New York Islanders Five Worst Contracts In Team History

Garth Snow, GM

Contract: Longer than it should be

Unlike players, management contracts are always known. We know they have them, we just don’t know when they expire, or what they’re worth. But when it comes to Garth Snow we know one thing, it’s a ridiculously long deal.

We’d long heard rumors that Garth Snow got perhaps the most generous parting gift from his former boss Charles Wang. A multi-year extension to keep him in the GM’s chair year after Wang had abdicated his spot at the majority owners table.

Just this year we got the confirmation we needed. It wasn’t the New York Islanders or even Garth himself coming out to say that he has years left on a deal. It was hockey Insider Bob MacKenzie who confirmed, almost in passing when speaking about the Isles 2017-18 offseason plans.

So why does this deserve to be mentioned? How about eight years without playoff hockey from a possible 12? That’s a 25% playoff appearance rate. In 12 years. How about the fourth lowest win percentage of any NHL team since he took control in 2006?

Sure, he’s made a few good trades. Jordan Eberle for Ryan Strome was great and Griffin Reinhart for what would be Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier was masterful.

But the prize isn’t to see how many times you can best Peter Chiarelli, it’s to win the Stanley Cup. Not making the playoffs 75% of the time isn’t conducive to winning the Stanley Cup now, is it?

Next: Top 10 Left Wings In Team History

Garth Snow is a bad GM and yet, because of his contract, he might just be around for years to come. The New York Islanders just can’t get out of that deal soon enough.