PHILADELPHIA – They came in thinking that they knew better than everybody, that they would do it their way, and, whoo boy, for a while there did we ever have fun at their expense.
But now is the time to acknowledge that Charles Wang and Sanjay Kumar not only knew what they were doing, they did it. They raised Titanic is all that they did, rescued the NHL’s shipwreck franchise, set it back on course and now, with the playoffs coming, this historic luxury liner is just beginning its cruise.
Whether Mike Milbury was given more chances than he had earned, whether his team would better off today with Roberto Luongo and Dany Heatley than with the assortment of players who are here instead is immaterial. You don’t get what-ifs in hockey. If you did, then Zigmund Palffy would still be an Islander. There is no point in attempting to rewind history.
Pavel Bure was a steal, Eric Lindros came cheap at any price, Joe Nieuwendyk and Jamie Langenbrunner were marvelous acquisitions, but the NHL’s best trade of the year was the one pulled off by Milbury when he acquired Adrian Aucoin from Tampa Bay for Mathieu Biron. Who knew that Aucoin, a career journeyman, would become an iron man; an indispensable part of this new and successful equation? Milbury apparently knew.
Milbury knew to hire Peter Laviolette, and he knew to ask ownership to fund the waiver-draft acquisition of Chris Osgood, as important on the Island as Chico Resch and Billy Smith in their day. He knew Mike Peca’s worth better than Darcy Regier or that dunce-cap wearing ownership/management crew in Buffalo willing to spend for Stu Barnes but not for the captain.
So many years of neglect. So many years of abuse at the very hands of those charged with looking out for the franchise’s best interests. So many years of ridicule. So many years of felons, frauds and swine, oh my.
That has all come to an end.
In the meantime, this is only the beginning of the renewal project. If, as most suspect, Anaheim moves Paul Kariya this summer, the Islanders – loaded with young, inexpensive talent – are the best bet to land him. If they can’t get Kariya, they’ll be pitching hard for Tony Amonte. It isn’t only their money that’s good, it’s their future, too.
Where others despaired, Wang and Kumar went to work. Where others couldn’t get the job done, Laviolette did. Where he failed before, Milbury succeeded.
They are back, which is a wonderful thing for Long Island and hockey in our area. Titanic has been raised.
And all those responsible for the production, they are Kings of the World.
*
So how many players in Philadelphia have told Bob Clarke they don’t want Roman Cechmanek in nets for Game 1?
If any linesman at any time has a better night than Pat Dapuzzo at the Garden on Wednesday for Rangers-Maple Leafs, we sure haven’t seen it.
Anyone else have the sense that the side panel of a milk carton is just waiting for Pavel Brendl?
A review. How we predicted it at the start. East: 1. Flyers; 2. Caps; 3. Maple Leafs; 4. Senators; 5. Devils; 6. Bruins; 7. Sabres; 8. Islanders; 10. Rangers. West: 1. Sharks; 2. Avalanche; 3. Blues; 4. Red Wings; 5. Stars; 6. Canucks; 7. Predators; 8. Oilers.
Final accounting on Eric Lindros for those keeping score at home: $2.1 million base, $6M in games-played bonuses, $500,000 bonus for getting 30 goals/55 points.
Money well spent.
Next year can we please see more of John Amirante and less of the, uh, stars of stage and screen?
*
Again, Jarome Iginla had the best season of any player in the league, there’s no debate. But the Hart? Honestly, we just can’t see it, not with the Flames behind the Rangers.
And what’s with the Patrick Roy publicity machine?
Caps out of the playoffs: End of an era.
Saku Koivu: We’re smiling when we say that.
*
Finally, we caught an inning or two of Yankees-Blue Jays between periods Wednesday night on YES.
In the press room of the Garden.
Cablevision’s very own.