



It’s our first #StapeChat Q&A here at The Athletic and it’s either very timely or guaranteed to make you more miserable, depending on your outlook of this Islander team right now. Let’s dive in:



Jaret Czarniecki @czar0406: When Garth said he wouldn’t deal his 1st round picks for rental players, did that mean he would for players with term left on their contracts?



That’s what he meant, yes, which is why the trade deadline targets were suggested — the Isles have the assets to make any deal they want, with two first-round picks and two second-round picks this coming June courtesy of the Flames in the Travis Hamonic deal. But giving up one of those picks for a rental means that Garth Snow thinks his team can win this season. They haven’t exactly given him reason to think that way the last two plus months.



So yes, I can safely say he’s been talking to other GMs about “hockey...