Islanders Anxiety: A New York Islanders podcast

Islanders Anxiety
  • 4.9 (265)
  • Hockey
  • Updated Weekly

For fans of the New York Islanders.

  1. Islanders Anxiety - We've Hired A Professional Scapegoat

    22h ago

    Islanders Anxiety - We've Hired A Professional Scapegoat

    Joined by Sean Cuthbert of Hockey Night New York, Mike and Dan run down some topics from around the entire Islanders organization, and discuss the upcoming Stanley Cup final. While the Islanders have been mostly quiet - aside from one two-way contract and the letting go of yet another power play coach - there has been news from the team's affiliates. The AHL's Hamilton Hammers have a new logo that looks perfectly focus grouped and a new coach who we could have sworn was still playing somewhere in the NHL still. Meanwhile, there's a new ECHL affiliate playing in the tri-state area in the Trenton Ironhawks that have NJ-resident Dan interested (assuming he can get their name right). We also discuss the leak of a Hometown Remix jersey that gets a range of feelings from all of us, some news about captain Anders Lee's contract talks and Matthew Schaefer's appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show. We close the first half by paying tribute to Claude Lemieux, who passed away last week at the age of 60. In the second half, we focus in on the Stanley Cup final between the Vegas Golden Knights and the Carolina Hurricanes. None of us are pulling for the Canes, who have owned the Islanders for years, or really the Knights, who are the NHL's preeminent villains. What we really want to see is Vegas's Mitch Marner win the Cup and the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, which would be very, very painful for many, many Maple Leafs fans and give us a ton of content for new editions of Master Leaf Theatre. Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends! ⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research. ⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena. Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion. Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠). Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 53m

  2. 3d ago

    Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Goaliepalooza (with guests David Leboff and Frank Ventimiglia)

    In our first ever four-person episode, Mike's brother David and friend Frank join us to discuss a quartet of short-time Islanders goalies spanning several eras. Goaltending is the lifeblood of any hockey team. When it's good, a mediocre roster can do great things. When it's bad, even a talented team can be stopped dead in its tracks. Some goalie are Corvettes, some are Camrys. The four goalies we discuss run the gamut from youthful exuberance to veteran stability to blink-and-you'll-miss-him tenures to guys who hung around the ice seemingly forever. Eric Fichaud is still a name that puts smiles on Islanders fans' faces thanks to a great look, a cool name and memories of hope for better days. Wade Flaherty was the consummate backup and deputy sheriff, never spectacular but solid when the team needed it. Of all of the goalies in Islanders history, Marcel Cousineau was... certainly one of them. But you'd have to be a real sicko to even remember him. Years after these guys came and went, Yann Danis carried on the tradition of showing up out of nowhere, playing (and winning!) a bunch of games and getting people excited before roaming the larger hockey world like a samurai ronin. Along the way, we find out how David inadvertently drove Mike to the Islanders, and how Fichaud played a huge role in their youth. Frank tells us what it's like to be an unofficial Leboff, growing up with the Islanders through his friendship with them. Thanks again to both guys for coming on, sharing their stories and bringing these goalies back to life, however briefly they may have stayed on Long Island. Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends: Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research. The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena. Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion. Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN). Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 34m
  3. Islanders Anxiety - So Far From a Cliché

    May 18

    Islanders Anxiety - So Far From a Cliché

    Mike and Dan rejoice in Matthew Schaefer winning the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year by unanimous vote and his incredible presence on and off the ice. We're not sure what's left to say about Schaefer. A historic season, a joyous soul, a giving spirit and a loving son. All at just 18 years old. And while he collects accolades and attention from across the globe, we wonder what he will do for an encore. Frankly, don't be surprised if the Pope was involved. Beyond the light from Schaefer, there is other news around the team. Ryan Pulock undergoes surgery, AHL coach Rocky Thompson gets a promotion, prospect Danny Nelson represents Team USA at the Worlds and "A" Hagens comes home (at least, for a trial run). In less normal news, Mat Barzal plays chess for the Wall Street Journal, Josh Bailey is a Hall of Famer and Brock Nelson's brilliance finally gets recognized. All he had to do was get traded across the country and play for the best team in the NHL. We also pay tribute to former Islander Paul Boutillier who passed away last week. Finally, we examine the Minnesota Wild's arrogance in defeat and the Maple Leafs coaching search that apparently has a strict statue of limitations dating back to... just this season. Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends! ⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research. ⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena. Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion. Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠). Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 44m

  4. May 15

    Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Kieffer Bellows (with guest Jenny Berman)

    Along with Lighthouse Hockey's Jenny Berman, we remember Kieffer Bellows, whose moments of fun in with the Islanders were few and far between. Kieffer Bellows had everything you'd want in an NHL prospect: a famous name and family lineage in hockey, high praise from prospect watchers, a tantalizing shot and a history of showing up in big moments. But as the years stretched on, from college teams to junior teams to the minors to cups of coffee with the Islanders, it seemed less and less likely that Bellows would turn into what fans hoped he would be. Despite an AHL hot streak and couple of cool goals in the big league, he was eventually lost on waivers without much of a peep. We're not mad, just disappointed that he turned from a can't-miss-prospect into a winger who couldn't skate (especially since the Islanders already had a few on the roster...). Jenny takes us through her history with Bellows, including some very insightful observations about this entire era of Islanders hockey and how she felt a connection with the player over, of all things, Pokémon. We remember his strange and really unfortunate career that continues in Europe, make the Hall of Fame case for his dad Brian, and lament how we all have those prospects we want to see work out, even as it gets more and more evident that they won't. Thanks again to Jenny for joining us twice this season. Due to various factors, this has been waiting a long time to come out but it's always treat to remember this time period and she was the perfect guest to walk us through it. Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends: Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research. The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena. Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion. Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN). Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 16m

  5. May 6 ·  Bonus

    Islanders Anxiety - Master Leaf Theatre Special - The Talented Mr. Chayka

    In an epic edition of Master Leaf Theatre, the Maple Leafs find a very questionable new general manager and we find an unlikely hero in his dogged pursuer. Since the end of the regular season, the Maple Leafs have been a picture of disarray. Stories about dysfunction and questions about the future abound, including who will be their next GM. John Chayka's previous tenure with the Coyotes did not go smoothly. His teams found little success on the ice and he found himself in the NHL's crosshairs more than once. But after a six year absence, he is back to lead hockey's biggest franchise. It all seems a little strange, and with no answers coming from the top, it's up to old school sports columnist Steve Simmons to get the inside story on how Chayka was able to get another chance. Although the Leafs won the NHL Draft Lottery on the night we recorded this, this insane episode in their history needed to be captured for posterity. A first overall pick is no guarantee of success. And with a brain trust of an out-of-his-depth suit, a beloved but green former player and a possible con artist at the helm, Master Leaf Theatre is in no danger of going away any time soon. Works cited: “Inside the stunning fall of the Maple Leafs: Chaos, dysfunction and AI” by Jonas Siegel, Chris Johnston and James Mirtle, The Athletic, 4/15/26 “Maple Leafs should aim high with their next head of hockey operations” by Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 4/20/2026 “Mats Sundin and John Chayka would be hockey’s newest odd couple running the Leafs” by Steve Simmons, The Toronto Sun, 4/29/26 “Mats Sundin makes us happy, John Chayka makes us wonder” by Steve Simmons, The Toronto Sun, 5/3/26. Press conference, The Real Sports Bar and Grill, Toronto, 5/5/26. “The Maple Leafs’ struggle to answer the question of the day: Why?” by Jonas Siegel, The Athletic, 5/4/2026 “John Chayka has a divisive reputation. Can he and the Maple Leafs overcome it?” by James Mirtle, The Athletic, 5/5/2026 “John Chayka’s tenure with the Maple Leafs begins under intense scrutiny” by Cathal Kelly, The Toronto Globe & Mail, 5/5/26 “The confusing and confounding Leafs hiring of John Chayka and Mats Sundin” by Steve Simmons, The Toronto Sun, 5/4/26. Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends! ⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research. ⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena. Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion. Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 50m
  6. Islanders Anxiety - Episode 372 - Reminded of Something

    May 4

    Islanders Anxiety - Episode 372 - Reminded of Something

    Mike and Dan go PTI-style across a few Islanders topics before discussing how a recent playoff elimination made them reflect on the past, present and future of the franchise. The last few weeks have seen a couple of departures - of an assistant coach and a third string goalie, respectively - and a couple of guys being celebrated for the great seasons they had. But even there, we can feel disappointment and tempered enthusiasm where we really should be rejoicing. A few Islanders will be attending the World Championships, while one notable guy is staying home, for good reason. Finally, we listen to the new coach talk about his hiring and philosophies, which right now are the biggest reasons to be excited for next season. In the second half, we look at how yet another Oilers ouster took on a different feel now that the Islanders have a generational star of their own. Connor McDavid going home empty-handed used to be funny, but now we see him as a cautionary tale of how putting too much pressure on one or two players can be a huge mistake. The Islanders are one of the few NHL teams to not have made a Stanley Cup final this century, and it's high time the organization fixes that and produces some actual results. The right time is right now, not later. Just look at the Oilers. Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends! ⁠⁠Vintage Ice Hockey⁠⁠ for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as ⁠⁠the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch⁠⁠. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research. ⁠⁠The Pinot Project⁠⁠ has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena. Visit ⁠⁠Lighthousehockey.com⁠⁠ for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion. Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (⁠⁠@FansFirstSN⁠⁠). Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 20m

  7. May 1

    Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Hartford Whalers Special (with guest Aaron Kleinman)

    Aaron Kleinman of Heartland Signal tells us about his enduring love of the Hartford Whalers, his home state's former NHL team, whose final road game was against the Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. It's been almost 30 years since the Whalers last took the ice at the Hartford Civic Center, the only rink in NHL history located inside of a shopping mall. While the team had limited success in its time, it cultivated a rabid fanbase that still misses its best players, legendary logo, classic marching band theme song and other quaint charms. But rooting for a goofball team in a very small market feels like you're getting away with something. And as you try to keep the scam going for as long as possible, the jig always comes up. As a born and bred son of The Constitution State and a huge sports fan from birth, Aaron lived and died by the Whalers and still carries with him the memories and scars from their eventual move to Raleigh, NC. He tells us about how the team excelled at falling just barely short of the playoffs, what it was like living across the street from Whalers GM Jim Rutherford (and in the same town as tough guy Glen Featherstone) and the particular indignities of having your team bought and moved by a guy sporting a ponytail. Aaron also talks about how the team's off-ice strife shaped his outlook on the world, even at a very young age. Of course, we do cover some Weird Islanders here including a legendary tough guy of our own and two defensive defensemen we never thought we'd ever get a chance to cover on the show. Turns out there's a lot of connective tissue between these two teams aside from one game late in a lost season for both of them. We can't thank Aaron enough for his time and sharing his very vivid memories of his favorite team. He's a great guy to chat with and has been a legendary sports poster for many years. Check out Heartland Signal and his own free newsletter, Radio Free America. Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of all our shows, bonus podcasts, written posts, chats with us and much more. Visit our friends: Vintage Ice Hockey for t-shirts, hoodies and jerseys with hundreds of classic hockey logos, as well as the full line of Islanders Anxiety merch. As always our portion of those sales go directly to the Center for Dementia Research. The Pinot Project has a Rosé, a Pinot Grigio and a Wine Enthusiast Best Buy Pinot Noir, all under $15 a bottle. Available at local wine stores and UBS Arena. Visit Lighthousehockey.com for the most up-to-date Islanders news and discussion. Islanders Anxiety podcasts are part of the Fans First Sports Network (@FansFirstSN). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 29m

  8. Apr 28

    Monthly Mail Bag podcast - April, 2026 Sample

    Please enjoy this sample of our Monthly Mail Bag podcast for April, 2026. If you like what you hear, consider subscribing to our Patreon at patreon.com/IslandersAnxiety to get the full two hour episode plus extra bonus episodes, written posts, chats and more. The Islanders are done and the people have questions, mainly about what the hell happens next. Do core pieces get moved or bought out? Who will be back? Are the Islanders even a normal team? We try our best to answer these and other questions about the interminably terrible power play, what is and isn't GM Malpractice and how injuries and the Olympics affected their performance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    38 min
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For fans of the New York Islanders.

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