New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow isn’t likely to complete any blockbuster trades ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline.
By Justin Weiss
If history is indicative of Garth Snow’s trade deadline plans then Isles fans will be waiting right up to the 2016 NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET on Feb. 29 to see if their team will make any moves.
Unlike the Edmonton media or certain general managers Snow operates in secrecy, meaning that all trade rumors involving the Islanders are either contrived by the NY Post or are mere fan speculation.
Here’s what past deadline trends say about the Isles:
- In eight years as GM, Snow has dealt players/picks at the deadline in six of those years. 2015-16 may present a different situation as the Isles are attempting to build off of past success and a long, arduous rebuild, rather than accumulate prospects for the future.
- In 2014-15, the Isles shipped Chad Johnson and Cory Conacher elsewhere. This came to the delight of many as neither produced with New York. Likewise, many are hopeful that Snow will send players such as Brian Strait anywhere.
- Arguably Snow’s biggest move came a year earlier, when he sent top-line winger Thomas Vanek and a 2014 conditional 5th round pick to the Montreal Canadiens for Sebastien Collberg and a 2014 conditional 2nd round pick. The public consensus is that it was an atrocious deal.
- In Snow’s first year at the helm of the team, the Isles made three moves. The biggest trade involved Marc-Andre Bergeron being dealt to the Anaheim Ducks for what would end up being the draft pick for Kirill Petrov. Petrov never made it to the NHL, so Isles fans are dreary that management will exchange a legitimate NHLer for an unproven prospect.
The Isles have made 13 moves since Snow became general manager. Interpret them any-which-way you want, but most of them weren’t exactly “major” by any measure. At the same token, they do have many more tradeable assets this time around.
Speculation
Recently, reports surfaced that although he’d like to remain an Islander, impending free agent Kyle Okposo won’t come knocking on Snow’s door to do so.
It seems highly doubtful that the Isles will re-sign both Okposo and Frans Nielsen, prompting speculation that Snow will try to deal Okie.
Additionally, Travis Hamonic has requested a trade to a team in West Canada, inducing a slew of rumors.
Everybody from Jordan Eberle to Tyler Myers has been whispered about, but the truth is that the Isles are much more likely to trade Hammer following the season.
External options such as Scott Hartnell have been brought into the conversation, although Arthur Staple of Newsday just doesn’t see it:
@CharminginEV Terrible fit. 3 more years on that deal. Pass.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) February 22, 2016
@StapeNewsday Q&A
@jaxson99 Think small. Plans can change, but I'd think small.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) February 22, 2016
@alexdtessler If they were to get a PAP/Boyes type, the heat would be on 18/84 to play well or risk being bumped down the lineup.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) February 22, 2016
@crosscheck7927 2 small deals (depth vet for mid-round pick) at most.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) February 22, 2016
@jeffbeil Nothing from the outside. This is the final shot for this core to show it's a real contender.
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) February 22, 2016
