WASHINGTON — The commute might be a pain. The obstructed views and imperfect sightlines may be inconveniences.
But the Barclays Center ice … the ice that continues to be sub-standard despite everything progressive ownership can do … it is the ice that will ultimately render this Brooklyn arena ill-suited to be the home of the Islanders for the long term.
That is why majority owner Jon Ledecky and his group have the obligation to seek an arena of their own for this NHL stepchild, as they have over the last few months in conducting due diligence on alternate sites, and most prominently, we’re told, the Citi Field parking lot.
Indeed, Slap Shots has learned Islanders ownership has held meetings with folks representing Wilpon-owned Sterling Equities to discuss constructing an arena on what would be the third base/left field area of the parking lot.
It is unclear how this project would be financed. As previously stated in this space, it is all but impossible to believe a one-team arena for which the area — that features MSG, Barclays, Prudential Center and a remodeled Coliseum — has no need could draw any support for public funding, regardless of how necessary new digs are for the Islanders.
If an arena is built on Citi Field property, a garage would have to be constructed on the site to make up for the parking spaces lost to the building. That, of course, also would have to be financed.
The Islanders have tried with Barclays and so, to an extent, has the building’s administration. They’ve done what they can to address the ice issues that surfaced again following Friday’s game against Arizona, when Cal Clutterbuck, who has been around for a while, said it was the worst ice he ever has seen. By the way, in a league that is almost all about speed, good ice is a necessity, not a luxury like a suite for the players’ families or a bus from Long Island.
They have brought in dehumidifiers. They have hired a full-time specialist. But the ice-making system is inadequate, and the only way the flaw can be corrected is by replacing the current plastic pipes with steel ones that not only would cost a pretty penny but would require Barclays be closed for the summer.
The landlord isn’t going to that expense or to that trouble for a tenant that owns an escape clause after three years. Escape clause aside, the building’s owners never have been unclear about their lack of interest in modifying the structure to make it more hockey-friendly. Of course, the Islanders need a place to which to escape before they can go. You didn’t see Andy Dufresne busting out of Shawshank without a plan, did you?
It is clear. The Islanders cannot live in an arena with sub-standard ice conditions. And the franchise is left if not in the same geographical spot as it was when Charles Wang took control in 2001, with the same essential quandary:
Where can the Islanders go without leaving New York?
So, the Jets, apparently waiting to move on Jacob Trouba until the Ducks finish their business with unsigned Group II free agent defenseman Hampus Lindholm, have yielded 16 goals in four games.
Know this: When a trade is enacted for Trouba, the contract will not be an issue for the club acquiring the 22-year-old prospective top-pair right-sider. General managers have done their due diligence on what it will take to sign him.
Meanwhile, I could be wrong on this (that phrase, by the way, seems to have its own default key on my computer), but isn’t it possible the power play ice time Kevin Hayes is getting in place of J.T. Miller while Pavel Buchnevich is down and the faceoffs that Hayes has been taking rather than linemate Miller is part of a showcase in case the Blueshirts make an offer for a defenseman?
Or, continuing with the thought, maybe the Rangers need to see more from Hayes before they would consider including Miller in a deal for a top-four on the right side. Fact is, if the Blueshirts are going to attempt to acquire Trouba, or Sami Vatanen from the Ducks (who, incredibly, don’t have the cap space to sign Lindholm without clearing approximately $5.5 million of space), quality is going to have to go the other way.
OK, the Ducks: worst cap management in the 10 years since the Devils had to surrender their first-round pick in the 2007 draft so San Jose would take the Vladimir Malakhov’s contract off New Jersey’s hands. That pick, 26th overall, was later dealt to the Blues, who selected winger David Perron. P.K. Subban, by the way, was still on the board, chosen 43rd overall as he was by Montreal.
Finally, I see where the Oilers played a short video welcoming first-overall bust Nail Yakupov back to Edmonton when he returned with St. Louis on Thursday.
Nice human touch and all, but what’s next, a banner being raised at the Garden in honor of Pavel Brendl?