With the recent release of the NHL’s Reverse Retro jerseys, many Islanders fans are upset with the lack of creativity their new uniform possesses. Teams like the Kings, Flames, Capitals, and Rangers brought back old logos that fans had been patiently waiting for, while the Isles made minor tweaks to their current home jersey. Granted, the Islanders logo has generally stayed the same since its inaugural season in 1972, except for one outlier that has been highly requested to return to the ice.

A Time to Forget

From the years 1995-1997, New York donned the extravagant Fisherman jerseys, and fans all over social media had been pleading for the revival of this short-lived uniform. However, the general trend of Reverse Retro’s around the league either represents a proud historical era for that franchise or a throwback to that team’s inaugural season. In terms of these two qualifying principles, the Fisherman jersey represents neither.

Looking at the renowned Islanders teams of the 1980s, which they actually modeled their Reverse Retro after, many memories come to mind. Whether it be Bob Nystrom’s Stanley Cup-clinching goal against Philadelphia, or Mike Bossy’s 50 in 50 milestone in 1981, there are no shortages of iconic moments from the team that won 19 straight playoff series. This can not be said about the underachieving Isles teams during its Fisherman era.

In the 1995-1996 season, the first of just two short seasons with the Fisherman, the Islanders finished last in the Atlantic division with only 54 points. Other than leading scorer Ziggy Palffy and five-year captain Pat Flatley, most of that roster would rather be forgotten by Islanders faithful. In the second of its two-year reign, it was the same story for the New York Islanders. They once again finished last in the Atlantic, and they were led in scoring by the Czechoslovakian winger. Other memorable players from those teams were Travis Green, Kenny Jonsson, and Derek King. Not many fair-weathered fans will remember those names off the top of their head.

Milbury’s Mishaps

Stepping into the head coach position in 1995, Mike Milbury began his unsuccessful eleven-year stint with the Islanders franchise at the same time the Fisherman jersey was born. While coaching the team to multiple last-place division finishes during the Fisherman era he took over as General Manager. Making the playoffs just three times with zero series victories, he made countless managerial moves that barred the Islanders from real contention for years to come. Although the trades of Zdeno Chara and Roberto Luongo, combined with the respective ten and 15-year signings of Alexei Yashin and Rick DiPietro, did not come during the Fisherman era, Milbury’s notorious Islanders career began simultaneously to the jersey. Not to mention, Milbury has recently stepped down as an NBC analyst after making a lewd comment about women and has been known to make insensitive remarks over the course of his broadcasting career.

“We Want Fishsticks!”

Otherwise known as a crispy frozen fish fillet, Gorton’s Fish Sticks leaves a bad taste in the mouth of fans alive during the 1990s. This brand of packaged food happens to have a logo just like the Islanders Fisherman, prompting a chant that eludes both horrible memories for Islanders fans and glorious ones for the Broadway Blueshirts. Rangers fans, having come off a Stanley Cup two years prior, relentlessly chanted “We Want Fish Sticks!” during games against the Islanders, heightening the already embarrassing seasons they were having. Not only was their nickname the Isles at this point in time, but they were also widely known as the “Fish Sticks”.

Although the design of the Fisherman jersey is visibly appealing to fans of the younger generation, there is a long history of this uniform that many people would rather forget. While other NHL franchises are taking a step back in time to glory days and inaugural seasons, the usage of the Fisherman logo would counteract both of these concepts. Even though the Islanders Reverse Retro uniform lacks the creativity that others around the league possess, it still represents a victorious time period that will be immortalized by the hockey world.

John Smark