Islanders Forecheck 2: From “How are things in Shawshank?” in 1999 to Much Better Bays in 2021

A Hockey Press Pass bonus series, “Islanders Forecheck” takes the long view of the 2021-22 season of the New York Islanders – one that many experts have predicted will end with a Stanley Cup. Chris Botta opens the show with some perspective on the wild shenanigans of ownership in 1999 and then Chris and Pat Boyle discuss...

- The All-Time Islanders Underrated Team, starting with defensemen

- The Islanders’ 3-2-1 road trip and ponder what has been learned about the team in this early stage

- Semyon Varlamov, and Barry Trotz’s caution that this is just a “starting point” for the

returning goaltender

- The 4-year contract extension for extremely tough guy Ross Johnson

- Zdeno Chara’s future with the club

- Respond to a fan’s question that simply says, “Two words…Darius Kasparaitis”

- The 30th Anniversary of the Pierre Turgeon – Pat LaFontaine trade

- Update their ratings on the Islanders’ Optimism Meter

Hosts: Chris Botta and Pat Boyle

Executive Producer: Dani Rylan Kearney

Producer: Pat Boyle

Sponsor: Main Street Board Game Café – www.mainstboardgamecafe.com

Stick-Taps: All Islanders media, bloggers, podcasters, and fans, and the Islanders’ PR, digital and social media staffs.