For the past two months, Islanders’ general manager Garth Snow has used the possibility of a new arena as a talking point while trying to lure possible free agents. But on Monday, the $400 million bond referendum to fund a new sports complex was shot down by Nassau County residents. So now what?
“It’s disappointing, obviously,” Snow told The Post yesterday. “But we’ll continue to pursue the best free agents available, as we have in the past.”
In the past free agents have spurned the Islanders, as defenseman Christian Erhoff did this offseason (his rights being traded to the Sabres) and as goalie Evgeni Nabokov did when the Islanders claimed him in the middle of last season (he reportedly plans to attend training camp).
“The core of our team is through the draft,” Snow said. “We’ll continue to pursue the top free agents, but there’s a lot of ways to skin a cat.”
That means Snow is just as concerned about the opening of rookie camp on Sept. 9 as he is when training camp opens a week later.
“We have a team that’s obviously gained a lot of experience since we started this rebuild,” Snow said. “We’re excited for the season to start. I wish it started tomorrow.”
When the 2015-16 season starts — with the Islanders’ lease at the current Coliseum ending the previous season — Snow is not alone in hoping the Islanders will still be on Long Island.
“As we enter our 40th year, we have only two goals for the team,” owner Charles Wang said in a statement. “Winning the Stanley Cup and keeping the Islanders on Long Island.”
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, who has said under court oath that his league performs a critical role in keeping franchises in their home markets, also chimed in.
“We will continue to work closely with the Islanders to explore whatever options still may be available,” Bettman said in a statement. “Our goal is for the team to remain on Long Island and we still hope that objective can be realized.”
Now, with no new arena plan anywhere in sight, Snow has no other option but to focus on this season. In doing so, he traded long-tenured Islander Trent Hunter to the Devils for veteran Brian Rolston last week, though the $3 million gain in salary “had nothing to do in regards to the salary-cap floor,” Snow said.
He also avoided going to salary arbitration with Blake Comeau, awarding the 25-year-old forward a one-year, $2.5 million deal on Tuesday.
“Our focus is on winning hockey games, and everything else is uncontrollable,” Snow said. “I think not only [will we] be a playoff team, but once we get in, we can do some damage.”