Mike and Dan discuss the Islanders GM search and enjoy another Maple Leafs elimination with an epic Master Leaf Theatre.

The Islanders still have no general manager but that may change soon. Second interviews are happening and two final candidates have emerged (assuming no one else shakes loose from the recently eliminated) who represent experience versus new blood. Even without a GM, the Islanders' scouts are hard at work deciding who to use the first overall pick on. While fan debate rages, we reexamine what we thought we knew about the prospects at the top of the class and discover new ways things can go totally wrong.

Then it's on to one of our favorite segments of the year, as Toronto's hockey team once again cloaks itself in failure and embarrassment, we enjoy a new edition of Master Leaf Theatre. The main targets this time are the possibly outgoing team president and the hometown boy who does everything except show up in the playoffs and is now being chased out by an angry mob. There's poetry and motion, anger, humor and a soundbite that already feels like it will live in infamy. It's a Dickensian drama we enjoy year after year, and this might be the most massively magnificent one of all.

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Dan is joined by former Islanders GM Neil Smith, who talks candidly about his his long association with the club and 40-day tenure in the front office.

While he is still mostly connected to their chief rival, Smith has been part of the Islanders going back to their very beginnings. He was a draft pick, a player and a scout before finally getting his chance to be their GM in the summer of 2006. But the unorthodox ideas of owner Charles Wang clashed with what Smith (and everyone else) knew was the proper way to run an NHL team. Although he was let go after just month-and-a-half, many of his decisions would benefit the Islanders for years to come.

Smith speaks very plainly about getting hired by Wang, the personal distress the job caused him and his acrimonious dismissal, as well as his relationships with fellow "committee" members Ted Nolan and Bryan Trottier, and the acquisitions of players like Kyle Okposo, Mike Sillinger, Brendan Witt and Chris Simon. He also tells us how the dynasty Islanders figured into the Rangers 1994 Stanley Cup championship and how the Islanders should approach having the first overall pick in this year's draft.

We also hear some great stories about helping build another champion in Detroit, being the first D1 captain for the current NCAA champion Western Michigan Broncos and working with Jaclyn Smith and Armand Assante on a TV miniseries in 1983. We cover a lot in an hour so buckle up.

Thanks again to Neil for coming on and being so open and honest. Be sure to check out his NHL Wraparound podcast, especially their upcoming special celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Islanders' first Stanley Cup, which releases (appropriately) on May 24th.

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Holy shit. The Islanders won the draft lottery and Mike and Dan know exactly what they need to do (Draft grifters and prospect perverts be damned).

Despite having a 3.5% chance of winning and no general manager in place, the Islanders walked out of the 2025 NHL Draft Lottery with the first overall pick in this season's draft. As Isles legend Ken Morrow - a man who only knows winning - looked on over a video call, his team got an instant ticket to erase the nonstop weirdness of this season. And of the available players at the top of this year's draft lists - including big defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Erie forward Michael Misa - only one is from Long Island and grew up a die hard Islanders fan.

Boston College forward James Hagens should be the Islanders pick in June. This is an opportunity that comes around exactly never for this franchise. Being able to take a kid that already knows the team and its history should supersede whatever the grifters and talking heads have on their lists. If he doesn't work out, then he doesn't work out. But not taking him and seeing him succeed elsewhere would be worse than taking him and seeing him fail at home on his favorite team.

In the second half, we discuss the other weirdness of the day, including the governor of New York being mad that the 2026 All Star Game at UBS Arena won't be an actual All Star Game, and the Kings saying good bye to their GM, which might impact the Islanders' search for one.

Monday had the feeling of a momentous day in Islanders history. Only time will tell which way it went.

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Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music ⁠⁠on Spotify⁠⁠, including their new album "God Looks Out for Fools."

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Mike and Dan discuss some of the news leaking out of the Islanders lately about GM interviews and misguided decisions.

Since letting go of Lou Lamoriello, a lot of names have popped up around the Islanders' vacant general manager (and possibly team president) role. While some names are new and intriguing, some are old and tired. But without Lamoriello keeping a lid on things, any name getting out is new territory. We discuss a few of the names and throw in a few of our own should the team look to make two new hires.

We also make clear our feelings about the team letting go of longtime radio voices Chris King and Greg Picker. There's no monetary reason for letting two valuable resources get away and the organization should bring both back in some capacity, even if they switch to a radio/TV simulcast model.

In the second half, we look around the Metro Division as more teams make coaching changes (or wait on to make it's own decision on the other side of the continent). While one rival makes sure we all know how much everyone loves each other, the other doubles down on a GM everyone seems to hate. It's a shame we can't fully enjoy the chaos but that won't stop us from trying.

To support Brian Compton in the Walk MS: Long Island 2025 on May 17, ⁠click here⁠.

Subscribe to our Patreon!⁠ Members get ad-free episodes of the shows, bonus podcasts, written posts and much more. Or follow us for free to get announcements and our weekly release calendar.

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, including their new album "God Looks Out for Fools."

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Along with author Allan Kreda, Mike and Dan celebrate Ken Morrow and some of the Weird Islanders he played with in his incredible career.

Morrow was the exact opposite of a Weird Islander - he was a reliable, steady presence for a decade as the Islanders dominated the NHL. Even off the ice, the lanky defenseman is far more normal and humble than a gold medalist and a four-time Stanley Cup champion should be. But as we trace Morrow's career throughout his memoir - Miracle Gold, Four Stanley Cups, and a Lifetime of Islanders Hockey - we learn about some of the other characters that played roles, including former Olympic teammates, fellow Bowling Green alums, various Hall of Famers and a couple of short time Islanders that he mentions in the book.

Kreda reveals how the book came about, what Morrow is like as a person and a player and his importance in Islanders history. But as a journalist that's followed the Islanders and covered them for a number of outlets, Kreda also tells us about players like Alex McKendry and Hector Marini, who managed to score massive goals during the dynasty run and get their names on the Cup despite not being around long.

It's not often that we get to talk about Islanders greats on this show, and it was equally satisfying to get a couple of perfect Weird Islanders in there as well. This episode is very special and we can't thank Allan enough for coming on. You should buy Miracle Gold today from wherever you can.

To support Brian Compton in the Walk MS: Long Island 2025 on May 17, ⁠click here⁠.

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Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.

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Mike and Dan react to the news that Lou Lamoriello has been let go by the Islanders and examine his legacy and possible replacements. Lamoriello was far from perfect as a general manager. He operated under his own set of old school rules and made mistakes in service of loyalty to players rather than making changes that would advance the team towards a Stanley Cup. But The Lou Lamoriello Experience is one we'll never forget, and it gave us some of the best seasons of our lives. We trusted Lou in ways we have rarely trusted anyone in this franchise and while the organization needs a change of direction, we'll miss certain things about him. They don't make them like Lou any more. In the second half, we look at some possible replacements, none of whom will probably happen. From old veterans to first timers to data nerds to lifes of the party, there's a wide range of choices that Islanders Operating Partner John Collins can make. And it's scary thinking about who that might be. But we're on the ride for the duration.

To support Brian Compton in the Walk MS: Long Island 2025 on May 17, click here.

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Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify, including their new album "God Looks Out for Fools."

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Mike and Dan recap the last games of the Islanders season, pay tribute to Matt Martin and look ahead at an uncertain (and unannounced) future. With two final wet farts, this depressing campaign finally came to an end. The players barely looked like they cared although at least one passed the starting goalie on the goal scoring list. The best parts of both were the opposing teams lining up to say goodbye to Martin, who has been a warrior for years and embodied what being an Islander meant better than almost anyone. The respect shown to him puts his career and contributions in great perspective for those of us outside the locker room. In the second half, we discuss the players' exit interviews with media that were short on information but occasionally full of emotion. We don't expect getting either from any of the team's actual decision makers, who will probably once again take their sweet time before saying anything. This team has a lot of problems to fix, and we have to hope they're working in silence to fix them. Because if not, we're already looking at another long but early season next year.

To support Brian Compton in the Walk MS: Long Island 2025 on May 17, click here.

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Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify, including their new album "God Looks Out for Fools."

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Along with podcaster and Canucks fan Ryan Schaap, Mike and Dan learn about Pius Suter, who attended a training camp with the Islanders before starting a productive NHL career for three other teams. Suter came over from his native Switzerland to try the NHL on for size and attended camps for both the Senators and Islanders before finally signing a contract with the Red Wings. After two solid years in Detroit and one in Chicago, he settled in Vancouver, where he's become a valued utility player. Ryan tells us how much Suter means to the team, other players he's reminiscent of and what life is like for Canucks fans during a trying, drama-filled season like this one. We also talk about other "Training Camp All Stars," like Miks Indrasis and Jan Kovar who circled the Islanders but never quite landed. Along the way, we chat about other weird Islanders-Canucks connections and why Cliff Ronning remains awesome.

Thanks again to Ryan for coming on. Since recording the episode, his podcast Pucks on Net has decided to end its incredible 11-year run, but you can still check out episodes and follow him on Bluesky at @schaaptop.bsky.social.

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Our theme is "Knuckles" by Björn Falk. Hear more of his music on Spotify and at Bandcamp.

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Mike and Dan recap a week with three embarrassing losses that finally led to the Islanders' official elimination from playoff contention. After a wild 7-6 OT loss in Nashville, a butt whipping at home to the Rangers and a goofy shootout loss in Philadelphia, a season in which no one had any fun was put out of its misery. The players look mad, the coach thinks everyone played well and nothing has been done to show fans that this is not acceptable. The hamster wheel we've been on for four years continues to spin, which has us almost nostalgic for other failed seasons we thought were worse than they actually were. The two games left on the schedule don't matter, but might have some small amounts of joy for someone. Right now, the only thing we can all enjoy is a new dumpster fire sparking up inside Madison Square Garden, started by a former Islander who has made his displeasure with his new team public in a way he didn't expect. He joins a list of current and ex-Rangers in open revolt against a GM who was once praised for having a cutthroat countenance but now looks like he's wearing clown shoes.

To support Brian Compton in the Walk MS: Long Island 2025 on May 17, click here.

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Our theme is "Morning Haze" by Family Dinner. Hear more of their music on Spotify, including their new album "God Looks Out for Fools."

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In this free sample of our Patreon-exclusive Monthly Mail Bag podcast for April 2025, we reveal (or maybe re-reveal) the origin story of Islanders Anxiety and how two guys who only barely knew each other started a podcast that's now going on its 10th year. We also talk about some of what goes into making an episode. Spoiler Alert: It does not involve a whole lot of planning.

If you'd like to hear the full version of this two-part Monthly Mail Bag podcast and all of our Monthly Mail Bags, and get a chance to ask a question for an upcoming episode, head over to Patreon.com/IslandersAnxiety and sign up for our Country Club tier today.

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