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New York Islanders Garth Snow Five Biggest Blunders

NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: General Manager Garth Snow of the New York Islanders watches the teams first practice at the Barclays Center on September 12, 2013 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders are due to move into the building at the start of the 2015-16 season. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - SEPTEMBER 12: General Manager Garth Snow of the New York Islanders watches the teams first practice at the Barclays Center on September 12, 2013 in Brooklyn borough of New York City. The Islanders are due to move into the building at the start of the 2015-16 season. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 28: John Tavares #91 of the New York Islanders, Kyle Okposo #21 of the Buffalo Sabres and Frans Nielsen #51 of the Detroit Red Wings pose for a photo during the Gatorade NHL Skills Challenge Relay during the 2017 Coors Light NHL All-Star Skills Competition as part of the 2017 NHL All-Star Weekend at STAPLES Center on January 28, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

2016 Free Agency

The 2016 NHL free agency was doubly bad for the New York Islanders. Not only did three fan favorites leave the team, but they brought in a player on a big money deal that the Islanders aren’t going to get out from for some time.

In July 2016, Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Martin were all out of contracts and headed towards free agency.

After a $2.8 million deal expired with the Islanders Okposo was due a big raise. The Islanders didn’t want to give it to him. The Buffalo Sabres gave him $42 million over seven years ($6 million AAV). Okposo is producing less but is still a 45 point player.

Nielsen after debating an offer from the Islanders jumped to the Detroit Red Wings for what would amount to be less than the Islanders were offering him.

Losing a top line winger and their second line center left a huge hole to fill. Garth would replace Okposo with Andrew Ladd in the very same free agency window on a seven-year $38.5 million deal ($5.5 million AAV). Or maybe P.A. Parenteau was supposed to replace Okposo?

Parenteau was acquired in free agency in July but was waived come October in favor of rookies Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier.

Nielsen wouldn’t be replaced. Maybe Mathew Barzal was supposed to be the Nielsen replacement, but after playing the puck while standing in the penalty box on only his second NHL game Barzal was sent back to the WHL. Leaving the Islanders without a recognized second line center to play behind Tavares.

Andrew Ladd was the big name free agent they acquired. He was supposed to make up for the loss of Okposo and his 60 points. Ladd was and still is a disappointment. In his first season, he scored 31 points and followed that up with 29 this season.

Remember, Andrew Ladd was making as much as John Tavares. In a single day, Garth Snow set the Islanders back years.

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