from Brett Cyrgolis of the New York Post,

According to sources, the dominos began to fall when free-agent defenseman Dan Boyle shunned the Islanders’ two separate contract offers — one of two years at $5.5 million per season, the other of three years at $5 million per — to take a two-year deal with the Rangers at $4.5 million per.

Snow had traded a fifth-round pick to the Sharks in early June to obtain Boyle’s exclusive negotiating rights. When he was asked if there was regret for making that move, Snow was forthright.

“Knowing now that I didn’t get him? Absolutely,” Snow told The Post. “But I also realize there was zero-percent change of us getting him if we waited to July 1. It was a fifth-round pick that was worth a try.”

According to a league source, the Islanders also sent an offer to Thomas Vanek in the range of four years at $7 million per, which surpassed his three-year, $19.5 million deal he signed with the Wild.

more