We were sitting at the dinner table when my husband's phone buzzed with an announcement. "Garth Snow says he's keeping the fifth pick." I checked my phone. Where was my notification from the Isles. There was none. More importantly, there was no tweet from @TSNBobMcKenzie about it. Now, you know, in the hockey world, it's not true unless TSN's Bob McKenzie says it is.
I gritted my teeth, finished dinner, cleaned the kitchen and watched "Once Upon A Time." (Don't judge me.) After all that, I went looking on the net to see where it came from.
There was tweet after tweet about it but nothing from the Isles themselves. Where was the press release? This was big news for Isles fans on a Sunday night in April when other playoff series are being decided.
Then I found something. (http://www.cbc.ca/sports-content/hockey/opinion/2014/04/30-thoughts-players-cant-be-boss-of-nhl-teams.html) It was a report from Elliotte Friedman in the body of another article he wrote. It went like this:
9. Long Island News 12 producer Rob Del Muro with a good tip: Islanders GM Garth Snow attended a season-ticket holder event last week and told one fan, "It would be a safe wager on his part that we would utilize this year's (first-round draft) pick." The team has until June 1 to let the Buffalo Sabres know about the selection. If not, Buffalo gets New York's 2015 first-rounder. The GM added the fan "could wager any amount of money because it wasn't MY money." Good line.
10. Snow also said the Islanders had a deal worked out for a goalie, but backed off when the trade partner asked for Brock Nelson
OHHHHHHHH...... So the Isles General Manager was having a conversation at the Season Ticket Holder event (probably the skate on the ice thing) and said these things. I got it.
At least he added the quote that shows the Isles GM still has his sense of humor. Now, I'm thinking in my almost seven years of blogging about this team if I did something like this, I'd be run off the internet.
But it does show that Garth Snow is always willing to talk to fans and is always approachable -- when you can catch him. He doesn't travel with body guards that make it impossible to get within ten feet like some other NHL GMs.
He also does favors for those who have supported the team the most. Please tune in next week to Gary Harding's radio show where Garth Snow will be answering questions on Sunday May 4th on SportsTalk 1240 at 9 pm.
http://islestalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Garth05042014.png
They will NOT take calls, but you can ask questions via twitter, using hashtag #AskGarth, or on their Facebook page. You can also e-mail Gary at (
[email protected])
To get the show, listen to 1240AM WGBB, or go to www.sportstalk1240.com. Click on the LISTEN LIVE button on the top of the page. Or, if you have a smart phone, go to the TUNE IN APP, and select WGBB.
Sideboards: Of course keeping this year's 5th overall pick is an excellent idea. It can be used as a huge bargaining chip in a trade on the Draft floor and it says to everyone that the Isles do not believe they will be in the same position next season.
That is, of course, if the hockey injury Ninja leaves them the hell alone next season.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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