Garth Snow, the former general manager of the New York Islanders, recently spoke candidly about his tenure and the state of the team. Despite being fired five years ago, Snow expressed that he is free to share his opinions. He discussed various topics, including John Tavares’ departure, the team’s move to Barclays Center, and his own recommendations that were dismissed by ownership.
Regarding Tavares’ decision to leave the Islanders in 2018, just a month after Snow was fired, he defended the player, stating that Tavares had done nothing wrong. Snow explained that the decision to keep Tavares on the team instead of trading him at the 2018 deadline was made by co-owner Scott Malkin, who was determined to re-sign him. Snow emphasized that it was not Tavares’ fault that the team didn’t trade him.
Snow’s 12-year tenure as GM was marked by significant changes in the team’s fortunes, including a shift in ownership and a tumultuous arena situation. However, Snow was instrumental in building the core of the team that achieved success in recent years, reaching the conference finals in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
The absence of Tavares from the current core of the team is a sore point for fans. They believe that Tavares led on the Islanders by keeping the possibility of re-signing open, preventing the team from trading him for assets. Snow clarified that this decision was made by Malkin and not Tavares.
Snow also addressed the Islanders’ move to Barclays Center, acknowledging that while it helped the team avoid relocation, it presented numerous challenges. The arena was not designed for hockey, resulting in issues with the playing surface and poor sightlines for some fans. Snow jested that perhaps the opposing team also faced difficulties getting to the rink.
Malkin, who became more involved in the team after taking over from previous owner Charles Wang, was described by Snow as being more hands-on. This shift in dynamics may have impacted Snow’s ability to negotiate a contract extension with Tavares in 2017. Trust between ownership and the general manager is crucial, and Snow believes that it takes time to build that trust with new owners.
Despite some draft pick misses, Snow’s draft record as GM was commendable, with several impact players selected in the later rounds. He highlighted the acquisitions of players like Anders Lee, Casey Cizikas, Adam Pelech, Ilya Sorokin, and Devon Toews, who have contributed significantly to the team’s success.
Snow mentioned one of his best moves as GM, trading Griffin Reinhart to the Edmonton Oilers for a first and second-round pick. With the first-rounder, the Islanders selected Mathew Barzal, and they used the second-round pick in another trade to move up and draft Anthony Beauvillier. This move demonstrated the scouting staff’s resilience and their ability to identify talented players.
In the years since his departure from the Islanders, Snow has been coaching the PAL Junior Islanders. While he plans to continue coaching this year, he has had discussions with several teams about potential front-office roles. Although there are no current openings for a GM position, Snow remains open to the possibility of returning to the highest level of management in the future.
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