NY Islanders minority owner revealed to have deep Long Island roots

Accordion founder and CEO Nick Leopard has been revealed as a new minority owner of the New York Islanders. A longtime Long Island resident, Leopard is among the lead investors in a consortium that acquired roughly 15% of the franchise at a reported $3 billion valuation. The NHL has formally approved the transaction, which also includes Lateralus Holdings founder David Shuman.

Leopard has prior sports ownership experience with the FPHL's Binghamton Black Bears since 2023. Although he will serve as a passive investor without altering franchise control, Leopard is expected to provide strategic guidance on applying artificial intelligence to Islanders business operations, fan experience, and pricing.