Roster/Rumors/Speculation/Trade Talk - 2024-25: Re-Tool, Re-Group, Re-Mix, Re-Build

[SRBisles]

Is anyone else here shocked at the uproar over the firing of the radio team - King/Picker? I never want anyone to lose their jobs, but feels like a bunch of fervor over their firings was exactly that - That two people now don't have income (and that is very serious, but a separate issue).

I have no doubt that Chris King (and Greg Picker) love the Isles and brought lots of passion to their jobs. For that I will always respect someone, and I do him for that.

However if I'm being honest I really wasn't a fan of King's voice/announcing. And even further honesty - I never even listened to radio broadcasts. The only times I've heard them were when the Isles had a big moment and media outlets would share a clip of the "radio team" announcing the call.

Which also makes me wonder..How many of the people who are upset about the King/Picker firings actually listened to the radio broadcasts on a regular basis? Is it that King has been around since the 1990's and that is a tie to a more notalgic time in Islander hockey? Does this feel like more of a corporate move (with zero heart) and people are just upset that's where sports are going?

Because literally none of my Isles fan friends listened to the radio broadcasts (some wouldn't even know how to find it), so I'm guessing more people are upset than actually listened to radio broadcasts. And if that's the case then they're more upset about something else than actually just losing an audio feed.

I hope King/Picker land on their feet as they seem like decent/hard-working people, but I'm just not see why so many are upset.

I understand people being upset because King and Picker are truly Islanders lifers, but if we’re being real, the broadcast was amateur hour.

 

[Throttle]

Isles fans love nostalgia. Kings just been one of those happy to be here kinda guys. The franchise just kept it on autopilot, someone wisely said no more.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

Is anyone else here shocked at the uproar over the firing of the radio team - King/Picker? I never want anyone to lose their jobs, but feels like a bunch of fervor over their firings was exactly that - That two people now don't have income (and that is very serious, but a separate issue).

I have no doubt that Chris King (and Greg Picker) love the Isles and brought lots of passion to their jobs. For that I will always respect someone, and I do him for that.

However if I'm being honest I really wasn't a fan of King's voice/announcing. And even further honesty - I never even listened to radio broadcasts. The only times I've heard them were when the Isles had a big moment and media outlets would share a clip of the "radio team" announcing the call.

Which also makes me wonder..How many of the people who are upset about the King/Picker firings actually listened to the radio broadcasts on a regular basis? Is it that King has been around since the 1990's and that is a tie to a more notalgic time in Islander hockey? Does this feel like more of a corporate move (with zero heart) and people are just upset that's where sports are going?

Because literally none of my Isles fan friends listened to the radio broadcasts (some wouldn't even know how to find it), so I'm guessing more people are upset than actually listened to radio broadcasts. And if that's the case then they're more upset about something else than actually just losing an audio feed.

I hope King/Picker land on their feet as they seem like decent/hard-working people, but I'm just not see why so many are upset.

I think it’s a cultural thing, appreciating them and for how much they’re involved in the little things throughout the years. Don’t think it has anything to do with them being fired despite being excellent at their job or people analyzing it from business but seeing someone like King be with the team for 25 years, his dedication and being the MC for events and whatnot.

 

[PK Cronin]

Is anyone else here shocked at the uproar over the firing of the radio team - King/Picker? I never want anyone to lose their jobs, but feels like a bunch of fervor over their firings was exactly that - That two people now don't have income (and that is very serious, but a separate issue).

I've got years of posts that say otherwise.

I have no doubt that Chris King (and Greg Picker) love the Isles and brought lots of passion to their jobs. For that I will always respect someone, and I do him for that.

However if I'm being honest I really wasn't a fan of King's voice/announcing. And even further honesty - I never even listened to radio broadcasts. The only times I've heard them were when the Isles had a big moment and media outlets would share a clip of the "radio team" announcing the call.

Which also makes me wonder..How many of the people who are upset about the King/Picker firings actually listened to the radio broadcasts on a regular basis? Is it that King has been around since the 1990's and that is a tie to a more notalgic time in Islander hockey? Does this feel like more of a corporate move (with zero heart) and people are just upset that's where sports are going?

Because literally none of my Isles fan friends listened to the radio broadcasts (some wouldn't even know how to find it), so I'm guessing more people are upset than actually listened to radio broadcasts. And if that's the case then they're more upset about something else than actually just losing an audio feed.

I hope King/Picker land on their feet as they seem like decent/hard-working people, but I'm just not see why so many are upset.

I think you've nailed it.

It's the human aspect, millionaires pinching pennies, and the amateurishness mixed together way more than losing those two particular people and the radio broadcast itself. I will on rare occasion listen to a radio broadcast for a game or two if it's something I don't want spoiled, otherwise I'm catching it on demand later. The radio broadcast loss could be more annoying for hardcore fans like us here because we'll watch scrimmages and pre-season games that don't have the professional crew tied to them and the radio broadcast is better than nothing.

I've said previously that I like Chris King and Greg Picker's passion for the team and what they do, but that doesn't make them good at that particular job. Hopefully they land on their feet somewhere else within the organization. Alternatively, they could do their own live radio show from anywhere they'd like in a podcast format and see if they generate enough interest to make a living doing that.

 

[Glorydays22]

I understand people being upset because King and Picker are truly Islanders lifers, but if we’re being real, the broadcast was amateur hour.

Me personally, I could not listen to them. King is over the top, almost to the point of embrarrassing when he's screaming.

 

[gordie43]

Is anyone else here shocked at the uproar over the firing of the radio team - King/Picker? I never want anyone to lose their jobs, but feels like a bunch of fervor over their firings was exactly that - That two people now don't have income (and that is very serious, but a separate issue).

I have no doubt that Chris King (and Greg Picker) love the Isles and brought lots of passion to their jobs. For that I will always respect someone, and I do him for that.

However if I'm being honest I really wasn't a fan of King's voice/announcing. And even further honesty - I never even listened to radio broadcasts. The only times I've heard them were when the Isles had a big moment and media outlets would share a clip of the "radio team" announcing the call.

Which also makes me wonder..How many of the people who are upset about the King/Picker firings actually listened to the radio broadcasts on a regular basis? Is it that King has been around since the 1990's and that is a tie to a more notalgic time in Islander hockey? Does this feel like more of a corporate move (with zero heart) and people are just upset that's where sports are going?

Because literally none of my Isles fan friends listened to the radio broadcasts (some wouldn't even know how to find it), so I'm guessing more people are upset than actually listened to radio broadcasts. And if that's the case then they're more upset about something else than actually just losing an audio feed.

I hope King/Picker land on their feet as they seem like decent/hard-working people, but I'm just not see why so many are upset.

I was never a fan of King but i would listen on my way home if I left a game early.

I’m disappointed that there will not be a radio presence. The simulcast won’t be the same as a regular radio play by play guy. Most of my listening came via a steaming app and even though I didn’t care for King he did a good job describing the action, something that is key for radio not TV.

The move comes off as a cost cutting move and that irks me more.

 

[periferal]

I've got years of posts that say otherwise.

And this might be the post of the year.


I'll amend my original comment to now say....I never want anyone fired unless they could retire today, and are also bringing me (and many others misery) because of the current job they are doing.

I think you've nailed it.

It's the human aspect, millionaires pinching pennies, and the amateurishness mixed together way more than losing those two particular people and the radio broadcast itself. I will on rare occasion listen to a radio broadcast for a game or two if it's something I don't want spoiled, otherwise I'm catching it on demand later. The radio broadcast loss could be more annoying for hardcore fans like us here because we'll watch scrimmages and pre-season games that don't have the professional crew tied to them and the radio broadcast is better than nothing.

I've said previously that I like Chris King and Greg Picker's passion for the team and what they do, but that doesn't make them good at that particular job. Hopefully they land on their feet somewhere else within the organization. Alternatively, they could do their own live radio show from anywhere they'd like in a podcast format and see if they generate enough interest to make a living doing that.

Also very well said.

 

[periferal]

I was never a fan of King but i would listen on my way home if I left a game early.

I’m disappointed that there will not be a radio presence. The simulcast won’t be the same as a regular radio play by play guy. Most of my listening came via a steaming app and even though I didn’t care for King he did a good job describing the action, something that is key for radio not TV.

The move comes off as a cost cutting move and that irks me more.

Agree with all of this. As for the bolded....I don't think it's a cost-cutting move in the sense that Malkin is penny-pinching. I think it's more like...The rest of the NHL is heading that direction and why spend money on something that as a format is fading away.

I also think Collins is now going to take over for Lou to be the heavy-hand in the organization, and is pushing Malkin on this. Would be very surprised if this was Malkin's idea.

 

[YearlyLottery]

I understand people being upset because King and Picker are truly Islanders lifers, but if we’re being real, the broadcast was amateur hour.

My wife is going to be very disappointed the next time we are driving up from SC to NY and we don't hear Micky Mouse screaming over the radio. I'll miss King but I truly don't find it a big deal.

 

[seafoam]

Well Mike Sullivan is available.

Can definitely see Chiarelli hiring him.

 

[seafoam]

A name that could potentially be out there: Andre Burakovsky.

SEA has a new GM and BuraBura hasn't exactly fit in there...two years left at 5.5M per, would they be enticed by Engvall or Mayfield?

One could hope.

 

[doublechili]

Well Mike Sullivan is available.

Can definitely see Chiarelli hiring him.

Not sure if joking or not, but when Chiarelli was hired as the Bs' GM, Sullivan was the holdover coach and Chiarelli fired him to name his own guy.

I could see Sullivan having lots of options.

 

[SRBisles]

Sullivan to NYR has been the worst kept secret for a long time.

 

[LeapOnOver]

Sullivan to NYR has been the worst kept secret for a long time.

 

[periferal]

Sullivan to NYR has been the worst kept secret for a long time.

Truth. I don't know....Sullivan seems like a decent coach, but for a roster with Crosby, Malkin, Rakell, Letang, and Karlsson to have that embarrassing of a season the coach cannot be let off the hook on that.

 

[Kevin27nyi]

Whether Colorado did well or not didn’t impact the trade (outside of the third round conditional) but it’s weird feeling happy to get a first and their top prospect for Nelson only for him to have two assists through five games, it’s bringing me joy. Idk what that is. If he had a goal per game it doesn’t diminish the return at all. But idk. Feels good.

 

[MJF]

Whether Colorado did well or not didn’t impact the trade (outside of the third round conditional) but it’s weird feeling happy to get a first and their top prospect for Nelson only for him to have two assists through five games, it’s bringing me joy. Idk what that is. If he had a goal per game it doesn’t diminish the return at all. But idk. Feels good.

I guess that's because we knew what Nelson was for us for 12 years, and going to a more talented Avs team didn't unleash some untapped potential he never had on the Island. Brock remains who he was.

 

[Chapin Landvogt]

Whether Colorado did well or not didn’t impact the trade (outside of the third round conditional) but it’s weird feeling happy to get a first and their top prospect for Nelson only for him to have two assists through five games, it’s bringing me joy. Idk what that is. If he had a goal per game it doesn’t diminish the return at all. But idk. Feels good.

He's not in Colorado to be a go-to player.

Alas, that was the role he long adorned with here.

Dunno if he knows how to deal with a secondhand role. I don't even know if he's worth more than Coyle in his current capacity.

 

[impaaaaaact]

He's not in Colorado to be a go-to player.

Alas, that was the role he long adorned with here.

Dunno if he knows how to deal with a secondhand role. I don't even know if he's worth more than Coyle in his current capacity.

If he doesn't score a goal and they lose it's definitely costing him a few mil. who knows, he might just end up back here...

 

[Mr Misunderstood]

Whether Colorado did well or not didn’t impact the trade (outside of the third round conditional) but it’s weird feeling happy to get a first and their top prospect for Nelson only for him to have two assists through five games, it’s bringing me joy. Idk what that is. If he had a goal per game it doesn’t diminish the return at all. But idk. Feels good.

He made a pretty great play on the Landeskog goal. I was happy to see him to contribute on a play like that.

 

[xECK29x]

Definitely a chance he comes back cheaper, he hasn't moved his shit yet and people don't like moving their shit.

 

[doublechili]

I'm hoping the new GM looks at the roster and looks at Brock and says, "we have enough 2Cs... we need a 1C".

 

[Chockey22]

Whether Colorado did well or not didn’t impact the trade (outside of the third round conditional) but it’s weird feeling happy to get a first and their top prospect for Nelson only for him to have two assists through five games, it’s bringing me joy. Idk what that is. If he had a goal per game it doesn’t diminish the return at all. But idk. Feels good.

I'm torn on this - part of me is happy that he's not tearing it up and part of me would like to see him succeed; he was a good Islanders for a long time and saved us from Lou by not resigning. I also think the return for him is just ok. Ritchie is not exactly looking like a top level prospect, and their first next year could very well end up in the late 20's. It's probably a decent return for a guy that has not moved the needle in the playoffs for the Avs at all, but it's not exactly a haul.

 

[MJF]

Definitely a chance he comes back cheaper, he hasn't moved his shit yet and people don't like moving their shit.

I don't want him back. Let him sign with the Devils or Flyers if he wants to play in this area.

 

[Thrasymachus]

Definitely a chance he comes back cheaper, he hasn't moved his shit yet and people don't like moving their shit.

I would gladly take him back - solid pro to help guide youngins.

Cause lets be real guys.. we dont exactly have a ton of amazing assets. A rebuild looking all but inevitable.