July 15 · 1 hr 20 min
IA
Sports
Islanders Anxiety: A New York Islanders podcast
Islanders Anxiety
For fans of the New York Islanders.
- 20 episodes
- Updated July 15
Episodes20
- IA
July 3 · 1 hr 59 minIslanders Anxiety - Episode 378 - Two Different Things Going On
Mike and Dan examine the newest Islanders and the plan going forward, say goodbye to those who left via free agency - especially former captain Anders Lee - and wrap up their 10th podcast season. Islanders GM Mathieu Darche made some smart, short-term pick ups on the first day of free agency, signing winger Matias Maccelli, goalie Vitek Vanacek and an "850K Club" of other depth pieces. While the moves themselves were fine, what they didn't do was move the needle for the team, who once again find themselves in tough to make the playoffs next season. The plan of having the cap space in 2027 to make bigger moves makes for an easy sell to fans, but it doesn't make the current team any better on the ice. There's a "shifting deck chairs on the Titanic" feel right now, even if the new guys might have some promise. We also bid farewell to favorites Marc Gatcomb, Maxim Shabanov and Anders Lee, who all had their moments on Long Island. Seeing Lee, the longtime captain and one of the best post-Dynasty Islanders ever, sign with Utah makes us sad, but not mad. The contract he got from the Mammoth was too much for where the Islanders are going, and the ovation he gets when he returns to UBS Arena will be thunderous, reflecting all of the many things he did for the franchise off the ice and over 900-plus games. Not that the people who will now cover him have ever watched any of them... Finally in the second half, we go around the league and discuss some of the smarter and more bizarre moves other teams made. The Capitals got better, the Leafs got... some guys, the Panthers got even nastier, the Kings got older and infinitely more hilarious and the Rangers remain the Rangers. Along the way, we sneak a little Michael Russo Non-Mystery in there, too. We thank all of you for listening over these 10 seasons, and we look forward to coming back in October. We try to have some fun every episode and appreciate you all coming along for the ride. We'll have stuff all summer long for Patrons so stay tuned. 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
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June 29 · 1 hr 41 minIslanders Anxiety - Episode 377 - On a Slower Timeline
Mike and Dan recap the Islanders picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, look ahead to a shallow free agency pool and bring forth a new, delusional Master Leaf Theatre.
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June 26 · 1 hr 18 minWeird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 91 - Weirdest Islander of the Year 2026 (with guest Lisa, aka IslesChick)
Along with our friend Lisa, aka IslesChick, we reveal the 2026 winner of the Don Cutts Trophy as the Weirdest Islander of the Year for 2026.
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June 24 · 1 hr 38 minIslanders Anxiety - Episode 376 - A Meaty Wrap
What was supposed to be an easy episode about the draft turned into a look at a wild few days in the NHL and where the Islanders sit among the craziness.
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June 19 · 1 hr 2 minWeird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 90 - Josh Ho-Sang
Mike and Dan chat with Islanders first round pick and true renaissance man Josh Ho-Sang about hockey, his music, spreading positivity and a variety of other topics.
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June 15 · 1 hr 41 minIslanders Anxiety - Episode 375 - Poof, The Hurt's Gone
Mike and Dan recap singings and rumors and reflect on how the Knicks' championship makes them think about the Islanders' chances of reaching the same pinnacle.
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June 12 · 1 hr 38 minWeird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 89 - Nino Niederreiter (with guest Arthur Staple)
Along with longtime beat reporter Arthur Staple, we discuss Nino Niederreiter's odd Islanders tenure and the lessons we can take away from it even today. Nino Niederreiter was one of a string of high first round picks that, at the time, seemed like safe bets by the Islanders. Strong showings at the World Junior Championships and with the WHL's Portland Winterhawks didn't change anyone's minds. But after enduring one of the most trying and confusing rookie seasons of all time, and after being kept in the AHL as the 2013 NHL lockout ended, Niederreiter and his agent decided they were tired of waiting. His trade request was eventually granted, which begat yet another few years of debate and disagreement between fans. While Niederreiter went on to have a productive, well-traveled 1,000-game NHL career, his season and change on Long Island still raises many questions. So, in an effort to get some answers, we turned to an expert who saw the whole saga unfold. Arthur tells us how mistakes made by team management led to sour feelings, how things could have gone differently and how a long-lambasted trade ended up being a boon for the Islanders. We also hear stories about that early rebuild team and the ties between the players, tales of even more draft picks gone awry and the time he almost got killed by a sleepy cab driver in Pittsburgh. It's always a pleasure having Art on. Once again, he doesn't disappoint in this, his first ever single player appearance on Weird Islanders: The Podcast! Be sure to listen to him on Hockey Night New York and on the Tri State Hockey Podcast. This episode has a little Easter Egg hidden in it as well. See if you can find it! We also have a quick Weird Islanders Extra! bonus episode with Art about a heated (and hilarious) confrontation he had with former Islanders coach Jack Capuano. 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
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June 8 · 1 hr 23 minAn Islanders Anxiety - Special Presentation - A Canesmas Carol
From the creators of Master Leaf Theatre comes a tale of the duality of man, of corporate greed and of a rich asshole who is also very cheap. The Carolina Hurricanes are currently in the Stanley Cup final against the Vegas Golden Knights. What many hockey fans may not know is that at the end of March, Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon purchased the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA for about $4.8 billion and immediately set about cutting costs that sent red flags up all over the basketball world. So while hockey people think of Dundon as a savior, NBA people think of him as something else: "El Cheapo." Along with our actual British friend Gavin Taylor (and with ample inspiration from Charles Dickens and Ebenezer Scrooge), we dramatize just a few of the articles that have outlined Dundon's frugality and the writers who have come to his defense, including one Master Leaf Theatre All Star. There is mascot drama, hotel fee drama, t-shirt drama, coaching search drama and mass layoffs that are neither dramatic nor funny, but are sadly a fact of life in 2026. It's possible that Dundon wins a championship as early as this week. He'll still be a rich, weird, cheap asshole. Works Cited: Chris Mannix’s Notes: Checkout time for Portland, Sports Illustrated, April 15 Ranking All the Ways New Blazers Owner Tom Dundon Is Reportedly Trying to Save Money During Playoff Run by Liam McKeone, Sports Illustrated, April 22 Blazers owner Tom Dundon discusses relocation, cost-cutting measures, Billups’ arrest, more by Joe Freeman, The Oregonian, May 16 Blazers lay off dozens as new team owner takes over by By Joe Freeman and Bill Oram, The Oregonian, May 20 How a controversial new NBA owner funded an NHL powerhouse to the Stanley Cup Final by James Mirtle, The Athletic, June 2 “Should we root for or against the Carolina Hurricanes as Blazers Fans” r/RipCity, June 5 Further Reading: There's a new contender for worst owner in sports by Drew Magary, SFGATE, April 28 Before Tom Dundon Agreed to Buy the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Accused the Company He Created of Predatory Lending by Tony Schick and Conrad Wilson, ProPublica, October 3, 2025 The NBA’s Newest, Cheapest Owner Shows How Billionaires Ruin Sports by Quinn Everts, Current Affairs, May 27 ‘Give it some time:’ Inside Tom Dundon’s NHL success amid Trail Blazer uncertainty by Bill Oram, The Oregonian, May 26 Tom Dundon revealed: Trail Blazers owner opens up about layoffs, Portland politicians and ‘Jail Blazers’ by Bill Oram, The Oregonian, May 30 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
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June 1 · 1 hr 53 minIslanders Anxiety - Episode 374 - 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.
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May 29 · 1 hr 33 minWeird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 88 - 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.
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May 18 · 1 hr 43 minIslanders Anxiety - Episode 373 - 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.
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May 15 · 1 hr 15 minWeird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 87 - 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.
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May 6 · 1 hr 50 minIslanders 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.
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May 4 · 1 hr 20 minIslanders 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.
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May 1 · 1 hr 29 minWeird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 86 - 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.
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April 28 · 38 minMonthly 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
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April 27 · 1 hr 21 minIslanders Anxiety - Episode 371 - Kids love JELL-O
Mike and Dan recap some news around the Islanders and their AHL affiliate, question the team's bizarre partnering with JELL-O and reveal some important announcements.
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April 20 · 1 hr 40 minIslanders Anxiety - Episode 370 - Complicated Complex Feelings
In a very stream of consciousness episode, Mike and Dan sort through the many thoughts they've had since the Islanders season ended a week ago.
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April 17 · 1 hr 29 minWeird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 85 - Trevor Gillies (with guest Rocco, aka PizzaSportsGuy)
Joined by Rocco from Isles House, we remember enforcer Trevor Gillies, who was a much more complex individual than his monstrous reputation would suggest. Trevor Gillies had spent a decade in the minors fighting across North America before he finally got regular NHL playing time for a young Islanders team that needed a lot of protection. While his toughness and fearlessness instantly made him a fan favorite, those same qualities - plus one very scary image in one of the craziest melees in NHL history - made him a villain to outsiders. Getting two long suspensions in short order for two questionable actions made his time on Long Island brief. But he left a lasting impression upon those who both watched and played with him that's only grown over time. Rocco tells us how Gillies became one of his favorite Islanders fighters of all time, how he appreciated his list of bouts against combatants of various sizes and how Fight Night 2011 against the Penguins and its many storylines created a bond with that era that won't be broken anytime soon. In addition to the degree of "heavy metal" Gillies brought to the Islanders, we also marvel at his insane ECHL stats, some of his former teammates and, of course, his glorious mustache. Huge thanks again to Rocco for coming on and sharing his stories and his pizza tips. You should already be listening to him and previous Weird Islanders guests Jack and Ethan on the Isles House podcast. Or stop by Cafe Dolce Vita in either Jericho and Deer Park, grab a slice and say hello. 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