NHL Cancels Preseason Games Through Sept. 30, Costing Isles Two Games

By Christian Arnold (CA_NYHockey)

The NHL announced yesterday that they have cancelled preseason games through September 30, including two Islander exhibition contests originally slated for September 27 and 30. Reports suggest the preseason game scheduled against the New Jersey Devils at Barclays Center in Brooklyn will also be scrapped in the coming days.

The September 27 game was scheduled against the Oilers in Regina Saskatchewan. The next game was supposed to be against the Ottawa Senators in Barrie, Ontario.

Chris Botta of the Sports Business Journal reported that the “historic” first hockey game in Brooklyn would be cancelled in the next day or so. The game is viewed as a way for the Islanders to test the market and viability of hockey in Brooklyn. The New York City Borough is seen as the only realistic option to keep the Islanders in the region. The team’s lease at Nassau Coliseum expires in 2015.

The NHL also canceled its annual Kraft Hockeyville preseason game that was scheduled for October 3. This year it was going to be held in Belleville, Ontario, but according to a league press release, many of the scheduled celebrations will proceed as planned.

As of right now, the only Isles preseason game not yet cancelled, or in jeopardy of being cancelled, is the October 4 contest against the New York Rangers at Nassau Coliseum.