decided to go to China. The Islanders also have an operative in Canada who set up the team-friendly deal in Moncton, although that city is not an option this time around.
Since the Islanders operate Iceworks and the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, perhaps the organization will make the best of the China syndrome and bring the hockey team closer to its fans in New York during the month of September.
With this news, we will postpone our post on the 30th anniversary of the Islanders’ first Stanley Cup championship. Your thoughts on training camp are welcomed in Comments.
90 Responses to ISLANDERS CANCEL CHINA TRAINING CAMP
Cite issues with NHL Players Association
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Nick Pezzotti says:
Good news, all of the traveling before the season starts was a major mistake anyway now the players can get normal rest that they need. How come the Islanders have to be the team who goes to China? Teams like the Penguins, Wings, and Caps were probably laughing when they heard that. If Wang is so worried about opening peoples eyes to the Islanders than spend some money on players and put a quality product on the ice. Sucess Sells
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Healy says:
I am looking forward to the day when a competitive Isles team makes news like this relegated to the “meh” column. Until then the sour taste only ripens.
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Jerky says:
As a Islander fan, I can only question whether the cancellation of the China visit has any correlation with previous discussions regarding a change in ownership or something big on the sidelines not yet disclosed. This was Wang’s baby and he seems to have let it drown for no viable reason.
Being in LA, training camp in New York, Canada, or anywhere else does not impact me. I wish they would televise the exhibition games though.
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Manhattan Mike says:
Wasnt a fan of the China trip anyways. I dont blame Wang however for not paying this “shady” gift to the NHLPA – he already does enough. I think its best for the team to keep the
camp here – taking the team to China creates a circus-like atmosphere when the team should be focused on the year ahead. This is quite possibly the biggest upcoming season for the NY Islanders in 20 years. -
JSExpress says:
Thank God.
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smith31 says:
Well said Jerky….I am afraid Wang has let this die for reasons currently unknown.
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Shremp Co 13 says:
This is going to be better for the long term
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hockeytime says:
I echo JSExpress sentiments….Thank God.
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admin says:
Post updated with reaction from Players Association, which is pretty much laughing.
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James says:
Strange indeed. I doubt the charitable donation flap is the primary cause, or possibly even a cause. Jerky makes some good points above… One has to wonder.
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This is good news. I was not happy about this China Trip. Obviously Charles Wang can do what he wants w/ this team after all the money he has sank in to this Franchise, but I guarantee the players did not want to go to China.
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Hock says:
Something smells fishy
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Joe in Massapequa says:
Does anyone know the last time they had a training camp on LI? I cannot remember anything in recent memory but being local to their fan base wouldn’t be a bad idea. The fans who are the ones going to the games and spend money on the organization can see first hand players in the pipeline rather than having to ready about them or watch YouTube clips. Nothing against your reports CB but actually seeing some of these kids play would be very appealing to me.
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tom says:
Wang, Please sell this team immediately, you are a clown.
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bcarey says:
“Teams like the Penguins, Wings, and Caps were probably laughing when they heard that.”
Now they’re probably crapping their pants because the Isles will be well rested and thus, more dangerous.
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Nyslefan says:
I know staying in North America would be better for the team, but this whole thing is so weird it gives me little confidence that we will handle this critical off-season well.
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Mike from Sarasota says:
Mickey Mouse strikes again. But I take solace in the fact that the Hawks were as poorly a run franchise as any in pro sports just a few seasons ago. Forget crappy feeds, they were’nt even televising home games in Chicago three years ago. Then Bill Wirtz died. If this trip being cancelled is a precursor to Wang selling the team perhaps brighter days are ahead.
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RAMen says:
I think this is good news, because less travel is good for the team, but it still looks bad – jsut typical dysfunctional Islanders. Nothing ever seems to go smoothly or as planned.
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admin says:
Added to the post:
You have to wonder: why didn’t the Islanders just cancel the trip and not say anything? Between the team, Chinese officials and the union, it would not have been difficult to keep a lid on it.
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Atari8bit says:
All I can say is from 1972-1990 the Islanders were truly a model franchise. A few blips in the early 1990s and then 1994 became Hell.
We are truly paying the price of our Dynasty. I seriously think that the Ringling Bros. Circus is run in a more professional manner than the NY Isles have the past 20 years. Every time there seems to be some light at the end of the tunnel it only flickers. I sympathize for Wang and his deep pockets for all he’s invested in time and money the past years. But this is just too strange and something deeper must be going on for him to about face this.
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IslesYanks says:
This is great news! I don’t see how training camp in China could produce any benefit for the players, coaches, or administrative team of the islanders. Someone said it best above: This will be the most important season for the islanders that I can remember. Let’s bear down and worry about winning games first, selling tickets second, and selling taiwanese-made NYI merchandise to chinese kids third!
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sheppy says:
Who really cares? I am happy they are staying in NA. Why tire the players with that marathon flight to and from China.
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Priest says:
This is an odd story. It seems like the trip was cancelled over very small details. Unless there is more to the story, it makes me wonder whether something else is up and the NHLPA angle is just a cover.
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Danbury Islanders Fab says:
Is there anywhere in Queens for the Islanders to have training camp?
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IronIslander77 says:
Maybe Jeff Wilpin said, “Listen Charlie, forget all the expense of traveling our team to your original home when you can just have them play in your second home (Flushing).”
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Mark in Ottawa says:
Could it be this franchise is starting to show signs of common sense ?
OH CHRIST I HOPE SO !!!!!
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IslesRock says:
Silly idea in the first place. Wang needs to get his act together. Charles, it’s about putting a very good team on the ice. It’s that simple, and most of your other problems will be solved. Did CA become a great company by putting out junk products? Keep it simple Charles.
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rb says:
How about Lake Placid?
As far as the PA goes, they’re an embarrassment. If they had wanted a donation made in their name, don’t extort an owner to do it for them.
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Tim F. says:
Just come out and tell the truth – - Chinese officials were concerned that DiPietro would reinjure a knee or hip while in China, thus placing an additional burden on their already strained state medical resources. *wink*
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Vincent says:
When will Wang learn?? He always has to be different than the rest of the league.
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Go Isles says:
It was a Money grab by the NHLPA plain and simple. Bit of good old extortion. I’m in Syosset quite often, don’t remember ever demanding they go and approve everything there. I don’t blame Wang for not getting bullied by the Union.
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When it comes to the Islanders, you can’t make this stuff up.
I’m glad they are not going to China, but a lot more has to be going on here. One would think the camp was something of a big deal with certain Chinese authorites, and our walking can’t be insignificant to them. Perhaps Charles is saving face for them because they can’t support the trip–although history suggests the missteps are on our side.
Oh well, way to celebrate the 30th anniversary.
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Gary says:
Can you say union shakedown? Wang already does work with Chinese children–The union is backpedaling as they didnt expect this to be made public and are now saying they were going to donate to the Chinses organizations anyway? right….
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JD says:
I don’t care either way where training camp is held as long as the regular season is in Long Island but all this does is give the Canadian media more fuel that our team is broke and needs to be relocated to Canada.
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hyedray says:
A few thoughts…
First: It is better for the team as CB points out. Going to the otherside of the globe on a worldwind tour would have been nice for the payers, but my guess is not so nice for the on-ice results.
Second: Perhaps there can be an in-depth review of who is running the PR for the Isles. There have been too many miscues and flat out disasters when it comes to the PR of the organization.The way the PR has been handled specifically on the Lighthouse, DePietro (start to present) Biron was treated like trash, this China trip, The Nolan situation which ended in his leaving…I am not suggesting that the circumstances were anyones fault—but the way the news came out, and the way it has been managed has been a textbook case of what NOT to do in Public Relations.
CB—any thought on why this has become an achilles heal?
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hale78 says:
how about the rinks in shelton connecticut..the isles have had rookie games there and the sound tigers pratice there…they are awesome rinks in a nice town…it would throw the fans a bone too instead of seeing how far away we could pratice from long island
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JtorBust says:
We are dealing with an eccentric billionare , problably couldn t reach an agreement on towel colors for his hotel , its a joke. At least hire a PR firm that can issue a press release as to why , how does this guy run a business? The good news is they are not going to CHina as there was absolutely no reason to go, bad news is the front office again demonstrates they have no clue or connection to the fan base.
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thepolishprince says:
typical…
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Ed says:
training camp has now been changed to Street Hockey in Chinatown. Lower travel costs with no worries that Ricky’s knee will swell to pumpkin size from all those hours sitting on a plane. Should make for a smaller donation as well
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Schultz39 says:
The only China idea was a mistake from Day 1….have training camp on Long Island close to your fans like every other NHL franchise does.
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JT says:
Seems like this and the LHP is coming close to pushing Wang over tha edge, if it hasn’t already.
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The new isles gm says:
The summer before the 25th anniversary year… The Islanders held training camp at the rinx in Hauppauge. That facility has two rinks and has been a landmark for producing such players such as Scuderi, Higgins, Komiserek, Nystrom, and Gilroy. They should revisit that venue or consider Queens to start building a more stable fanbase. If this move does in fact happen… Why wait till then to start promoting?
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sean says:
They don’t need to train in China anyway I am glad they cancelled it.
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Isles fan says:
I think that Wang found out that his frequent flyer miles weren’t going to be able to be used to fly the team over. Then he saw the trip cost and said no way !
Really, I would think that in 3 – 6 months we will be able to look back on this and it will make more sense.
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Frankie D says:
I agree with Jerky. I think Wang has had enough and is listening to offers. Kate Murray and her band of clowns will be dancing in the streets of Garden City.
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Dan says:
This is good news. The first time I heard about this is said “WHY”? I’m sure the players & staff are happy about this good news.
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Russel Ginart says:
Right #41, in 6 months who will care? No benefeit to having traning camp in China. This to me is a non issue, the important thing is to sign Hamonic!!!!!
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No there is DEF more to this story than meets the eye.
Wang didnt just cancel his pet projoect, that combined his native land and his pro sports team for no reason.
I doubt it’s over a disagreement with the NHLPA or a donation either.
Its a conspiracy theorist dream though:
Is he:
-Posturing just to Move the Camp?
(Maybe to Queens)or
-Posturing to Move the The Team?
(Maybe to Queens)or
-Posturing to Sell the Team?
(Maybe to Wilpon in Queens)or
Worse something that doesnt involve Queens(Or Brooklyn, or Long Island, or NY)
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JKP on LI says:
Sounds like Wang is saying “screw it” with a few things relating to the team…
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Smitty says:
Better for the players, hate to see them get burned out with travel prior to the season opener.
Saskatoon would be a bonus as I’m moving there in about 10 days!!
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The Simtuation says:
Wang has always been a “strange” owner to say the least. This is no surprise to any Islanders fans. The only reason some might find it surprising is that it was going to be good for China. Another strange Islanders off season story.
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Blizzard says: As always it seems with the Islanders these days, there is certainly more to this story…..Wang is gonna sell this team.
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Steve K. says:
Just another weird Islander story. Put it in Chapter 13,546…
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Fist of Gillies says:
It seems extremely odd that Wang would cancel the trip simply because the NHLPA wanted to conduct the due dilegence they have done in years past with other teams that have travelled abroad.
If it is the reason, he comes off looking like a spoiled brat and makes people perhaps question his ‘playing in the sandbox’ skills with other things like the Lighthouse project.
It’s his puck, and he’s going to take it home if he wants. Just bizarre.
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Matt Scordato says:
Somehow this is all Rick Dipieto’s fault.
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4theisles says:
I don’t think Wang was thinking about travel, NHLPA, Publicity,or anything else when he cancelled the trip. I think he has made the decision because he has made up his mind that he is going to sell the team in the not distant future. He is cancelling the entire dinner and so why worry about appetizers.
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dose says:
this team gets more and more like the mets all the time. nothing is easy, everything’s a problem. there is disfunction at every turn. even positive ideas like a trip to china to promote the sport and foster goodwill with the people of that huge country has turned into another debacle. just as the wilpons abbott and costello’ed their new stadium by building a monument to the broolyn dodgers and forgetting that they actually own the mets.
it would be fitting indeed if wang’s islanders became the next door neighbors of wilpon’s mets.
and bizarre i’m sure. -
Quagmire says:
I thik everyone is missing the real story here – the Isles didn’t have (or Wang wasn’t willing to fund) the money to make the “large deposit” that had to be put down on Friday and all this union stuff is just a red herring. Worse, it in my view, gives more cedence to the recent stories that something is up with the Isles and Wang may be ready to pull the plug or give the team back to the league. I can’t imagine that Wang would cancel a trip that was probably going to be very imprtant to him personally due to the issue cited. This is much bigger than that.
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B-ri says:
I think they should have training camp here now… what better way to get the fan base excited than to have training camp at home and not in canada or china
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Ron says:
Party on Wang! Party on Garth!
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vrinqueens says:
The NHLPA is laughing?, Wang refused a shakedown and they laugh. The whole episode is sad.
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LouD says:
Wait let me get this straight. The NHLPA “suggested” Wang, the guy who saved the Isles from bankruptcy and relocation and is currently losing millions of dollars a year owning the team, donate money to them so they can give it back to childrens hockey programs in China. The same country that Wang has already donated millions TO by building hockey rinks and flying Chinese youth hockey players to the U.S.? SERIOUSLY? Is this a joke because it looks t me like they were trying to blackmail Wang. ” It wasn’t a deal breaker”. Yeah sure it wasn’t. They would still let them go, they would just get revenge by denying future requests. Unfortunately that’s the way the old boys club works.
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Soon to be ex-season tix holder says:
good for Charles…..if he made the appropriate ah “donations” to TOH we would be counting the days to the ribbon cutting ceremony and killing each other for tickets. do think however there is more to this story; always is with the Isles.
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gary9-19-22 says:
This makes absolutely no sense?!?!? Just an example as to why this team has sucked for all these years. We are a Mickey Mouse organization and it is shameful to someone like myself thast remembers when we were a proud franchise on the leading edge. Not to mention that I have PAID for season tickets when I could afford them as well as hunderds of individual games troughout the years.
I’m no Rocket Scientist but how difficult can it be to be organized and professional. This is so EMBARASSING even the Dolan’s are laughing at us!!!
I now know how Pres Bush felt after he proclaimed victory in the Iraq War.. What a joke… I’m so upset by the amatueristic approach we take to EVERYTHING!!
Life long Isles fan that doesn’t even care if we win anymore… now I just want to wear my g-dam Isles hat and not be told “I’m Sorry”!!!
and… maybe the early requests for season ticket payment last year was just the initial cry from Wang about money… maybe there is something to the story???
Im just so angry at this whole mess I’m starting to wonder if it’s all worth it… I’m on the verge of just giving away my 4 seats to each game and telling Wang to shove it up his a$$!!!!!!
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It is about the money, as usual. I also think that this is the calm before the storm….
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Jim M says:
Jeez, this team can not even plan an overseas trip correctly let alone put a winning product on the ice..
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raul17 says:
This just make all parties concern like like unprofessional: Mr Wang, the Islanders, NHL (Mr Bettman), & NHLPA. Bad press is last thing this team needs. The “donation” is laughable! I had always thought that what monies from adverts, tickets, etc, were split between the league, union & teams plus the host and that the union would donate to the cause.
I very much doubt that if the Isles were going to Europe instead of China there would be negative comments about the club playing.
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19 Isle in NJ 22 says:
This is a blessing in disguise … I never thought a trip halfway around the world would be good for the Isles to get a good jump on the season.
Maybe ONE day … the Isles and another NHL team can start a season in Shanghai … Personally I don’t think the NHL should do any regular season games over seas. It’s a money grab.
I have a feeling that some of the training facilities at some of these venues were not going to be up to NHL standards … and that is why the plug is being pulled. Charles pulled the plug himself because he didn’t want to be told by the NHLPA that it’s a no go.
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orngfan says:
that mikail porokov said he first tried to buy the knicks and the rangers but couldn’t just buy the teams he had to buy the whole MSG empire which made him turn to the nets. why not complete the 2 team purchase by adding the islanders?? whats 150 million to this guy!? PENNIES!
secondly, i’m glad the trip to china is off. if we did go there it would not come as a surprise to learn that players like tavares or bailey came down with some strange flu over there and couldn’t play for a couple months. it’d be on par with everything else that has happened to this franchise. when the yankees came home from japan a few years ago giambi and a few other players had developed a parasite in their intestines. best to just stay over here and keep the players as healthy as possible.
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Jim Clark says: Hopefully in the next collective bargaining agreement, Gary Bettman will be able to crush the player’s association as much as the NFL has.
Mr Wang offered his players a chance to see a part of the world the vast majority probably have never seen and the NHLPA said no unless their palms were greased. -
Metalcoconut says:
The timing of this announcement seems to be too convenient to happen just now. Part of me doesn’t want to believe it but this is a political power play by Wang. It is happening right before the ToH releases their revised plans.
Plus Wang is too smart to not notice that abandoning the fan base at a time like this is a very unwise decision.
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Eastonhockey says:
Not suprised this was cancelled. Wang has been penny pinching for years. He cut every available penny from the budget. Lowest paid players. Lowest paid coaches. Lowest paid gm. Only difference between wang n millstein is Wang didn’t have any high priced talent like pallfy to trade away to save$$$. If it wasn’t for the cba isles payroll would be ten million less then it is. The two highest paid players on the team don’t even play for the team any more. Dipietro / yashin
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Matt S. says:
God Forbid the fans get to see a Preseason game….
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SneakyPete77 says:
Great news! We do not need our team around the world to China. They need to be in North America training for the season. Knowing our luck, they’d contract some ailment from the food they ate. If Wang wants to go China, he should take a few players after the season to visit the youth programs. Our whole org. does not need to go to China!
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Islebethere4u says:
Weird. just plain weird.
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mrlbem says:
I would love nothing more than to pin the blame for this on the NHLPA. But what exactly has the New York Islanders organization done over the past several years to justify being given the benefit of the doubt on anything?
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Bruce says:
CB – you said cancel it and just say nothing but they already announced it and need to update. But, I agree with may others here that something is up. Very unusual to cancel like this. Wang must be a nightmare to work for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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eric r says:
I believe Mr. Wang has been bleed dry. I do not think he wants to spend one more dime on a team he is going to give up and especially bring a team to his country he is going to break up with . Would you bring a girl home to meet you parents if you know you are going to break up soon.He was looking for any trouble from anyone for him to cancel.And can you really blame him . The guy has lost millions( no one knows for real how much but he lost money and not counting the money he would have made putting his money elsewhere instead of the islanders and TOH) and got nothing in return, not a winning team , no new stadium, nothing. Everything he wants to do is a problem. And we as fans ask for him to spend more time and money. I think something is going down with someone whether it is wilpon or as I suggested a long time ago brooklyn with that russian billionare. What a splash that would make in brooklyn and in Russia but even if this does not happen I think wang has mentally and emotionally checked out.
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d-man says:
wang is a cow that’s tired of giving away free milk to selfish fans, corrupt union officials and politicians… it’s gotten him nothing but lost millions and disrespect
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"Never easy being an Isles fan" says:
I can appreciate why the PA would want to go to the site and make sure everything is right in regards to regulations to protect the players…I think the PA asking for a donation is out of line but what do I know????
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Guys, When Wanger was planning this he knew the Isles situation was not stable so to say he was looking for a way out because of that, is out of line…
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geduffer says:
For whatever reason, canceling China was the right move.
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Ari says:
Not upset that the China trip is off, because flying to the other end of the world during training camp always struck me as kind of odd. Still, can’t anything with this team ever go off without some kind of hitch? It seems like Charles Wang has a bit of a temper and isn’t the easiest guy in the world with whom to get along. Sounds like the NHL was just following protocol here and Wang took it the wrong way.
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i thought all along wang/rech’s mystery source to finance the LH was in china. his p.r. efforts there the last several years (ie. building rinks, chinese language gamecasts, next training camp)were all part of the plan. if he’s come to realize the plan has failed, what would be the point of continuing down that road?
not a good sign if you still had hope for the LH. but who the hell knows anymore? -
I think this is good news. Every team that goes oversea’s to start the season ends up getting off to terrible starts.
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matt says:
I agree why go to China?…..why not try and promote the Islanders a little better in nassau so people show up to games…..the best thing would be for wang to sell to an owner who has a clue.
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admin says:
Thread closed.
Hopefully with the upcoming Stanley Cup finals this story stays in the Islanders fan family and doesn’t hit the greater NHL radar, as it just underscores the league-wide view that the Islanders are a poorly-run Mickey Mouse franchise. It was a nice idea and would have gotten some good press but Wang & Co. needed to actually make it happen and not cancel it at the 11th hour.