The New York Islanders had a very eventful 2016 free agency. I look back at this class as the worst thing to happen to the Islanders in a decade. Yes, this event is worse than moving to Brooklyn. This was the most rushed and poorly scouted free agency class, I think, in the history of the NHL.
The Islanders had a bunch of free agents leaving. Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Martin all left the Island this year. And Garth Snow rushed to sign three players who could emulate the former players’ styles. One by one, you’ll slowly realize how terrible this class was.
Andrew Ladd
Yes, this is the class where the Islanders signed Andrew Ladd to his terrible contract. Do you want to know why they did this? Because Kyle Okposo left for Buffalo, and Snow couldn’t risk losing a top-six forward for nothing in return. Snow believed that the game Andrew Ladd played would be the exact same game that Kyle Okposo played. Look at where this contract has led the Islanders. Trading away a top 4 defenseman to sign back their franchise guys. Garth Snow is a great GM.
This is the equivalent of the New York Giants trading away Odell Beckham Jr. and signing Golden Tate and his ridiculous contract to cover it all up.
P.A. Parenteau
Frans Nielsen was a great player for the Islanders and a top shootout guy of all time. The same could be said for P.A. Parenteau. And of course, Garth Snow had to sign Parenteau who was in no shape to be playing in the NHL. Parenteau was signed to replace Nielsen, and it would revive his career. Parenteau didn’t even make it to training camp.
Jason Chimera
As a kid watching Chimera on the Islanders, I always said that he had cataracts. I still stand by this statement. I’ve never seen anyone have worse hand-eye coordination than Chimera. Yeah, he was a good checker, but he was no Matt Martin. Martin is a top 4th liner every year, Chimera is Chimera.
Conclusion
This class still plagues the Islanders to this day. This class is the main reason in my mind why Snow got fired. Because he was good at drafting and trading, but he always made terrible signings. Isles fans hate Garth Snow.