In April of 2000, Charles Wang saw his first live hockey game and made the $190 million decision to purchase the New York Islanders during one of the darkest chapters in team history.
At the time, Wang told Richard Sandomir of the New York Times:
”We want to make the New York Islanders the world-class sports franchise that our community deserves, wants and needs,” Wang, 55, said. ”This is no easy task. We are not medicine men promising a very quick cure.”
It’s true, Wang’s tenure as Islanders majority owner was full of struggle, hardship and bottom-five draft picks.