This isn't a conversation New York Islanders fans want to have, especially in the middle of a surprisingly good season, but it’s one the business side of the franchise can't ignore: if this team wants to grow, the fan base has to grow with it.
Younger. More diverse. More reflective of the market it actually sits in.
That's the take of new President of Hockey Operations Kelly Cheeseman, and he isn’t wrong. And honestly, it’s refreshing to hear someone in charge say it out loud.
Six weeks into his job as president of business operations, Cheeseman, who spoke to Andrew Gross of Newsday via Zoom on Tuesday, looked at the Islanders’ footprint and didn’t see a niche.