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New York Islanders: A Year In Review

Dec 31, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; New York Islanders fans reacts at the glass when New York Islanders player Andrew Ladd throws a puck prior to the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Islanders at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2016; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; New York Islanders fans reacts at the glass when New York Islanders player Andrew Ladd throws a puck prior to the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Islanders at MTS Centre. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Fedyck-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 23, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Kyle Okposo (21) skates against New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) during the first period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 23, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Kyle Okposo (21) skates against New York Islanders defenseman Nick Leddy (2) during the first period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

July by Jennifer Lapka

The storm clouds were brewing over Brooklyn even before the New York Islanders entered the month of July. The lack of good news (or news in general) from their three big pending free agents was a problem.

But hey, Garth Snow had a plan and it included some kind of fantastical wooing of Steven Stamkos. Daring to dream, man, that’s got to be Snow’s m.o. at this point, because making things happen just isn’t.

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So, reality set in when Stamkos didn’t make it to July, and it was onward and eventually downward. Snow made no attempt to hold onto Kyle Okposo and failed in his attempt at keeping Frans Nielsen in the fold. Whatever the reasoning on both sides, these were huge losses that Snow had to make up for. Matt Martin eventually walked and took the majority of the Islanders toughness and the rest of their heart with him.

Let’s face it, free agency is a pit of despair for the Islanders. There was actually some light there when Johnny Boychuk actually chose to stay, but c’mon. No one in their right mind with any real choice wants to play for this team. Whether it’s Long Island or Brooklyn, coaching or personnel. John Tavares can’t sell this team and every July is a sickening disappointment.

This July the Islanders landed Andrew Ladd, Jason Chimera, and eventually P.A. Parenteau. On the previous season’s numbers alone, Snow actually had replaced goals with goals and then some. He’d gone out and gotten big time leadership and hey, Chimera is really pretty fast. Parenteau was familiar and had chemistry with Tavares. It was actually the only financially responsible move Snow made.

Hindsight is 20/20 and no one has a crystal ball so short of actually doing the impossible and landing a guy like Stamkos, Snow as doomed to fail in July. With the waiving of Parenteau (leading the Devils in goals currently) and impossibly slow starts for Ladd and Chimera, it’s all magnified.

The lesson of July should be clear. The Islanders were on an upswing with consecutive 100 point seasons. Not only did they fail to keep core players, they failed to truly lure viable free agents. Ownership has to change the culture of the organization. Sadly, July and everything after haven’t opened their eyes to this.

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