Ex-Islanders GM Snow 'would love' to get back into NHL front-office role

Former New York Islanders general manager Garth Snow is looking to get back in the game.

Snow is now officially a free agent. He was replaced as GM by Lou Lamoriello in May 2018, but his five-year payout deal with former owner Charles Wang came to an end on July 1. This means he's now allowed to speak publicly again, too.

"I would love to get back with an NHL team if it makes sense for both sides," Snow told The Athletic's Kevin Kurz.

Snow said he had discussions about a couple of different NHL front-office positions in the five years since he was fired as Islanders GM, but none of them panned out.

"I don't know what the future brings when it comes to what kind of role with an organization," Snow said. "Those are conversations you have to have. To me, it always comes back to the word trust - people you trust. And, it's a two-way street."

Snow was maligned during much of his tenure as the club's GM, which began in 2006 - just one year after he was the team's backup goalie. The Isles made the playoffs just four times in his 12-year run, making it past the first round only once. By the end, Islanders fans funded "Snow Must Go" billboards across town.

However, it was Snow who laid most of the foundation for the club's back-to-back conference final appearances in 2020 and 2021. He made several astute draft picks during his tenure, including Brock Nelson (30th overall, 2010), Scott Mayfield (34th overall, 2011), Adam Pelech (65th overall, 2012), Ryan Pulock (15th overall, 2013), Ilya Sorokin (78th overall, 2014), Devon Toews (108th overall, 2014), Mathew Barzal (16th overall, 2015), and Anthony Beauvillier (28th overall, 2015).

Snow said watching the Islanders' deep playoff runs after his dismissal was rewarding, knowing he played a part.

"I was ecstatic and proud of the way guys performed," he said. "Really validated the reasons we identified or selected or traded or picked up players off waivers. ... You draft a player at 18 and then watch him grow - and some of the parents still stay in touch with me. Those are very rewarding relationships that I've had with a lot of the players, and I was proud of them."