The next fourteen years were hard ones for the once-proud franchise.

The once-proud franchise, best known for their meteoric rise from also-ran to four-time Stanley Cup champions, had missed the playoffs in five of the last eight years.

Like his Yankee counterpart, the captain of the Islanders has toiled for well over a decade trying to bring some glory back to a once-proud franchise.

So how does Angelos regain the glory of a once-proud franchise?

The ultimate goal is to stop a once-proud franchise from collecting any more top draft picks.

The draft-day decisions have been made, and for once in the sad recent history of a once-proud franchise, the people left cheering.

The enthusiastic Carr is devoted to changing the somber mood surrounding the once-proud franchise.

The once-proud franchise had just suffered a horrendous 10-win season, the worst in their history, leading to rumours that it might fold.

The Islanders, meanwhile, are looking toward the coming draft as a way to put back together a once-proud franchise that is in disarray.

He helped revive once-proud franchises, from New England to the Giants to the Steelers.