New York Islanders acquire Dan Boyle from Sharks for draft pick

Isles GM Garth Snow will have to pitch some woo and green at UFA graybeard blueliner Dan Boyle. (Getty Images)

By Allan Muir

Attention, NHL general managers: If you have a veteran on the verge of unrestricted free agency who you don't intend to re-sign, you might want to give ol' Garth Snow a call.

For the second time in a matter of weeks, the wheelin' and dealin' GM of the New York Islanders has swooped in to obtain the negotiating rights to a pending UFA. Last month, it was Washington goalie Jaroslav Halak. Today, it was San Jose Sharks defender Dan Boyle.

In exchange, the Isles sent a fifth-round draft pick to Silicon Valley that graduates to a fourth if Boyle signs with New York.

Snow was able to make the Halak deal pay off by signing the goaltender to a four-year, $18 million deal, and leverage his offer against a very limited market for starting netminders.

He's likely to find Boyle a harder sell. The 37-year-old may be close to aging out of the league, but his smarts and puck-moving skills are certain to garner some interest come July 1.