HOCKEY'S HERE: NEW YORK ISLANDERS

The first hint of fall is in the air. It's getting dark earlier, and soon it will be too cold to spend Saturday nights sharing a 2-4 of Blue and listening to Guns N' Roses at the gravel pit. It's time to air out your gear, sharpen your skates and tape your stick -- it’s hockey season. Sure, your team flat-out ached last season, but there's hope, unless you're an Islanders fan. In that spirit, Out of Left Field is here with early looks at all 30 NHL teams. Presenting: The New York Islanders.

Last season: 78 points, 4th in Atlantic Division; missed playoffs Coach: Ted Nolan (1st season with team)
Young gun: Robert Nilsson
Store this name away: Bryan Rodney
Hey, get a load of the new guys: Mike Sillinger, Chris Simon
Blogs (including but not limited to): Inferno Isle
Pop culture moment: There's still hope the verb garth snow will take off, as in, "garth snow me some coffee."

Poor Ted Nolan. He waits nine years to get another chance at coaching in the NHL, and he ends up with the most dysfunctional franchise in sports that has never employed Isiah Thomas. Still, it's believed here that NBA commissioner David Stern is somehow involved in completing the Islanders' descent from once-proud four-time Stanley Cup-winning team to a livin' joke.

You know the whole litany. Garth Snow the backup goalie becomes Garth Snow, the general manager. The (mediocre) No. 1 goalie Rick DiPietro gets a 15-year contract because he garth snowed so much for the team's owner, Charles Wang. Well, there's that, and apparently he asked nicely. Cue the Corner Gas theme: "I've heard every joke, I've heard every one you'd say." Even Thrashers fans are making jokes about the Isles. Who knew there even were Thrashers fans?

It's going to get better, believe it or not. Hockey's Future notes the Islanders have a strong farm team at Bridgeport Sound of the AHL, and once they jettison some of the retreads they've added -- take a bow, Messrs. Sillinger and Kozlov -- some of the younger players will get a shot.

If Nolan can ride it out this winter, then yes, he will have the Islanders in the playoffs in '07-08 or '08-09.

Also in in Atlantic Division: New Jersey Devils, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins

Back with more later. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca