from Arthur Staple of Newsday,

-- Snow and Steve Bartlett, the agent for Thomas Vanek, have had some dialogue over the past few weeks and that should pick up in the next couple of weeks. Snow and the Islanders need to know in fairly short order if Vanek is willing to sign long-term. If not, it’s obvious (though Snow didn’t expressly say) that Snow would begin fielding offers for Vanek in earnest, with the March 5 trade deadline on the horizon.

-- There have been no talks with the agent for Andrew MacDonald, Peter Cooney, of late. MacDonald is believed to be seeking a deal in the range of $5 million a year. The fact that there are no discussions between the two sides should tell you what Snow and the Islanders think of that contract request.

a few more notes on the Islanders...