Connecticut politicians invite Islanders to play in Hartford if they leave Barclays Center

It was only a matter of time until the Hartford Whalers entered the New York Islanders’ arena drama discussion.

The Islanders have faced questions recently about their arena situation after a report last week indicated the team and its current venue, Barclays Center, are interested in parting ways. If that comes to fruition, the Islanders will need a new building to play in while they secure an arena deal in Queens.

Or they could move to Hartford, Conn.

On Friday, Hartford mayor Luke Bronin and Connecticut governor Dan Malloy released a joint statement offering Hartford’s XL Center for “interim use” if the Islanders decide to move out of Barclays.

“It has come to our attention that the Islanders may be in the need for a new home after the 2017-18 season. Recognizing that many issues will complicate your decision making, we would nonetheless like to offer Hartford’s XL Center as an option for your interim use. Of course, as we pursue the transformation of the building into today’s NHL standards, we would suggest the building as a long-term solution to your needs as well. We are certainly willing to work with private partners to develop the building you would be proud to call home and to adjust our development plans to the needs of your clubs and fans.”

As the politicians note in the statement, Hartford was the home of the NHL’s Whalers from 1979 to 1997, when the franchise moved to Raleigh and became the Carolina Hurricanes. Hartford hasn’t had an NHL team since then, though their legacy and merchandise live on throughout NHL fan circles.

The Islanders haven’t commented on the Barclays Center situation publicly. There’s still the Islanders’ former home of Nassau Coliseum to consider, as it undergoes renovations. And it’s highly doubtful the Islanders move from New York. But injecting the Whalers into the discussion can’t really hurt Hartford, so it’s no surprise they’ve done it. The pot has been stirred.