New York Islanders need to make noise this offseason

The New York Islanders have the potential to be in for a brutal offseason. They need to make noise or they will alienate their fans even more.

The New York Islanders can lose John Tavares this offseason. I could end this article there and it would be enough to make everyone and their mom in regards to the Isles worry. However, there is way more to say about what the New York Islanders should do this season that goes way beyond re-signing John Tavares. Yes, it is blatantly, painfully, almost too easy to see that the Islanders should re-sign John Tavares. Even if you are only a casual hockey fan you will know who he is and how great he is.

But, the Islanders offseason should not end there. The Islanders should do so much more.

Despite having a bad farm system, few other integral players, and too many terrible contracts to work with, they are not out of options to still make a massive splash. The Islanders do have two first-round draft picks. They also have a few players whose contracts expire in 2019, thus making them trade-able sooner rather than later. Of course, trading players for the picks in the future does not mean anything considering the fact that the Islanders are showing no actual direction yet.

That is why they need to make a splash this offseason.

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They could steal draft day by trading all their picks. They could wipe the entire free-agent market of its best player by brining the aforementioned John Tavares back. Or they could fire their inept GM, Garth Snow, and full-on rebuild.

A full on rebuild might cost them John Tavares so beggars can’t be choosers here but things with the front office have gotten so bad that losing Garth Snow, the man who runs the entire organization would be better than keeping John Tavares.

But, no matter what moves the Isles do make, they need to be huge. They need to be headline-worthy, significant, difference-making moves. Garth Snow constantly just shuffles mid-line players around for talent of equal or lesser values.

I am so sick of that, as are most New York Islander fans.

Snow has basically swung and missed at every free agent he has signed. No trades he’s made have instantly helped the team and propelled them to elite levels, and the team becomes just stale and boring to watch eventually.

It is unlikely anything happens. Even though Lou Lamoriello is lightly rumored to become the next higher-ups for the Islanders, he will likely take on such a massive role. I can’t see him taking anything less than a “my way or the highway” kind of deal with the Islanders.

Next: How the Isles wasted their season

It would be like the Knicks when they got Phil Jackson. It could work but I just don’t know how much it will cost the Islanders to bring the Hall of Famer in.

So. regardless of what happens, the New York Islanders should not make any moves that are little. The time is now for the owners to step in and make some noise.

Every big move, no matter what it is comes with is a huge risk, but that is just it. The Islanders need to take a risk now. They need to stop playing it safe.

It always get them nowhere.

Make some noise, take some risks, and at least try to show the hockey world they are trying to win.

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