While the Islanders have refused to comment on the topic, Bruce Ratner, chair and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies and developer of the Barclays Center, hinted at the possibility last week.
"(Islanders owner) Charles Wang is a friend," Ratner told Newsday. "I talk to him all the time. We've talked for years and I think the major call is to make sure, first, the team stays in New York State. . . . After that we'll see what happens."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wouldn't comment directly on the Islanders' arena situation, but seemed to welcome the idea of playing in a new facility.
"That's up to the Barclays Center to try to attract people," Bloomberg told the paper. "This is an arena that is built so they can have hockey here, and the more teams that are in New York, the better they are."
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman also tip-toed around the subject, but did reveal that the Coliseum "is not a place that will be housing the Islanders any longer than their lease requires."
If Wang remains unsuccessful in his attempts to build a new facility and sports complex in Nassau County, he'll have no other choice but to entertain other options, which could also include relocating the team to a different city. However, with the Barclays Center ready and willing to house the Islanders, Wang might not need to look very far.
The Barclays Center is currently build for 14,500 people for hockey, and will play host to two KHL regular-season games next season.
