The Islanders have been in this situation before, so it wasn’t a terrible surprise the home-run swings they did make on the opening of free agency didn’t result in home runs.
Instead, general manager Garth Snow ended up making some understated moves he thinks can help his team regain some organizational depth, and possibly help this coming season and into the future.
According to sources, the dominos began to fall when free-agent defenseman Dan Boyle shunned the Islanders’ two separate contract offers — one of two years at $5.5 million per season, the other of three years at $5 million per — to take a two-year deal with the Rangers at $4.5 million per.
Snow had traded a fifth-round pick to the Sharks in early June to obtain Boyle’s exclusive negotiating rights. When he was asked if there was regret for making that move, Snow was forthright.
“Knowing now that I didn’t get him? Absolutely,” Snow told The Post. “But I also realize there was zero-percent change of us getting him if we waited to July 1. It was a fifth-round pick that was worth a try.”
According to a league source, the Islanders also sent an offer to Thomas Vanek in the range of four years at $7 million per, which surpassed his three-year, $19.5 million deal he signed with the Wild.
There were also other situations with free agents in which Snow made the team’s best offer — including a competitive offer to former Ranger Brad Richards, who signed for one year at $2 million in Chicago — but with a market that had some outlandish prices, he chose prudence instead.
“I didn’t want to get in that situation [of overpaying],” Snow said. “It just confirms the belief that we need to build from within. It’s up to our players that haven’t played to the level we expect to kick it up a notch.”
Snow did sign proven backup goalie Chad Johnson to a two-year, $2.6 million deal. Johnson was terrific in relief of Tuukka Rask last season in Boston. The Isles’ starter for the past two seasons, Evgeni Nabokov, went off to sign a one-year deal with the Lightning for $1.55 million.
Also signed was AHL Defenseman of the Year, T.J. Brennan, who got a one-year, one-way deal worth $600,000. The 25-year-old led all AHL defenseman with 25 goals and 72 points last season for the Toronto Marlies.
Another point of emphasis was to add depth on the wing, which came with the signings of 24-year-old Cory Conacher (one-year, $600,000, one-way contract) and 27-year-old Jack Skille (one-year, two-way deal; $750,00 NHL, $300,000 in AHL). Also coming in on minimal two-way deals were forwards Harry Zolnierczyk and Kael Mouillierat.
The Islanders still are approximately $6 million below the $51 million salary-cap floor, and although Snow said he is rather “settled in” at this point, he did not rule out making a move. And adding the pieces he did on Tuesday could help.
“It gives us flexibility,” Snow said, “if we do have to make a move.”