The latest in a series of defining off-seasons is now upon us as general manger Garth Snow gets another chance to remake the Islanders roster into one that fans hope will take another step up the ladder to the upper floors.
For years, New York had resided near the bottom floor of the league’s 30 member teams, torn apart by horrible management decisions and even worse player personnel moves. Lately, fortunes have turned, with playoff appearances in three of the last four seasons, and following two first round defeats, an advancement into the second round this year, bowing out to Tampa in five games.
In that time period, most fans, especially those of the younger generation, have seen more out of this organization than in, arguably, the past 20 years. With that ascension from the ashes, however, comes increased expectations and a thirst for more. More success, more wins, further playoff advancement. And they are not wrong to expect that. The burden for producing falls on management initially, followed by the player’s ability to execute.
Two summers ago, Snow made …show more content…
[link: http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/islanders-ponder-the-makeup-of-their-team-as-nhl-draft-looms-1.11935996]. The salary cap, once thought to be closing in on $74 million dollars with the use of the NHLPA escalator, now seems to be settling at around $73 million with the continued devaluation of the Canadian dollar. [link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/trade-rumours-fly-as-the-busiest-stretch-of-the-nhl-off-season-begins/article30517289/]. That puts New York, after signing the three restricted free agents mentioned above (Prince, Strome, Berube) to logical deals – which, as we all know, is not always the case – at roughly $11-13 million in free cap space to enter free agency on July
For years, New York had resided near the bottom floor of the league’s 30 member teams, torn apart by horrible management decisions and even worse player personnel moves. Lately, fortunes have turned, with playoff appearances in three of the last four seasons, and following two first round defeats, an advancement into the second round this year, bowing out to Tampa in five games.
In that time period, most fans, especially those of the younger generation, have seen more out of this organization than in, arguably, the past 20 years. With that ascension from the ashes, however, comes increased expectations and a thirst for more. More success, more wins, further playoff advancement. And they are not wrong to expect that. The burden for producing falls on management initially, followed by the player’s ability to execute.
Two summers ago, Snow made …show more content…
[link: http://www.newsday.com/sports/hockey/islanders/islanders-ponder-the-makeup-of-their-team-as-nhl-draft-looms-1.11935996]. The salary cap, once thought to be closing in on $74 million dollars with the use of the NHLPA escalator, now seems to be settling at around $73 million with the continued devaluation of the Canadian dollar. [link: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/trade-rumours-fly-as-the-busiest-stretch-of-the-nhl-off-season-begins/article30517289/]. That puts New York, after signing the three restricted free agents mentioned above (Prince, Strome, Berube) to logical deals – which, as we all know, is not always the case – at roughly $11-13 million in free cap space to enter free agency on July