The New York Islanders haven’t lived up to the expectations they made for themselves after pushing the Pittsburgh Penguins to the limit with a seven-game series last spring.

That has GM Garth Snow working the phones.

Two league executives told the Sun that Snow has been working the phones to see if he can get a goaltender to try to get the club back on track in the race for the post-seaason.

The ideal scenario: Convince Ryan Miller to waive his ‘no move’ clause and leave the Buffalo Sabres for a short-term stay in Long Island to help the club make the post-season.

Miller will find it a lot different with the Sabres under Ted Nolan. He is a players’ coach but he also likes things done his way. If they aren’t, he’ll come down hard on the offenders.

It may be in Miller’s best interests to move on. The Isles may be a longshot but they need to improve in net or it’ll be an even longer year and coach Jack Capuano is on the hotseat.

THIS ‘N’ THAT: An interesting note from the TV negotiations that were completed last week: There is talk Bell Media wanted the NHL to move Saturday night starts to 6 p.m. so what it is traditionally Hockey Night in Canada could be shown nationally on CTV. Then, at 9 p.m. CTV would be able to switch to primetime programming while Game 2 of the doubleheader was on TSN. No, that isn’t the reason the network lost its bid to Sportsnet to keep the rights, but it would have been a significant switch for Bettman to ask the 30 teams to make ... For the second time in less than a year, Washington RW Martin Erat has asked for a trade. Teams have shown only mild interest, but he’ll be tough to move. He has no goals in 23 games, has been scratched and when he’s played his role has been as a fourth liner. The best bet for Caps GM George McPhee: Find a team that needs to stay at or close to the salary floor – maybe the Isles, Panthers and Sabres – and see if there’s a fit for his $4.5 million salary ... Just in time for Christmas, former Sun columnist Al Strachan has relaeased a new book: 99 Gretzky. His game, his story. Strachan, who covered Gretzky his whole career, tells great stories.

OFF THE GLASS: Talks to get Montreal D P.K. Subban signed are expected to heat up as a result of the salary cap heading up this negotiation, which could be interesting. Many believe the starting point for Subban, 24, is the eight-year, $56-million deal signed by Kings’ D Drew Doughty in September, 2011 with an average cap hit of $7 million per season. The bridge deal with a hit of $2.875 million that Subban signed during last year’s shortened season may have saved the Habs some cash, but now owner Geoff Molson and GM Marc Bergevin are going to have to pony up. The salary cap is about to increase as a result of the new TV deal which means Subban’s cost will as well ... The search for a new GM in Buffalo continues and president of hockey operations Pat Lafontaine has started conducting interviews. But the Sabres mysteriously hired Kevin Prendergast last week. Is Lafontaine going to run the hockey operation or is the GM going to have that job? It is odd to hire a scout if you intend to have a new man in place before Christmas. The talk is Nashville assistant GM Paul Fenton is pushing hard for this post. He has tough competition, especially from Boston assistant Jim Benning.

RUMOURS DU JOUR: In his role as GM of Team USA at the Olympics, Nashville’s David Poile is looking for the league’s three best American goalies, but he’s looking for one of any nationality to play for the Predators. League sources say with Pekka Rinne out indefinitely as a result of a hip issue that has morphed into a bacterial infection, Poile has been looking for help. The options are limited: It’s believed Poile has shown an interest in Anaheim G Jonas Hiller and Florida G Tim Thomas. Either would be a good fit because both are pure rentals with expiring contracts at the end of the season ... Trying to stay in the NHL playoff picture, Colorado GM Joe Sakic has been sniffing around to try to get a defenceman. I’ve been told that LW Jamie McGinn has fallen out of favour with Avs’ coach Patrick Roy and is being shopped around as part of a deal to try to get blueline help. McGinn, 25, has a cap hit of $1.75 million and will be an RFA on July 1. He’s still young enough that he could be an attractive option ... Senators GM Bryan Murray has been focused on trying to find a blueliner, but there’s talk he may have sniffed around on Kings RW Matt Frattin as well. He is currently nursing an injury and is day-to-day but hasn’t lived up to expectations since being acquired from the Leafs in the Jonathan Bernier deal in the summer. Frattin, 25, has 2-4-6 in 22 games and is making $875,000 this season. The Senators need somebody to play with C Jason Spezza as soon as possible.

Have a nice Sunday.

bruce.garrioch@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @sungarrioch