2014 FNHL Cup Champions

New York Islanders

Led By GM: Jay Reardon

Row 1: David Tremblay, Vesa Toskala

Row 2: Maxim Lapierre,  Nikolai Zherdev, Chuck Kobasew, Niklas Kronwall, Denis Ezhov

Row 3: Konstantin Glazachev, Alexei Mikhnov, Lauri Tukonen, Jordan Leopold, Dmitri Kosmachev

Row 4: Oliver Setzinger, Adam Henrich, Colin Hemingway, Patrick Wellar, Michael Schutte

Row 5: Dan Cavanaugh, Kyle Calder, Jason King

The Last Hoorah?

Well it was good while it lasted, right Islanders fans? The New York Islanders have gone to the FNHL Finals 3 of the last 4 years. They have won it twice in the last three years. The Islanders have become the second franchise in FNHL history to win the cup twice (Edmonton). The Islanders had yet another great season led by their all-star goaltender David Tremblay and their great defense. They did not have a single player with over 66 points this year and won their games built on the fundamentals of defense winning championships. The Islanders started the season off 12-7-1 and didnt look like the championship caliber team that we knew of them at that time. Then they went on a stretch where they only lost 2 times in 15 games and they instantly became the top dog in the Eastern Conference. They stayed there all the way until the end.

The celebration will be short lived on the Island, because the Islanders are in deep trouble financially. They will be extremely hard pressed to keep most of their players together as they currently have $2 million in cap space and have to resign Konstantin Glazachev, Jordan Leopold, Niklas Kronwall, David Tremblay, Denis Ezhov, Jason King, and Dmitri Kosmachev. After I was just stating how much their defense and goaltending won them games, they get the news they have to resign their goalie and all of their top four defensemen. This will be a different team on the ice next season and Mr. Reardon has his hands full with this offseason.