from Kevin Schultz of Islanders Point Blank,

When Barclays was initially being constructed under the design of architect Frank Gehry, the arena considered whether to make it a basketball-only facility or a dual basketball-hockey facility. After Gehry was removed from the job for driving costs higher the arena had to make a decision on how to continue. Given that at the time the Islanders looked like a long shot to head to Brooklyn – this was in 2009 – the arena moved forward with construction as a basketball-only facility. Now that the Islanders have bolted for Brooklyn, the arena is being retrofit for hockey.

The Barclays Center is certainly going to be a unique hockey setup. With an off-center scoreboard and seating issues on one end, the Barclays’ setup for hockey is going to be much different than anything the NHL currently has in use.

With a history that contains four consecutive Stanley Cups, multitudes of miraculous overtime victories, record-length contracts and a former felon owner, the Islanders have been a part of many unique situations before. The Team That Has Always Been Different now has a new, unique looking home to go with their unique name and history. And they should embrace it.

more with pictures showing the setup...