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The trade deadline came and went for the New York Islanders without general manager Garth Snow making a move.
Snow pretty much went all in on Colorado Avalanche forward Matt Duchene. When the clock struck 3pm eastern Wednesday, Duchene still was on the last-place Avalanche and the Islanders were the only team, besides the expansion Las Vegas Golden Knights, who opened for business yesterday, not to make a move during this trade deadline period.
Avalanche general manager Joe Sakic demanded a king's ransom for the third overall pick in 2009. Sakic was and still is not under any pressure to trade Duchene or captain Gabriel Landeskog. Both are under contract for a couple of more seasons. No one knows, despite the reports, what Sakic truly wanted. All signs point to Sakic making a move at the draft.
Snow's backup plan, like the Stamkos situation last summer, was nothing. A few forwards could have been had. Edmonton Oilers forward Jordan Eberle, although general manager Peter Chiarelli said he was not available could've been had. Remember Snow got a first and a second from Chiarelli for Griffin Reinhart. Lightning forward Tyler Johnson, who will be a restricted free agent was someone who could have bolstered the offense.
The Islanders were clearly not interested in the rental market. Arizona Coyotes forward Radim Vrbata, who the Coyotes ended up keeping, could've been had for a second-round pick. Vrbata was satisfied staying in the desert. Snow was not going to revisited either Thomas Vanek, who went to Florida for a third-round pick or P.A. Parenteau, who was acquired by Nashville for a sixth-round pick. Imagine the reaction had Snow reacquired Parenteau after waiving him prior to the start of the season.
For the second time in as many days, Josh Ho-Sang was recalled from and returned to Bridgeport. The second "demotion" was in order to be eligible for the AHL playoffs. The 21-year-old was recalled following the 3pm deadline and will make his NHL debut in Dallas tonight. Ho-Sang was named the AHL Rookie of the Month for February. The 28th overall pick in the 2014 draft had five goals and 10 assists in February and has 36 points in 48 games this for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Ho-Sang will replace Alan Quine in the lineup. Quine will miss a couple of weeks.
This is why fans love Doug Weight. The interim head coach told the media that Ho-Sang has earned a spot up here and I plan to play him. A far cry from a former head coach's logic.
Ho-Sang could a wild card down the stretch. His promotion should not take away from the fact that Snow has not made an impactful deadline move since 2007. Snow apologists, and you know who they are, can say that none of the players who Snow targeted got traded yesterday. But it would seem like Snow did not have to make a move in order to save his job. Quite frankly, and I know fans do not want to hear this, Snow is here to stay.
Thomas Greiss will get the start tonight. Shane Prince and Cal Clutterbuck will return to the lineup. Anthony Beauvillier is battling an illness and will not play
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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