A pivotal block of time begins on Monday for the Islanders and general manager Garth Snow, who head into next weekend’s NHL draft and the following week’s free agency period with many questions about where the team is headed.
The Isles own the 19th pick in Friday’s first round in Buffalo, but then do not have another pick until the fourth round — their second-rounder went in the package of picks to the Bruins for Johnny Boychuk before the 2014-15 season and the third-rounder went to the Senators for Shane Prince at this past season’s trade deadline.
And that 19th overall pick could end up going in a trade as well.