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Weird Islanders: The Podcast! – Neil Smith

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The circus was right around the corner and coming back in again.

Dan is joined by former Islanders GM Neil Smith, who talks candidly about his his long association with the club and 40-day tenure in the front office.

While he is still mostly connected to their chief rival, Smith has been part of the Islanders going back to their very beginnings. He was a draft pick, a player and a scout before finally getting his chance to be their GM in the summer of 2006. But the unorthodox ideas of owner Charles Wang clashed with what Smith (and everyone else) knew was the proper way to run an NHL team. Although he was let go after just month-and-a-half, many of his decisions would benefit the Islanders for years to come.

Smith speaks very plainly about getting hired by Wang, the personal distress the job caused him and his acrimonious dismissal, as well as his relationships with fellow “committee” members Ted Nolan and Bryan Trottier, and the acquisitions of players like Kyle Okposo, Mike Sillinger, Brendan Witt and Chris Simon. He also tells us how the dynasty Islanders figured into the Rangers 1994 Stanley Cup championship and how the Islanders should approach having the first overall pick in this year’s draft.

We also hear some great stories about helping build another champion in Detroit, being the first D1 captain for the current NCAA champion Western Michigan Broncos and working with Jaclyn Smith and Armand Assante on a TV miniseries in 1983. We cover a lot in an hour so buckle up.

Thanks again to Neil for coming on and being so open and honest. Be sure to check out his NHL Wraparound podcast, especially their upcoming special celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Islanders’ first Stanley Cup, which releases (appropriately) on May 24th.

WEIRD BONUS MATERIAL!

  • This page includes Neil Smith’s 1974(!) draft profile. He was captain of the inaugural D1 Western Michigan Broncos (who are currently the NCAA champions for the first time).
  • Smith was thrilled to “come home” to the Islanders when he was offered the job of general manager in 2006. Sadly, it would go off the rails very quickly.
  • Yup. You know it. Smith was let go after just 40 days, which came as a relief to him but looked like a disaster to us. Shout out to our friend Sab for this very helpful video condensing that whole crazy summer:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybw045OJAtQ?rel=0]
  • Neil currently works for UBS as a liaison between the company, the arena and the Islanders. So if you see him in the hallways at UBS Arena, say hello.
  • I’m very glad we had time for this one. First, we referenced Tony Orlando & Dawn, and now we’ve gotten to mention Jaclyn Smith and Armand Assante in in the 1983 TV movie, Rage of Angels. You can watch the whole thing right here (or just the hockey part, which is clipped):
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovTMbIC8ahE?rel=0]

What makes a “Weird Islander?”

We’re always open to suggestions about other Weird Islanders to discuss. Remember the criteria. Candidates must fulfill one of the two of the following:

  • Played one (1) season or less for the Islanders or very short stints over multiple seasons.
  • Be a veteran NHLer who is not generally associated with his time on Islanders.

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