How happy are you with Garth Snow?

[blitzkriegs]

D. after 7 years if you combined all of the playoff games the team has won under him-they don't even add up to a single playoff series win.

His job is to ice a winning team. Last season we were average (I know saying that ruffles a lot of feathers around here-but let's be honest 8/15 is smack-dab in the middle). Add Detroit and Columbus to a lesser extent, and it's an uphill battle to reach average in the conference next year.

He's failed to bring a long-term solution to goaltending, still has a pretty weak defensive unit, lackluster 1 line other than an obvious 1st overall pick (a gift for being the worst team in the league btw), questionable coaching hiring, lack of trading, other than JT and Hamonic a lack of impact players drafted.

I get why people would go as high as C or C+....but at the end of the day professional sports is about winning. And under Snow we haven't won or proven anything. We were all giddy about the playoffs last season because it's been 20 years since we won a series. In short: we as Islanders have set the bar LOW.

My only comment to the 7 years without the playoffs thing is. Yes, it's factual, but how many other NHL teams had a CASH payroll each year that hovers in the high twenties and low thirties, which includes buyouts in that total?

Is it an excuse? No, rather its am incredible challenge by any GM to work under those circumstances.

Hence, why he got the job and at the same point why no respected NHL coach has been hired - it costs money and its career suicide when you do not have the resources to compete.

Snow was given orders - keep the cash payroll low, make the floor, and build through the draft and he will have absolute job security. Hmmm...sounds Wangeific!

 

[blitzkriegs]

Love the anti-Niño stuff here. This is coming from the Board that 80 percent wanted Filatov...

For Snowmto plug all the 'holes' on this roster it requires trading prospects (he's being flamed here for moving Niño, a prospect) (also being criticized that he hasnt drafted well overall) and cold hard cash. The latter is 100 percent on Wang.

So...interesting quarterbacking in these parts.

 

[ScaredStreit]

My only comment to the 7 years without the playoffs thing is. Yes, it's factual, but how many other NHL teams had a CASH payroll each year that hovers in the high twenties and low thirties, which includes buyouts in that total?

Is it an excuse? No, rather its am incredible challenge by any GM to work under those circumstances.

Hence, why he got the job and at the same point why no respected NHL coach has been hired - it costs money and its career suicide when you do not have the resources to compete.

Snow was given orders - keep the cash payroll low, make the floor, and build through the draft and he will have absolute job security. Hmmm...sounds Wangeific!

We don't know what goes on behind closed doors, or the extent of the limitations on Snow's ability to use cap space/finances.

But what we DO know is that after SEVEN years (which is more than long enough to ice a mediocre team), we've failed to reach a higher seed than 8th. More than HALF of the NHL reaches that goal every single year.

I'm not suggesting that Snow doesn't have limitations, or challenges-BUT it's his job to overcome them. And until he does-he's not doing a good job.

Milbury for example had a HUGE challenge and ownership was VERY unstable for the majority and earlier of his career. As soon as Wang came (and brought stability in ownership) Milbury was able to ice better teams. Do you see people suggesting that MM was a good GM? Of course not-because he wasn't. Isles fans to this day all think MM was awful (and he was).

But if you hold Snow's limitations/challenges in his favor, and fail to do the same for Milbury....than that's ridiculous.

 

[OlTimeHockey]

FWIW, I'd take Filatov over Nino right now. No joke.

 

[CREW99AW]

Love the anti-Niño stuff here. This is coming from the Board that 80 percent wanted Filatov...

For Snowmto plug all the 'holes' on this roster it requires trading prospects (he's being flamed here for moving Niño, a prospect) (also being criticized that he hasnt drafted well overall) and cold hard cash. The latter is 100 percent on Wang.

So...interesting quarterbacking in these parts.

He is being flamed for

1. Leavjng a struggling 19 yr old in the NHL, instead of sending him back to juniors when he was overwhelmed.

2. Taking Nino while leaving Skinner, Gormley , Tarasenko and Knutsenkov(sp) on the board. Then after trading Nino 3 yrs later, leaking the info that he had not been sold on Nino and he went to high.

3. Wasting a 5th overall pick. Snow has a boatload of prospects and his draft picks. Go read the wth reactions from tsn commentators, in comments made after the draft. They cannot believe Snow moved a 20 yr old with Nino's upside for a 3rd line grinder+ 3rd rounder. Talk about buying high and selling low.

 

[CREW99AW]

FWIW, I'd take Filatov over Nino right now. No joke.

I would take Skinner , Gormley , Tarasenko or Knutsenkov(sp) over Filatov or Nino right now. No joke.

 

[IslesNorway]

Voted B but it is not fair to grade him just yet. In three years or so we should have a much better idea if is pans out the way we want.

Generally I think he is quietly doing a very good job, but I still feel he could've been more aggressive in strengthening the team and making trades.

 

[simbo042]

B+.

Isles are set up well going forward and finally made the playoffs. Key guys are locked up long term and at very good prices.

Agreed. He played the hand he was dealt and has brought us to a much better place, the next few years will make or break his reputation as we try and fill the remaining needs for the roster.

I'm looking forward to the ride...

 

[Poulin 0n My St1ck]

I think Snow has set us up for the next 15 seasons or so. If we win the Cup at least twice in that period of time, I'd say suffering through that long rebuild was worth it.

We won't beat some of our opponents in the skill department, but I think Snow is doing quite well at organically growing a TEAM. As we saw in the Pittsburgh series, the Isles might have paled in comparison to the Pens on paper, but they played like a band of brothers willing to sacrifice for one another. A few of those core guys have suffered together playing with dog **** vets in the lineup. Now we're seeing Strome, Nelson, Reinhart, etc. come through the pipeline and it's reassuring that a few dynamic players are on the way.

Through the draft alone we'll have Bailey, JT, Nelson, Strome, and *Okposo in the Top 6. And I'm sure if we need to make a big splash for a winger, Garth will have the cash to sign one on FA Day when we're in Brooklyn. We're set up just fine (assuming Nilsson pans out).

It's quite an art to build a team evaluating the emotional, mental, and physical aspects of the game, but I believe that's what Garth has done and is continuing to do. Remember hearing about the "unique" surveys and tests the Islanders' brass was administering at the beginning of the rebuild? There's a method to the madness.

You can have wonderfully skilled lineups like Ottawa had with Heatley, Spezza, Alfredsson, Redden, and Chara or San Jose or Washington, but if those guys don't mesh and/or there's a lack of quality leadership, you're not going to be successful. I don't think we'll have a flashy lineup like the aforementioned three, but I can say with certainty that we'll have a very tight-knit team, and that will lead to success. Thanks, Garth.

 

[blitzkriegs]

We don't know what goes on behind closed doors, or the extent of the limitations on Snow's ability to use cap space/finances.

But what we DO know is that after SEVEN years (which is more than long enough to ice a mediocre team), we've failed to reach a higher seed than 8th. More than HALF of the NHL reaches that goal every single year.

I'm not suggesting that Snow doesn't have limitations, or challenges-BUT it's his job to overcome them. And until he does-he's not doing a good job.

Milbury for example had a HUGE challenge and ownership was VERY unstable for the majority and earlier of his career. As soon as Wang came (and brought stability in ownership) Milbury was able to ice better teams. Do you see people suggesting that MM was a good GM? Of course not-because he wasn't. Isles fans to this day all think MM was awful (and he was).

But if you hold Snow's limitations/challenges in his favor, and fail to do the same for Milbury....than that's ridiculous.

We don't know what goes on behind the scenes? Sure, what the facts that the Isles haven't won a playoff round are also supporting the facts about the payroll.

What GM intentionally keeps his cap payroll at the floor and his cash payroll below that? None. Because GMs are given their budgets by theirs owners. That's it.

Could he get more money from Wang? Sure, and Wang goes really why do 'I' need to spend $5 million more to end up 2-4 spots higher yet out of the playoffs? Hard for a GM to stand up to that argument when the owner wants the cash payroll as low as it can be, ie Niño, Bailey, etc. playing on ELCs. With fat cap bonuses counting towards the cap.m

I am not defending Snow - rather the facts state he has an owner that does not want to spend any more than he has to unless he got/gets (neither now) his real estate.

 

[ScaredStreit]

We don't know what goes on behind the scenes? Sure, what the facts that the Isles haven't won a playoff round are also supporting the facts about the payroll.

What GM intentionally keeps his cap payroll at the floor and his cash payroll below that? None. Because GMs are given their budgets by theirs owners. That's it.

Could he get more money from Wang? Sure, and Wang goes really why do 'I' need to spend $5 million more to end up 2-4 spots higher yet out of the playoffs? Hard for a GM to stand up to that argument when the owner wants the cash payroll as low as it can be, ie Niño, Bailey, etc. playing on ELCs. With fat cap bonuses counting towards the cap.m

I am not defending Snow - rather the facts state he has an owner that does not want to spend any more than he has to unless he got/gets (neither now) his real estate.

-Wang HAS spent in the past. Have we forgotten Yashin/DP all ready? Not saying those were smart contracts, BUT he did spend.

-Snow knowingly accepted the job. His job is to win with the resources he's given. Period. If he's shorthanded against other GMs-that's fine, BUT it's his job to win. If he can't do it-he needs to go!

 

[rikker]

-Wang HAS spent in the past. Have we forgotten Yashin/DP all ready? Not saying those were smart contracts, BUT he did spend.

-Snow knowingly accepted the job. His job is to win with the resources he's given. Period. If he's shorthanded against other GMs-that's fine, BUT it's his job to win. If he can't do it-he needs to go!

by your logic, 25 GM's would be fired every year, because they were mediocre, or worse?

 

[ScaredStreit]

by your logic, 25 GM's would be fired every year, because they were mediocre, or worse?

How would 25 teams be mediocre? Mediocre=average. Therefore in order to be mediocre or worse you'd have to ice a team around 15th in the NHL or worse......

That's also not considering consistency. The Islanders have NEVER been better than 15th overall in the NHL under Snow (if my memory of 07 serves me correctly).

 

[SpeedDemon]

I'd say C+. maybe a B- but no higher. for now. and that's considering the situation of the team when he took over.

I still would have taken Schenn instead of dropping down and drafting Bailey (not that Bailey wasn't a good pick, but the D was in more need of repair)

Poor choice when it comes to free agents
(Sim, Hilbert, Pandolfo, Rolston, Staios, Reasoner ....... USELESS) granted based upon what he had to work with it wasn't much of an option. But to sign Rolston for 5 million + bonuses just to get to the cap floor- that's just asking to be fired in my humble opinion

 

[rikker]

How would 25 teams be mediocre? Mediocre=average. Therefore in order to be mediocre or worse you'd have to ice a team around 15th in the NHL or worse......

That's also not considering consistency. The Islanders have NEVER been better than 15th overall in the NHL under Snow (if my memory of 07 serves me correctly).

let's say the top 3rd is considered good. the middle 3rd average. bottom is below average. so, ok, there are 20 teams that are average or worse...

don't know why you insist on being so harsh. are you Streit's agent?

 

[MatthewBarnabysTears]

I'd say C+. maybe a B- but no higher. for now. and that's considering the situation of the team when he took over.

I still would have taken Schenn instead of dropping down and drafting Bailey (not that Bailey wasn't a good pick, but the D was in more need of repair)

Poor choice when it comes to free agents
(Sim, Hilbert, Pandolfo, Rolston, Staios, Reasoner ....... USELESS) granted based upon what he had to work with it wasn't much of an option. But to sign Rolston for 5 million + bonuses just to get to the cap floor- that's just asking to be fired in my humble opinion

Rolston was a trade (Trent Hunter went in return; the Devils waived Hunter). It wasn't a bad gamble; Snow couldn't have predicted how apathetic Rolston would be here. I think Steve Staios largely exceeded all reasonable expectations. If you want to criticize Snow for anything, criticize him for the fact that we had so little D depth that year that Staios had to play a major role. Ditto for Pandolfo. He was a training camp invite, what did we expect?

 

[Fantom]

I was Away for a week or so. I never saw this post.
I would have a B

 

[ScaredStreit]

let's say the top 3rd is considered good. the middle 3rd average. bottom is below average. so, ok, there are 20 teams that are average or worse...

don't know why you insist on being so harsh. are you Streit's agent?

I'll give Snow credit when he EARNS it. When the team wins a playoff series (which by the way you should be doing once every 4 seasons or so), and finishes above 8th seed in the conference.

Under his watch we've made the playoffs TWICE...both 8th seed finishes and quick exits in the 1st round.

Drafted prospects don't mean a thing unless they pan out. Many on here are ready to pencil them all in-but realistically that's not the case. I remember when everyone on here (except me and maybe 1-2 others) were swearing up and down that Tambellini was the end all-be all. And were blasting Nolan constantly for not playing him.....just because Tambo had "potential". You can say hindsight is always 20/20 BUT Nolan had the foresight not to play him...and was ridiculed for it.

What's my point? Snow's tenure has a lot of potential-but ultimately his career as gm could very well go the way of Tambo. Some potential-but no actually achievements.

I'll ask you this simple question (and let's try to stay away from person attacks please): what specific concrete accomplishments has Snow achieved during his reign?