My take on Snow: credit must be given where credit is due. The guy has drafted fairly well, restocking a system that was embarassingly weak because of Milbury. Snow has also done a great job identifying guys like PAP and MM and has found value in castoffs.

His shortcomings: "his" teams, teams he built, not one he inherited from Niel Smith, haven't finished out of the league's bottom five yet. his track record with respect to signing free agents is horrid. Outside of MM, PAP and Streit and Roloson, Snow hasn't signed one solid UFA since he took the job. He also has failed miserably at making any trades for impact players. His scouring of the bargain bin every summer isn't getting it done. He also has failed in bringing a legit coach in during his tenure. Nolan was Wang's hire.

Snow deserves credit for some good things, but he also deseeves criticism for failures. He must improve on selling LI to UFA's and grow a pair and make an impact trade or else the team will never improve.
- Jethro09

Ok I will give him credit for the system once these guys he drafted do something in the NHL. Besides Tavares I am not getting excited here. As for Moulson yeah great pick up. Grabner seems to be a one year wonder so I give him a C- for that. As for PA well when he was with the Rangers I heard a lot fans say that he has a lot of talent but there was just no spot for him so that was an easy one for Garth. His bad moves out ways the good so for now good ole Snow gets a D+. He is trying to be a GM just he is not there yet.

I'll be happy if they end the season with .500 record, and keep a top 5 pick... hopefully higher.

It's an improvement over last year.

This team will only get better next year!!!

Ok I will give him credit for the system once these guys he drafted do something in the NHL. Besides Tavares I am not getting excited here. As for Moulson yeah great pick up. Grabner seems to be a one year wonder so I give him a C- for that. As for PA well when he was with the Rangers I heard a lot fans say that he has a lot of talent but there was just no spot for him so that was an easy one for Garth. His bad moves out ways the good so for now good ole Snow gets a D+. He is trying to be a GM just he is not there yet.
- kasperrko

he has hit on hamonic as well...and i'm not ready to write off grabner just yet..the way i look at it..bailey okposo and grabner have until the trade deadline next year

he has hit on hamonic as well...and i'm not ready to write off grabner just yet..the way i look at it..bailey okposo and grabner have until the trade deadline next year
- NYI78

Ok deal I will give those guys until then to be fair. Okposo was not GArths pick though I beleive he was the pick of a real GM for that short period of time. good ole Neil Smith

My take on Snow: credit must be given where credit is due. The guy has drafted fairly well, restocking a system that was embarassingly weak because of Milbury. Snow has also done a great job identifying guys like PAP and MM and has found value in castoffs.

His shortcomings: "his" teams, teams he built, not one he inherited from Niel Smith, haven't finished out of the league's bottom five yet. his track record with respect to signing free agents is horrid. Outside of MM, PAP and Streit and Roloson, Snow hasn't signed one solid UFA since he took the job. He also has failed miserably at making any trades for impact players. His scouring of the bargain bin every summer isn't getting it done. He also has failed in bringing a legit coach in during his tenure. Nolan was Wang's hire.

Snow deserves credit for some good things, but he also deseeves criticism for failures. He must improve on selling LI to UFA's and grow a pair and make an impact trade or else the team will never improve.
- Jethro09

No real argument with anything here... I have comment thou... "Outside of MM, PAP and Streit and Roloson, Snow hasn't signed one solid UFA since he took the job." That is 4 very solid players, add to them Konopka, Staios, Jurcina (everyone LOVED him last year) Mike Comrie... There are a few more.. granted we havent signed a super star, or a star for that matter.. but they have been some solid signings.

XxNYIxX

Ok deal I will give those guys until then to be fair. Okposo was not GArths pick though I beleive he was the pick of a real GM for that short period of time. good ole Neil Smith
- kasperrko

XxNYIxX

This is what I'm referring too. What exactly is he doing well? Not trying to attack, just curious to know exactly what you are referring too?
- Cptmjl

Well... We knew this was a 5 year rebuild. We didn't have alot of prospects, and free agents didn't want to sign here.

I think we have a pretty good prospect pool, and the team is competive again.

We have our franchise player, and we now need to build around him.

As we get better, we will attract some FA's.

Or we may have to trade some of the prospects and picks for an upgrade in talent.

I really don't think we are as bad as some fans think.

If PA, and Nabby do resign as they say.... we're in pretty good shape for next year.

Sure we need defencemen and another top 6 player... but every team needs help.

At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we would have a bad losing streak.

It really cost us a playoff spot.

If after 5 years, we are not where we should be.... then you can fire Garth.

In the mean time... let him do his job.

Well... We knew this was a 5 year rebuild. We didn't have alot of prospects, and free agents didn't want to sign here.

I think we have a pretty good prospect pool, and the team is competive again.

We have our franchise player, and we now need to build around him.

As we get better, we will attract some FA's.

Or we may have to trade some of the prospects and picks for an upgrade in talent.

I really don't think we are as bad as some fans think.

If PA, and Nabby do resign as they say.... we're in pretty good shape for next year.

Sure we need defencemen and another top 6 player... but every team needs help.

At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we would have a bad losing streak.

It really cost us a playoff spot.

If after 5 years, we are not where we should be.... then you can fire Garth.

In the mean time... let him do his job.
- jimmc7722

you can't sugar coat how desperate of an upgrade this defense needs

Well... We knew this was a 5 year rebuild. We didn't have alot of prospects, and free agents didn't want to sign here.

I think we have a pretty good prospect pool, and the team is competive again.

We have our franchise player, and we now need to build around him.

As we get better, we will attract some FA's.

Or we may have to trade some of the prospects and picks for an upgrade in talent.

I really don't think we are as bad as some fans think.

If PA, and Nabby do resign as they say.... we're in pretty good shape for next year.

Sure we need defencemen and another top 6 player... but every team needs help.

At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we would have a bad losing streak.

It really cost us a playoff spot.

If after 5 years, we are not where we should be.... then you can fire Garth.

In the mean time... let him do his job.
- jimmc7722

we need three dmen!!

Well... We knew this was a 5 year rebuild. We didn't have alot of prospects, and free agents didn't want to sign here.

I think we have a pretty good prospect pool, and the team is competive again.

We have our franchise player, and we now need to build around him.

As we get better, we will attract some FA's.

Or we may have to trade some of the prospects and picks for an upgrade in talent.

I really don't think we are as bad as some fans think.

If PA, and Nabby do resign as they say.... we're in pretty good shape for next year.

Sure we need defencemen and another top 6 player... but every team needs help.

At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we would have a bad losing streak.
It really cost us a playoff spot.

If after 5 years, we are not where we should be.... then you can fire Garth.

In the mean time... let him do his job.
- jimmc7722

Umm they have a major losing streak every year that pushes them out of the playoffs early. That has been the thing for the past few years

I think the one thing about the NHL draft becoming such a big event is GM's are very wary to let their first round pick go... b/c this is the one day they are on TV and everyone gets to see them do their Job. If they don't have a pick you don't see the GM at all. I think both Nabby and PA should have been able to get us first round picks but b/c the first day has gotten so big... many teams would not make the trade. That is my opinion for whatever that is worth (zip).

Well... We knew this was a 5 year rebuild. We didn't have alot of prospects, and free agents didn't want to sign here.

I think we have a pretty good prospect pool, and the team is competive again.

We have our franchise player, and we now need to build around him.

As we get better, we will attract some FA's.

Or we may have to trade some of the prospects and picks for an upgrade in talent.

I really don't think we are as bad as some fans think.

If PA, and Nabby do resign as they say.... we're in pretty good shape for next year.

Sure we need defencemen and another top 6 player... but every team needs help.

At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we would have a bad losing streak.

It really cost us a playoff spot.

If after 5 years, we are not where we should be.... then you can fire Garth.

In the mean time... let him do his job.
- jimmc7722

So come this April you'll be calling for Garths Job? Because by his own admission in an interview shown on the Isles official web site. Snow stated that this is Year 5 of his rebuild.

Agreed. We get another top 5 pick at this yrs Draft! Great job!

And in Islander Nation, isnt that all that counts?
- SCLI

Fellas, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to pick the top draft eligible pick year after year, and build a team. His team has finished poorly in every year of his rebuild. He has brought in poor vets to assist the kids, he has 1 physical presence on the team. These things do make him an NHL GM. Score him a C-.

From Richard Cloutier another HB Blogger:

New York Islanders - If there is any team in need of drafting defensemen this season, it's the Islanders. They should move up to get Ryan Murray. He'd be solution #1.

I rest my case...
- kear20

We will not have to move up to get Ryan Murray. We will have the 3rd pick in the draft.

Fellas, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to pick the top draft eligible pick year after year, and build a team. His team has finished poorly in every year of his rebuild. He has brought in poor vets to assist the kids, he has 1 physical presence on the team. These things do make him an NHL GM. Score him a C-.
- bixll

Truer words have never been spoken.

I'll be happy if they end the season with .500 record, and keep a top 5 pick... hopefully higher.

It's an improvement over last year.

This team will only get better next year!!!
- jimmc7722

love your optimism but what makes you think that? How will they improve and for what reason?

Fellas, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to pick the top draft eligible pick year after year, and build a team. His team has finished poorly in every year of his rebuild. He has brought in poor vets to assist the kids, he has 1 physical presence on the team. These things do make him an NHL GM. Score him a C-.
- bixll

True that!

Next years line up
Moulson, JT, PA
Ulstrom, Strome, Nino
Bailey, Nielsen, Ok
Martin, Cizicas, (Petrov, Lee, whoever)

Hamonic, Suter
Macdonald, Yandle (via trade)
Streit, Jurcina
Dehaan or Matt Donovan

Nabby
Poulin

(Pa is what I think... but they will be offereing Parise and Suter a fortune to play here..we have to spend a fortune to reach the floor).

Well... We knew this was a 5 year rebuild. We didn't have alot of prospects, and free agents didn't want to sign here.

I think we have a pretty good prospect pool, and the team is competive again.

We have our franchise player, and we now need to build around him.

As we get better, we will attract some FA's.

Or we may have to trade some of the prospects and picks for an upgrade in talent.

I really don't think we are as bad as some fans think.

If PA, and Nabby do resign as they say.... we're in pretty good shape for next year.

Sure we need defencemen and another top 6 player... but every team needs help.

At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we would have a bad losing streak.

It really cost us a playoff spot.

If after 5 years, we are not where we should be.... then you can fire Garth.

In the mean time... let him do his job.
- jimmc7722

I am not preventing him from doing his job he is just not doing his job. He said we would contendt for the stanley cup i five years... We were supposed to make the PO's according to HIM this year. We will be lucky to sneak into the eight spot next year let alone compete for the cup

Truer words have never been spoken.
- SCLI

I just got back to work and I clicked on to see who was at war today......and I saw your post. I started to think, Ok, you like the guy.

But, what has he actually done.

He picked the top draft eligible kid at each chance, he never went outside of the box. His greatest claim to fame was picking up players off of waivers and they played well here. For now. Grabs has slipped.

Yawn, hardly stirred the pot and completed the rebuild in 5 years.

Fellas, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to pick the top draft eligible pick year after year, and build a team. His team has finished poorly in every year of his rebuild. He has brought in poor vets to assist the kids, he has 1 physical presence on the team. These things do make him an NHL GM. Score him a C-.
- bixll

I don't disagree but the owner is also a reason. We let Zenon go b/c of Wang. Haley and Gillies are not on team b/c of Wang. He hates fighting in NHL.. I don't give Snow a Pass but I don't give him all the blame either...

Snow does have a lot of talent in our system. A lot of those players have not finished developing too. Guys like Brock, Strome, Kirill1/2, DeHaan, etc. I kind of feel like They tanked this year on purpose to get one last high pick. It is the only reason to allow Rolston, Wallace, Pandolfo, et al to continue playing as long as they did.

you can't sugar coat how desperate of an upgrade this defense needs
- NYI78

More then ANYTHING this team needs 2 top 4 D-men ... its no surprise Strait, Amac & Jurcina have looked horrendous this year they are either playing with mis-matched partners or playing more mins then they should. Garth needs to find a way to address this.. deHann,Ness & Donovan will be very nice upgrades to what we have had.. but they are just veggies in this stew.. Garth needs to go out & get us some Meat!

XxNYIxX

Next years line up
Moulson, JT, PA
Ulstrom, Strome, Nino
Bailey, Nielsen, Ok
Martin, Cizicas, (Petrov, Lee, whoever)

Hamonic, Suter
Macdonald, Yandle (via trade)
Streit, Jurcina
Dehaan or Matt Donovan

Nabby
Poulin

(Pa is what I think... but they will be offereing Parise and Suter a fortune to play here..we have to spend a fortune to reach the floor).
- niteislander

Early bets have Parise going to Minnesota and from what I've heard. (radio,tv) Suter is unhappy with the progress of the team in Nashville and wants out. So if he's not happy playing for a team that has a chance to go deep into the PO's. I dont think all the money in the world is gonna entice him to come to the perennial rebuild here on LI.

Early bets have Parise going to Minnesota and from what I've heard. (radio,tv) Suter is unhappy with the progress of the team in Nashville and wants out. So if he's not happy playing for a team that has a chance to go deep into the PO's. I dont think all the money in the world is gonna entice him to come to the perennial rebuild here on LI.
- SCLI

It is money... and it Talks. They offer him enough to play here and he will be on the Island.

4-5 UFA's ???????????

You do know our history with UFA's?
- SCLI

Yeah, we sign whatever is left on the scrap heap. No one said they were going to be good, they just have to show up.