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Ik Entry Draft Essay

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One of the most fluid and insanely unpredictable weeks in recent NHL memory is now over with the conclusion of the 2017 NHL entry draft. Prior to that, we had the Vegas Golden Knights expansion draft, awkwardly held in the middle of an awards gala, and some good old fashioned wheeling and dealing. General managers have now returned home to celebrate their victories, or size up their losses, with five days before unrestricted free agency, which begins this Saturday, July 1. For New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow, it was a whirlwind of three transactions that, by most accounts, saw him come out victorious in two with a decision on the third pending. Snow did well to protect from expansion his most coveted assets, on both offense …show more content…

As valued as Hamonic was to New York on the ice and in the locker room, as well as in the community, Snow did right by the player in granting his request while, at the same time, not crippling the organization by making a bad deal. Prior to completing the move of Hamonic to the Flames, there was plenty of interest in the hardnosed, competitive and passionate defenseman. Toronto Maple Leafs manager Lou Lamoriello engaged Snow in discussions that went far beyond setting initial parameters. There was a deal reportedly in place that was centered around Hamonic and 28-year old winger James Van Reimsdyk that multiple sources told SNY fell apart due to the Islanders being on the players 10-team no trade list in addition to concerns over a contract extension, given that Van Reimsdyk will be an unrestricted free agent next July. What Snow chooses to do with the draft picks obtained in the last trade will be crucial to his final grade on the off-season. With the unrestricted free agent market looking as barren as the Sahara desert, does Snow package those picks in a creative offer to ‘unfreeze’ Matt Duchene from the clutches of Joe Sakic? Does he call Marc Bergevin in Montreal and get a concrete answer on what Alex Galchenyuk will cost? Does he go back to the well and get McPhee on the line, and inquire about James Neal? With no major assets being traded in

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