Player Garth Snow’s Comments On Lockout Sept 2004

In Sept 2004: Locked Out NHL player Garth Snow gave the Toronto Star an interview on playing in Russia.  

USA Today’s Kevin Allen on 9/27/04 had a more positive article.

Tsn.ca reported Snow left St Petersberg on 12/21/2004 in an era before there was a KHL.

On 7/29/2005 Snow was resigned by the Isles to a three year extension as an UFA.
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NYIFC Comments:  
This entry has nothing to do with the previous post about the general manager.

I felt it would be interesting to take a quick look back at how NHL locked out player, Garth Snow, saw the 2004-05 lockout.

I always remembered this interview because of his honest, candid comments at the time.

Snow before 2010 was the only former player who had become a general manager since the 04-05 lockout beyond brief co-gm Brett Hull with Dallas who retired in October 2005.

It has nothing to do with players immediately named gm.

Bob Clarke was hired as gm by Ed Snider of the Flyers upon his retirement after 83-84, who was fired by Jay Snider before becoming gm in Minnesota, Florida before returning as senior vp, then gm, which he held until 2006 when after being fired he again was named senior vp in Dec 2006. 

Ray Shero was a long-time assistant in Ottawa/Nashville before behind hired by Pittsburgh in 2006.
Dave Nonis was gm in Vanvouver from 2004-2008. 

Among the current general managers:
Steve Yzerman was named Tampa’s gm in 2010, his final NHL season was 2005-06.
Former Islander/new Montreal gm, Marc Bergervin’s final NHL season was 2003-04.
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Fun Story Of The Day: 
So in September 2001 Vancouver gm Brian Burke wanted to claim Garth Snow off waivers? 

Funny on 1/6/2001 the all-knowing Vancouver media has Burke’s comments on Garth Snow’s goaltending vs Felix Potvin after Snow left. 

Sorry gang, Snow’s 2000-01 stats in Pittsburgh did not scream he had improved. Chris Osgood was also claimed off waivers with DiPietro being left in Bridgeport. 
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Bridgeport Win/Loss:
Nino Niederreiter scored two goals in first period, took a stick in the face, returned but only took one brief pp shift in second period on Wednesday in Sound Tigers 5-2 win. David Ullstrom has three assist, one ENG. 

Nothing on Travis Hamonic or Brock Nelson close to returning.

Garth Snow Interview Again Contradicts His Past Comments

NHL.com: Did an interview with Garth Snow on 12/18 where he discussed several subjects.

NYIFC Comments:
Snow again employeed his 2012 favorite word———rebuilding.

This was something he made clear was a word he did not like and rarely used back in 2009.  There have been several entries here critical of him for this change which began when the 2011-12 season fell apart  here.

If Garth Snow does not believe his own past statements, he’s not being honest with the public or himself.

That’s very disappointing because the outside talent his staff has identified, the excellent contract negotiations with many players re-signing here (Tavares, Okposo, Grabner, MacDonald, Nielsen x 2) speak to his skills that he absolutely is a capable NHL general manager who’s had some very poor luck with man games lost to injury with players signed to very astute contracts at the time (Witt, Hunter, Sillinger, Sim,  Reasoner, Comrie, Eaton) where most simply broke down.

I asked Snow flat out about front-loaded contracts in one of his past Islander website ask the gm segments. I did not get a real answer or was expecting one.

Charles Wang in his XM 10/25/12 interview referred to front-loaded contracts as ” One of those fancy, funny deals with big money up front—-signing bonus, ” when discussing the straight yearly contract DiPietro signed.

I have absolutely no problem with that stance by Wang if that’s his view on front-loading.

Brian Burke refused to do it in Toronto. Montreal would not either and when the time came to sign top free agents the building made no difference. Those franchises (like all others with the same policy IE San Jose) all never landed one top free agent. 

Reality here is Garth Snow can discuss free agency all he likes. He can redo the dance in the past about the building being a factor to help Wang get a new/renovated arena in Nassau which is exactly what he should have been doing. 

But now we move forward when the day comes when there will be NHL unrestricted free agency again on 7/1.  There may be front-loading, or not.  If there is front-loading Wang/Snow will have to do it whether the Isles play at the Barclay’s Center, Nassau Coliseum or in Montreal if they wish to land a top player.

If not, the building again will not matter. 

If front-loading is out of the next CBA it levels the playing field more, but whatever loophole is found to exploit the system as we saw when front-loading really got started with the Drury, Gomez, Briere, Smyth UFA class, this time Garth Snow will have to do the same if he’s serious about landing any top free agents.
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John Spano joined twitter-I asked him on 12/18 if an apology to NYI fans, Mr Pickett for your actions is a respectfully appropriate request to ask of you.

He responded with the following: here.

7/15 Decision Day For Martin, Wishart, Koskinen

7/15 is the day qualifying offers expire for these players. (along with Sean Backman)

The Islanders retain the rights to these players, they can keep negotiating because they qualified them, however this would mean those players do not simply want the standard raise per CBA which is what a qualifying offer means. 

Matt Martin does not accept his raise by 7/15 it could get interesting or one (perhaps both) sides want a longer term contract.  

Mikko Koskinen played in Europe last season, however he’s New York Islander property, and the first goaltender selected in his draft, who’s situation is unchanged with four other goaltenders under contract.

It’s notable Garth Snow retains Ty Wishart, but never mentions him in discussing defenders who need to make this team, but again Snow offered him a contract/raise with qualifying offer. 

Any player accepts their qualifying offer by 7/15 that means they are signed. 

New York Islander Fan Central

Garth Snow’s Comments As Free Agency Begins

NY Post: Brett Cyrgalis has again spoken with Islanders general manager, Garth Snow entering free agency about the teams plans.

  “We’ll see what comes to us,” Snow said Saturday. “We will try to get something worked out, but there is plenty of time between now and the start of the season. We’re going to try and address our needs and make our calls.”

“Free agents are concerned with the arena situation,” he said. “It’s hard to persuade a free agent with a 5- or 7- or 10-year deal when our lease is up in three years [2015] and they don’t know where they’ll be playing.”

“I think with Andrew MacDonald, Mark Streit, Travis Hamonic and now Visnovsky, we have solidified our top four,” Snow said. “We expect one of our [prospects] Calvin de Haan, [Matt] Donovan and [Aaron] Ness to make the team. So that’s five defensemen. We still have one hole to fill.”

“We’ll make our calls only July 1,” Snow said, “and try to improve our team then and throughout the week.”

NYIFC Comments:
For those keeping score the New York Islanders, are not given regular game coverage at the laughingstock Post, or even a section, but now four articles, two sessions with the gm, plus Cyrgalis calls out the media on rumors since Snow spoke to him before the draft?

Cyrgalis is getting a lot more than Dolan’s beatwriter from Snow. 

Is this the same laughingstock NY Post, that had Larry Brooks writing on 3/21 that the team does not matter while parroting a former Isles media relations coordinator?

Ok, enough on that. Snow put Visnovsky in his mix of defenders, he has to for the moment. 

Why do I get the feeling if Snow offered a seven to ten year contract any player would accept that security if the money was front-loaded, and for some even if it were not. (which to be fair Wang has no business doing after getting nothing from Nassau County for twelve years)

I’m not thrilled with Snow these days since he’s now employing the rebuilding often in interviews. I made that clear back in a Feb 2012 Entry. 

Snow can be as crypric as he likes, no problem there. I also made clear he should return as gm, but don’t contradict yourself or you are insulting your fans/customers. 

Nov 27th 2009 Snow spoke with the Globe and Mail:

Is the success a sign, though, that your rebuilding strategy may be ahead of schedule?

Snow: “I don’t use that word rebuild. We’re trying to make the playoffs and win a Stanley Cup like every other team. We don’t go in with the mindset that losing is acceptable, and when that word is used, sometimes winning doesn’t matter. I don’t think I’ve used that word too much and if I have, it’s been very limited. We’re trying to win every hockey game we play in. The group that we have in that locker room, it may be young, but that doesn’t make it can’t have success.”

When he uses the rebuilding word now often in interviews he comes off like a man who did not believe in his own words or is now covering himself. 

New York Islander Fan Central

Brent Thompson Named Assistant/Notables

 Islanders website: announced today that Brent Thompson has officially been named an assistant coach.

 “Brent did a great job in Bridgeport last year molding our young prospects into a division-winning team,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. “With his coaching experience and defensive expertise, we’re excited for him to join our coaching staff.” 

Thompson did an ITV interview.

 Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio reports Bridgeport is also losing Matt Bertani to the Islanders, he will be the team’s new video coach, and that Eric Boguniecki is expected back. 

NYIFC Comments:
You can go in ten different directions with this because many organizations keep assistant coaches through several coaching changes, while others do not.

Is this another potential successor for Jack Capuano if the club does not start well, should he have had the right to pick his own head coaches as many NHL organizations do permit, even thought his experience since 2005 has only been with this organization?

Capuano was sent down to Bridgeport after Steve Stirling’s dismissal.  

Bottom line does a rookie AHL coach in 29th place at the end of the calendar year 2011, that takes a team to fifteen games over five hundered/first place deserve a promotion or do you want him teaching prospects in what will largely be a different Bridgeport team?

Is this coach who was a successful ECHL hire a year ago ready to be an NHL assistant? 

Despite what happens with the NHL CBA, Bridgeport will need a head coach at some future point.

Unless something changes the Islanders bench will carry one less assistant, but three assistants in many cases were one extra.

On a related note, former assistant, Dean Chynoweth has been named head coach of the Lake Erie Monsters an affiliate of the Colorado Avalanche AHL.com

NYIFC Comments:  
Thrilled for Dean Chynoweth, now let’s see if Scott Allen can land a head coaching job. 
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Griffin Reinhart did his first interview since draft night.

NYIFC Comments:
Outside of the ITV interview draft night beyond Tsn entertainment interview, we never got to see him get a formal interview on stage during the draft.
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Tsn.ca: Report Blake Comeau (not qualified) was resigned by the Flames which was no surprise given management’s comments they wanted him back.

New York Islander Fan Central

New York Selects D Griffin Reinhart

The New York Islanders have selected D Griffin Reinhart. with the fourth overall pick in the 2012 NHL entry draft.

Thank you so much for the support! Especially the @EdmOilKings go everything so far. And thank you to @NYIslanders organization. Means a lot
— Griffin Reinhart (@GriffinReinhart) June 23, 2012

Islanders Website: Griffin Reinhart’s comments with Garth Snow
Tsn.ca: Has a post draft interview with Reinhart in an Islander uniform. (toggle to Islander uniform)

 Edmonton Journal: Has more from Reinhart and the call he received from John Tavares after the draft

“I was a bit star-struck when he called me. I didn’t think they’d do that,” said the Vancouver native, “but it’s really cool that they’re already welcoming me.”

 “I think my playoff run definitely helped. Being on a winning team can’t hurt and, I think, my play just kept picking up. I got a more intense, more physical, and just kept improving,” said the six-foot-four blue-liner. “I knew I needed to improve on that because, when I’m physical, I’m playing my best hockey.”

 “I hadn’t talked to them much through the year, so for me to be picked here is quite a shock. I wasn’t really expecting to go anywhere. I was just having fun with the moment,” he said.

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Islanders Website: Garth Snow’s comments on selection.

“Our organization is fortunate to have already developed a formidable young core, which gives us the flexibility to allow elite prospects like Griffin to develop,” Snow said. “He is a highly skilled defenseman who has been very impressive in his first two WHL seasons. Griffin’s size and defensive instincts will be another piece to help solidify our lineup for years to come.”

Islanders website pre draft profile with Trent Klatt’s comments.

Will make several edits to this posting as more information becomes available.

New York Islander Fan Central will also be twitter/sulia/updating during day two along with the prospect blog.

Charles Wang did an interview on the Coliseum, and last years team in Dolan’s paper which I posted on Sulia. 

New York Islander Fan Central

Garth Snow’s Comments

For an outlet like the NY Post that goes out of it’s way not to cover the New York Islander hockey games, (when they are not ripping the team) or even providing them a team page, Garth Snow continues to speak to them here.

Snow is also using that rebuilding word he said he hated to use virtually every time he is interviewed. 

Here is what Snow had to say entering Friday’s draft:

“All options are on the table,” If we can move prospects to get a player that is going to come in and going to help us and get us where we want to be, we’re going to make that move. It’s a situation where we’ve gone through a rebuild, we have one of the best prospect pools in the NHL, so now it’s an easier decision for me to make moves to get us help immediately “

“We’re looking the trade route, and if we don’t have success in that area, then free agency starts in a week.”

“We’re looking to add two or three veteran defensemen,” Snow said, noting that Mark Eaton, Steve Staios and Milan Jurcina all are purged from the payroll as they become unrestricted free agents.

  On Calvin deHaan, Aaron Ness, Matt Donovan making the 2012-13 defense: 

         “If two come out of training camp and deserve it, great,” he said. “Right now, we project at least one of those guys to step up.”

“We can use the selection [or] we can trade the pick and get a player that’s ready right now,” Snow said. “I really don’t have a clear picture right now.”

New York Islander Fan Central

Garth Snow’s Drafts Since 2007 Success Or Failure?

A lot of folks like to bring up the point the prospect pool was left empty by Mike Milbury when he announced his resignation as general manager in January 2006, that would be somewhat unfair because Milbury/Tony Feltrin selections Ryan O’Marra, Robert Nilsson, Blake Comeau, Chris Campoli, Bruno Gervais, Rick DiPietro, Frans Nielsen, Petteri Nokelainen, were/still part of the organization.

The class of 2006 right now is looking like Kyle Okposo, Andrew MacDonald, it’s been far from a fantastic result with Ted Nolan getting the universal credit for selecting MacDonald. 

Rhett Rakhshani, Tomas Marcinko require qualifying offers by 6/25 from the 2006 class.

Troy Mattila has never been seen at a prospect camp or  mentioned by the Islanders since his selection, however technically is listed until he graduates which will likely require a contract by 8/15/2012, this information is confirmed by Dartmouth University here.

Either way let’s look go back and do an accounting of how the Islanders draft selections have panned out whether it be Tony Feltrin, Ryan Jankowski, or other members of the Isles scouting, for some ground work for how Garth Snow’s staff has done since his first draft in 2007.

 2007:
The Isles did not draft until the third round.

62-Mark Katic: Requires a qualifying offer by 6/25 or he’s gone which would be a big loss after he looked like an NHL player late in 2010-11. Shoulder injuries, the depth chart may finally pass him by in this organization. After Jared Spurgeon was signed by Minnesota and made the NHL decisions like this have to be carefully measured.

Jason Gregiore, Blake Kessel were both lost to the Wheeler college rule. Maxim Gratchev was never signed but played one game for Bridgeport. Simon Lacroix was never signed. 

Final Grade: F
Circumstances, injuries, and college rules but currently 0-5 in NHL players means F.
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2008:
9-Josh Bailey: Isles following the Comeau plan changing his position often since he was drafted, he seems willing to accept this so he has to be held accountable same as management for the results. My thinking says you don’t trade down twice to target a ninety point center, then not let develop as a full time center.

NYIFC has had plenty of past entries on this subject.

That noise in the background is full time center, Ryan Strome, perhaps Brock Nelson or Casey Cizikas.

36-Corey Trivino: Has to be signed if he graduates by August 15th 2012 regardless of personal issues.

40-Aaron Ness: Left school early, looked good in callup/AHL, signed.

53-Travis Hamonic: A flat out steal with an offensive side still likely to come based on his junior career.

66-David Toews: Did not stay in school, went to Canadian leagues, Isles did not sign him, now in ECHL.

72-Jyri Niemi: Isles traded this big defender to the Rangers for a pick, who’s also in the ECHL.

73-Kirill Petrov: Story still needs another two years to be written because he signed in KHL.

96-Matt Donovan: Signed, looked good briefly in NHL, size desperately needed at NHL level.

102-David Ullstrom: Signed, looked good in his callups, size needed here.

126-Kevin Poulin: Flat out looks like he can start in the NHL, cannot sit on bench, injures a concern.

148-Matt Martin: Led NHL in hits, needs to score at this level.

156-Jared Spurgeon: Signed by Minnesota, excellent skating, Isles should have signed him but he’s not the next Erik Karlsson so far offensively nor were teams beating down his door when Isles moved on. 

175-Justin DiBenedetto: We’ll get our answer on 6/25, he’s had three years and improved.

Final Grade: A 
Rare to see this many players on NHL radar in one class or have moderate/good AHL success in one organization. Will management get out of Bailey’s way?
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2009:
1-John Tavares: Enough said.

12-Calvin deHaan: The Isles traded up twice to select him. He almost made it out of camp his first year, despite his past shoulder injuries it’s time to see what he can do at this level full time because his skating is something this team lacks on defense.

31-Mikko Koskinen: It’s not looking good, he went back to Europe where he finally had a healthy year, this was the first goaltender selected in the NHL draft. He has to be qualified by 6/25, he likely does not want to start once a week in the AHL. Looks like a possible NHL goaltender when healthy/ready.

62-Anders Nilsson: Plan B with Koskinen who also looked like an NHL goaltender when healthy and playing regularly.

92-Casey Cizikas: Looks like he can be an NHL player, and will likely get that chance this fall.

122-Anton Klementyev: Was signed early, not used enough, called up for one NHL game after sitting for weeks, then again used sparingly in the AHL, finally this year refused assignment to ECHL, bought out for a pick that was handled oddly from day one.

152-Anders Lee: If he’s as good as projected and the college loophole is closed, Isles may have themselves a player but at his age a lot to be determined.

Final Grade: A
Solid bets across the board beyond Klementyev. Everyone knew the depth chart in goal meant someone is the odd goalie out, it may not be Koskinen either.
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2010:
5-Nino Niederreiter: Was too injured to tell for a big part of this year, along with Reasoner, but his hitting was noticeable and was improving down stretch, good for him to be outspoken about sitting. Nothing I saw indicates this year will hurt him as long as he plays his natural position.

30-Brock Nelson: He’s signed and will get a look this fall, a lot of teams reportedly wanted him at the draft and the Isles moved up to acquire him.

65-Kirill Kabanov: Also signed, his junior days likely over, we’ll get out answers soon.

82-Jason Clark: Still in college.

125-Tony DeHart-Oddly was not retained after one year, now in ECHL.

185-Cody Rosen-Snow gave his reasons, pick made no sense, even if a late round selection. Played one game last season. You don’t waste picks in nine round drafts much less a seven round draft.

Final Grade: TBD
If three players make the NHL in a draft class you are doing well. Niederreiter was a given, Nelson will determine a big part of this grade moving forward.
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2011:
The only thing that can be written about the class of 2011 is three of the eight selections have already been signed between Ryan Strome, John Persson, Johan Sundstrom.
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Notable:
Isles prospects John Persson, David Ullstrom have been twittering they will be in New York on Sunday with one using the hashtag minicamp, and looking forward to meeting other prospects for workouts.

This could mean something or nothing, but as we know Isles usually have their mini-camp in July, with a game at the Coliseum featuting their new draft selections. 

New York Islander Fan Central

New York Notables: Contract Status

The sidebar at NYIFC has contract status for all New York Islander UFA/RFA, along with the college players who must be signed.

The prospect blog is updated with the contract status of all players in the teams system entering 2012-13. Qualifying offers must be made by 6/25/2012.

College Prospects graduating must be signed by 8/15/2012 which on paper include Troy Mattila from 2006 & Corey Trivino.

To be clear, John Persson playing on an ATO (amateur tryout contract) with Bridgeport does not mean the Islanders are required to sign him before 6/1/2013 because he is a 2011 draft pick.

The New York Islanders have no selections from the 2010 draft remaining who must be signed by 6/1/12.

Because of no transfer agreement with Russia/KHL, we cannot provide where Kirill Petrov stands in terms of his NHL status or contractual rights the New York Islanders would have over another NHL organization.

Ct Post: Michael Fornabaio had comments from Garth Snow, Brent Thompson, and the players regarding Bridgeport’s season plus what’s ahead.

Rhett Rakhshani, Mikko Koskinen, Justin DiBenedetto, Tomas Marcinko, Mark Katic, & Ty Wishart are among many important restricted free agents who require qualifying offers by 6/25/2012.

Players not signed who were qualified like Jesse Joensuu a year ago will require another qualifying offer, which is how the Isles retained Jeremy Colliton’s rights as he played in Europe.

Yury Alexandrov, signed in KHL for 2012-13 also requires a qualifying offer to retain his rights.

New York Islander Fan Central

Scott Allen and Dean Chynoweth Not Returning For 2012-13

Islanders website: Announced that assistant coaches Scott Allen and Dean Chynoweth will not return for the 2012-13 season.

Scott Allen was named Assistant Coach of the Islanders on July 20, 2009.
Dean Chynoweth was named the Islanders Assistant Coach on June 19, 2009.

NYIFC Comments:
Never a good day to see anyone leaving any job.

Dean Chynoweth is a former player with the Islanders so even worse in that regard.

Jack Capuano has had nothing to say since the season ended.

These were both coaches hired for Scott Gordon’s second season with the Islanders.

If Capuano wanted them to stay this could be an issue for him, but the question moving forward is does Capuano get to pick his own staff, or will it work like in New Jersey with long time assistant coaches, Larry Robinson & Jacques Laperriere, who stayed behind the bench despite several Devils coaching changes?

Laperriere, has had another role with Devils for a few years now.

No folks, I do not believe for one minute Doug Weight would accept a job as an NHL head coach with this little experience or would Garth Snow offer it to him.

Weights’s reaction to this could also be interesting being that he was a full time assistant coach, and part of a staff that has now been significantly changed, as Senior Advisor to the General Manager.

This could take some time to play out depending on what assistant’s or former head coaches become available.

If you are asking this blog if someone who makes decisions based only upon watching games/comments of the assistant coaches if these are the correct moves I would have to say no.

I supported Jack Capuano returning, so I have to do the same for the assistant coaches with the exact same reasons.

Of course, it’s not that simple if contracts end or if management does not feel the same.

New York Islander Fan Central