Garth Snow staying the course

General manager Garth Snow hasn’t exactly waded into free agency with checkbook blazing. The Islanders have a need for more scoring up front and for additional size and toughness. But Snow is more worried about maintaining roster flexibility to continue developing young players in the organization.

At the moment, the Islanders have 18 players on one-way contracts and have made qualifying offers for two-way deals to forwards Blake Comeau and Nate Thompson and defenseman Jack Hillen. Tavares is certain to be on the roster on his entry-level deal, and that brings the total to 22 players for a 23-man roster limit.

“We have the flexibility to make additions to the lineup, but I’m leery of bringing in players who are going to take ice time and compromise the development of our young players,” Snow said. “The path we’re taking is building through the draft. The best situation for our team is if some young player comes to camp and earns a spot on our roster. I don’t think I’ve deviated from the plan we made public a year ago.”

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