New general manager Garth Snow has his first tough decision to make for the New York Islanders, and he has to make it fast.
An arbitrator has awarded Islanders forward Mike York $2.85 million for the 2006-07 season. Snow now has 48 hours to accept or decline the deal. If the Islanders walk away from it, York will immediately become an unrestricted free agent.
''We respect the arbitrator's decision and appreciate the process that led to the one-year award for Mike, a player we think the world of,'' Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a statement. ''It was our intention prior to the hearing to sign him to a long-term deal, and it remains our hope to have Mike York in an Islanders uniform for years to come.''
York, 28, earned $2.05-million and scored 13 goals and 52 points for the Islanders in 2005-2006. He has tallied 287 points in 449 career games with the Islanders, Oilers and Rangers.
A 5-foot-10, 185-pound centre, York can also play wing and was acquired from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for Mike Peca last summer.
There are still two more arbitration decisions due today: Buffalo's Daniel Briere and San Jose's Mark Smith.
