Isles fold again
Snow refuses to cash in his chips
EDMONTON — If the underlying principle behind Garth Snow’s trade deadline inaction was the belief the Islanders were far more than an obtainable piece or two away from competing for the Cup, then the general manager’s thinking cannot be criticized.
But, and there’s essentially always a “but” when it comes to this franchise, Snow’s earlier refusal or inability to move at least some of the young assets and draft picks he has amassed over his tenure in an attempt to put his club in position for a legitimate run is confounding.
Two first-rounders this year — their own and Calgary’s, and perhaps both lottery-eligible — then two more the following year give the Islanders and their GM cover in talking about not jeopardizing the future.
Strange, though, that through a 10-year period in which the Islanders have had five top-five selections, another top-10, plus six more firstrounders, the future never seems to come.
For goodness sakes, Snow moves the goal posts about as often as his team moves between home arenas.
What’s more, the deference paid by the organization to John Tavares is equally confusing as unrestricted free agency beckons on July 1.
Perhaps there is more to this than anyone knows. Maybe No. 91 has an agreement in principle to remain with the team that drafted him first overall in 2009 and for whom he has been working on the league’s most clubfriendly contract at $5.5 million per for the past six seasons, though why this would be kept secret is anyone’s guess.
But if not, if Tavares truly has not given ownership reason beyond expectation of blind loyalty to believe that he will re-up, then ownership and Snow were derelict in not advising the captain he would be shopped and most likely traded at the deadline absent his signature on the dotted line of an extension.
The accepted version of the story is that ownership first stuck with Snow as GM following the end of last season because Tavares is comfortable with him then installed Doug Weight as permanent head coach after a strong run as the interim man for the very same reason. And then weeks before the deadline made the commitment not to trade Tavares.
This for a player, albeit wondrous without dispute, whose first eight years have featured one playoff series victory and three postseason appearances and whose record in that regard probably won’t need an update. And, deep down, wouldn’t you have to wonder about Tavares if he does indeed opt to remain with this outfit? Seriously, does anyone think that Ernie Banks would have remained a Cub for life had Major League Baseball free agency existed in 1963? Strange indeed. Oh wait. These are the Islanders. Not so strange at all.
Accepted theory that a team can only come up with a franchise player by bottoming out and cashing in at the draft doesn’t at all hold up if you can get Edmonton GM Peter Chiarelli to trade with you.
Because the Devils sure have their franchise guy in the brilliant and dynamic 26-year-old Taylor Hall, who has surged to the front of the class for Hart Trophy consideration in Year 2 in New Jersey following his acquisition from the Oilers in exchange for Adam Larsson.
Ray Shero has assembled more than a one-man band, obviously, but Hall has been carrying the Devils toward their first playoff berth since 2012 while recording 34 points (17 goals) in 24 straight games since the calendar turned to 2018. Overall, Hall (29 goals, 41 assists, 70 points) has chipped in on 37.4 percent of New Jersey’s goals.
Chiarelli, of course, also traded a 21year-old Tyler Seguin, so perhaps there is hope Leon Draisaitl will land on Broadway before he turns 23 in late October.
Gentleman Jim Rutherford was persistent, and perhaps even a pest, in his attempt to bring Ryan McDonagh to Pittsburgh, we’re told, but the Penguins never did cobble together an offer that was worth consideration.
The Capitals, too, wanted to get in on McDonagh, but weren’t able to pull in a third team that might have been able to get it done. The Panthers, late entries into the mix, couldn’t/wouldn’t make a tempting offer.
Had the Lightning not submitted to the Blueshirts’ demand for Libor Hajek, McDonagh would have remained a Ranger through at least the end of the season.
And wouldn’t that have been awkward.
Brad Park is no worse than the second greatest defenseman ever to wear the Blueshirt, and I am wide open to arguments that at his peak he was at least every bit the equal of Brian Leetch.
He is also either the best defenseman in NHL history never to win the Norris Trophy or second best behind Scott Stevens.
But he played just 465 games for the Rangers, so as tickled as I would be to be see Park recognized at the Garden with his cohorts from Emile’s Era, it’s tricky to argue that such a short run on Broadway merits retirement of his No. 2.
I don’t believe there is another example of an NHL Greatest 100er whose prime was split so evenly between two teams. After recording 378 points (95 goals, 283 assists) in 465 games with one trip to the finals as a Ranger, Park posted 417 points (100 goals, 317 assists) in 501 games and advanced to the finals twice as a Bruin.
After being named to the NHL first All-Star team three times and the second-team twice in New York, Park was a first-team All-Star four times in Boston. After finishing second in the Norris balloting four times (to Bobby Orr) wearing the Blueshirt, he finished second twice (to Denis Potvin) wearing the spoked-B.
As much a case can be made that the Hall of Famer’s No. 22 (also, coincidentally, worn by Leetch during his 2005-06 tour of duty) should be retired in Boston as his No. 2 in New York.
So we have read the news about Nashville’s David Poile becoming the winningest general manager in NHL history, and congrats to him, but what I want to know is, who has been counting, and why?