The
rivalry between the New York Rangers and New York Islanders, while not what it
used to be, is one of the deeper ones in the NHL. Despite the level animosity that the rivalry
creates between the fanbases, Chris Botta of Islanders Point Blank had former and current Rangers
voicing support for keeping the franchise around.
Adam Graves:
Personally,
I’m rooting hard for the Coliseum issue to finally be settled after all these
years, and I’m rooting for the Islanders to stay for a long time on Long
Island.”
Brian Boyle:
“For
the players and the fans, our games against the Islanders are the most exciting
of the regular season and I hope some day we’ll battle in the playoffs.
What we have with the Islanders and the Devils, with the teams in such close
proximity, is special. I don’t ever want to see that change and I hope the best
for the Islanders and their fans throughout New York.”
Brian Leetch:
“The
rivalry is entirely fan-driven, with so many Islanders and Rangers fans in New
York, that as a player you can’t help but get caught up in the emotion…“Islanders
fans have proven their support for the team. It would be bad for the area’s
hockey fans and for the NHL to lose this rivalry. The health of the Islanders
is important to the league, I know that.”
Rod Gilbert:
“Islanders
fans have proven their support for the team. It would be bad for the area’s
hockey fans and for the NHL to lose this rivalry. The health of the Islanders
is important to the league, I know that.”
While
Rangers fans never really want the Islanders to do well in the standings, a
successful Islanders organization is great for the rivalry and the league. Rivalries in sports are things that create
excitement for each game when the team’s play regardless of where each is in
the standings. Those things need to be preserved
if at all possible and right now it is up to Nassau County voters on 8/1 to
decide if that is worth doing. As a
Rangers fan seeing some of the Rangers former greats and a current player like
Brian Boyle speak to the hope of saving the franchise is a good thing because
the league would not be the same if the Islanders have to relocate.
