As the world turns....and turns....and turns...

The past few months have been rife with rumours, innuendos and political shenanigans on Long Island. As fans we should be excited about our team’s number one pick. We should be counting the days to the upcoming draft extravaganza, but the ongoing soap operas that continuously surround the team just seems to be sucking the life out of what should be a renewed time for hope.

I have been quiet over the last little while, because as most fans, I have been mesmerized by the Lighthouse saga, and the political hot potato it is turning out to be. As intriguing as the fight for the Lighthouse has been, the saga surrounding the will he or won’t he pick Tavares, has been as nerve racking.

I do not live on the Island, so I cannot fully understand the ins and outs of the local politics, but as a fan of the team, that wants nothing more than a good product on the ice, and a place that will be attractive to players, I remain speechless, and what appears to be a short-sighted, unwillingness to see the big picture stance of Mrs Murray and her band of merry men. Without a major league team occupying the Coliseum, it will be flattened within 5 years and the area will not have any other venue to attract, well….anything. If that is the will of the people of Hempstead and area, then so be it, (do not shed a tear when the team is moved), but if the local fans want to keep the team, they need to make a serious move and cause the powers that be to worry about the upcoming election, as of this date, I still do not see that happening. I read a lot of talk, but I see very little action.

If I could say one phrase to Garth Snow right now, it would be “please, make the right call, for all the right reasons.” Personally, Tavares is my choice, having seen him play in juniors and at the world championships; he has no equal within this draft class. He can be a marketing dream as well as a valuable asset on the ice. He is no Crosby, but he can easily be the Isles version of Danny Heatly. If Garth is interested in building the Isles faster, Tavares will be his choice, if he is choosing the slow boat approach, look for Headman to be the man. Regardless, the clock is ticking and a whole lot of fans are waiting for it to chime… One false move by the GM, will result in a marketing backlash and even rougher seas for next season.