Mad Mike Leaving Islanders (Finally, For Real)
May 29th, 2007 by murph
From Newsday.com, Ex-GM Mike Milbury who stepped down last June as GM only to take another front office position with the club, is leaving the Islanders for good this time.
One year after stepping aside as general manager of the Islanders to serve as senior vice-president in marketing, Mike Milbury on Tuesday announced his resignation from his full-time position in the organization.
Although Milbury will remain as an advisor to owner Charles Wang on the Project Hope youth hockey program they began two years ago in China, his move effectively ends his 12-year relationship with the Isles in terms of any major decision-making role. Milbury also served as coach three times and survived through four sets of owners.
“Charles gave me the opportunity of a new challenge for the last 18 months, and I enjoyed every minute of it,” Milbury said in a prepared statement. “Im very proud of our staff and the strides we made last season in corporate sales, customer service and community relations.”
But in an interview with Newsday, Milbury admitted the business side of the game isn’t his first love. His decision to move on, he said, evolved out of his recent season-ending meeting with Wang, who asked how he enjoyed his sales duties and whether he felt he could make a long-term commitment in that area.
Adios Mad Mike. Don’t let the door hit you in the ass. You are gone but cannot be forgotten. The Ex-Islanders All-Star Team will continue to haunt us. From Wikipedia:
Many young players and prospects that Milbury traded away went on to have distinguished careers, often eclipsing those of the players he received in return. He has traded away defencemen Zdeno Chara, Wade Redden, Bryan Berard, Eric Brewer, Darius Kasparaitis, and Bryan McCabe; goalies Luongo and Tommy Salo, as well as forwards Olli Jokinen, Todd Bertuzzi, and Raffi Torres. Milbury has also come under fire for his draft day decisions such as choosing Rick DiPietro first overall in 2000 over Dany Heatley and Marian Gaborik .
[Update] From Spector’s Blog, a few more Ex-Islander All Stars from Mad Mike’s Greatest Hits:
Were it not for a series of owners who skimped on payroll and some outright dumb trades by Milbury, there might be a second dynasty on Long Island today. Consider the following roster:
Goal: Roberto Luongo, Defence: Bryan McCabe, Wade Redden, Zdeno Chara and Eric Brewer. Forwards: Olli Jokinen, JP Dumont, Todd Bertuzzi, Jason Spezza (selected by Ottawa with the first round pick moved by Milbury for Alexei Yashin), Tim Connolly, Taylor Pyatt, Raffi Torres, Michael Rupp.
He also passed up the chance to draft either Dany Heatley or Marian Gaborik in 2000 to select Rick DiPietro, which wouldn’t have been necessary if he’d held onto Luongo.
fauxrumors Says
1) Ahhh, the coulda/woulda/shouldas of the Milbury era. Amazing how this guy was able to screw up so often. having a small budget only explains so much of his incompetance
2) As amazing is how he lasted so dam long in a position of power. He originaly fell through the cracks of ownership issues then seemingly had a Svengali-like effect on Wang. We’re sure there are few/if any Islanders fans tearful at MM’s departure!
May 30th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Kronis Says
I’ll admit not all of Milbury’s moves were so great, but you can make an Ex-any-team All-Star roster if you do just a little bit of exploring. People so conveniently forget why certain players are traded at certain times. You can’t just look at the names and make a judgment.
May 30th, 2007 at 9:35 pm
fauxrumors Says
1) Sorry Kronis, you’re right that hindsight is 20/20, BUT Milbury was an absolute blind man with regard to a vision to build a winner
2) Time after time he traded away promosing guys for washed up players. Doing it once is forgiveable but 3-4 times is a trend
3) a) McCabe/Bertuzzi for Linden
b) Jokinen/Luongo for Kvasha/Parrish
c) Spezza/Chara for Yashin These three trades scream out at even the most passive hockey fan as being bone headed
May 31st, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Tom Says
milbury’s reign was like a long, drunken night spent doing things you probably wouldn’t have done if you had been able to retain your better judgment. instead, you wake up the next day (or in mike’s case 12 years later) and say, “Wait, I did what last night?”
Jun 1st, 2007 at 10:42 am
murph Says
speaking from experience again, huh tom?
Jun 1st, 2007 at 11:05 am
Tom Says
guilty as charged.
i wonder where mad mike goes from here? maybe he becomes wang’s financial advisor or personal chef. can’t imagine anyone in the nhl giving him a shot…unless it’s gary bettman. that might just be a match made in heaven. two negatives still equal a positive, right?
Jun 1st, 2007 at 2:42 pm
murph Says
i have a men’s league game at Iceworks on Monday night. i’ll report here if i see him in the Pro Shop or driving the Zamboni.
Jun 1st, 2007 at 4:26 pm