That means the word on the internets today that the Isles are interested in acquiring Thrashers star Ilya Kovalchuk is not necessarily the truth.

Snow had declined comment earlier in the day, then issued the above one-line statement. An NHL source had said it a bit more succinctly when asked about the possibility of Kovalchuk going to the Island, saying the chances were "slim to none."

Now, it's accent on none. The Islanders have set on a specific course the last three years under Snow -- stockpile picks and prospects and build from the ground up. That's gotten them to within sniffing distance of the playoffs so far, with three key games coming up (vs. the Sabres and Devils, at the Penguins); the idea that Snow would deal Calvin de Haan, Travis Hamonic or even Kirill Petrov for the enigmatic Kovalchuk, who reportedly wants a nine-figure deal, seems out of whack.

Snow did spring a shocker on the NHL when he got Ryan Smyth at the 2007 trade deadline, but he dealt a couple of former first-rounders, Robert Nilsson and Ryan O'Marra, who haven't come close to fulfilling the potential that de Haan has.

 The Isles practiced at the Coliseum today, with Nate Thompson and Jeff Tambellini as the extra forwards and all three goaltenders on the ice. Scott Gordon said Rick DiPietro would start at least one of the three games coming up.

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