Islanders Anxiety: A New York Islanders podcast
Sports:Hockey
Mike and Dan kick off another season celebrating short-time Isles with ESPN's Greg Wyshynski discussing Alexander Semak, a notable Devil and forgotten Islander.
From his inclusion as part of the Devils' wave of Russian imports to his career high 37-goal season, Semak was an important player in that team's evolution from pretty good to Cup contender. But he was traded to Tampa Bay just before New Jersey won its first championship, then was traded again to a fisherman-clad Islanders team in abject disarray and going nowhere. Despite a GM firing, a skeptical, temperamental coach and a woefully deficient lineup that piled up losses, Semak somehow had a decent season of 20 goals. Then just as quickly as he arrived, he was gone, with a snarky soundbite from his coach an another (bonus) ex-Devil in his place.
Greg tells us how Semak helped the Devils during a formative time, and how fans lost track of him as they tasted Cup glory without him. The three then dissect Semak's lone Islanders season including his varied linemates, some of his more notable goals and the dreadful campaign the franchise experienced. Along the way, they cover the evolution of Lou Lamoriello, White Castles of New Jersey, the sick joys of dangerous arena parking and, somehow, Jean-Claude Van Damme. It's a headfirst dive into a brand new season of Weird Islanders so let's get deep.
Thanks again to Greg for coming on and giving us a ton of his time. You know where to find him.
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Islanders Anxiety - Episode 191 - Waiting for Themselves
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 190 - A Tapestry of Agony
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 4 - Kirk Muller (with guest Michael Paul Smith)
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 189 - That's What Losing Does
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 3 - Ryan Smyth (with guest Noel Fogelman)
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 188 - Half the Formula Down
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 187 - A Phenomena of Emotions
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 2 - Jay Pandolfo (with guest Kevin Schultz)
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 186 - I Want That Team Again
Weird Islanders: The Podcast! - Episode 1 - Brian Rolston (with guest Carey Haber)
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 185 - Like a Travelling Circus
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 184 - Short End of the Stick
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 183 - Exorcising Demons All Around
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 182 - Coming Back to Life
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 181 - A Stretch of Absolute Hell
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 180 - Far From Fine
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 179 - The Ledge is Approaching
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 178 - Made a Mess of That Place
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 177 - More Positive Than Negative
Islanders Anxiety - Episode 176 - Such a Quiet Freak
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