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Its already been a busy and somewhat productive offseason for the New York Islanders and general manager Garth Snow, but this organizations future will be determined by what it does this summer.Forget for a moment that the Islanders lost Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen and Matt Martin to free agency on July 1. Also, set aside that the boys from Brooklyn have new teammates in the mix, including Andrew Ladd, Jason Chimera and P.A. Parenteau, because the Islanders blueprint for success is based on franchise player John Tavares.The 25-year-old star center and captain has two seasons remaining on his contract with the Islanders. He will earn $12 million in that time before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, 2018. If the organization is not in a better position as a true Stanley Cup contender by that point, its a safe bet Tavares will test the market as one of the premier players in the NHL.A lot can happen between now and then, of course, and the Islanders have certainly made progress, but they have an opportunity to become a perennial playoff contender. It was a huge step for Snow, coach Jack Capuano, and the players to reach the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs last season, before they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games.The new majority ownership of Scott Malkin and Jon Ledecky took control of the team on July 1, and quickly released a statement, backing the GM and coach.Garth Snow and Jack Capuano, who led the Isles to an exciting playoff run in 2016, have our full confidence, Ledecky wrote. We commit ourselves to doing what it takes to bring our fans and the team a fifth Stanley Cup, and eagerly await the home opener at Barclays Center on Oct. 16.A true testament of how close this team is on and off the ice came the day after last season ended. Travis Hamonic, who had requested a trade before last season in order to be closer to his Winnipeg home because of a sick family member, rescinded his trade request and the 25-year-old defenseman wants to remain with the Islanders.Despite the teams loss to the Lightning, Hamonics decision to stay was a good way to start the offseason. When free agency opened on July 1, Okposo, Martin and Nielsen signed elsewhere. Those three players were major contributors to the teams success, but Snow was quick to react when he signed Ladd, 30, a two-time Stanley Cup-winning forward; Chimera, who brings a ton of experience, grit and leadership; and the return of Parenteau, who played on Tavares right side from 2010-12. The Islanders also signed promising 23-year-old restricted free-agent center Shane Prince to a two-year deal worth an average annual value of $850,000.Still, not everyone is optimistic about the direction of the team. One Eastern Conference GM said in a text message. he wasnt a big fan of the moves. Ladd 7 yrs is crazy. Lost better players to UFA. Another Eastern Conference executive wasnt sure the Islanders were closer to contention.?Tough call, he wrote in a text. Typically a conference finals berth signifies true contention.Like every team, goaltending is key for the Islanders. Thomas Greiss, 30, was the teams go-to guy in the playoffs, and proved to be worthy on that stage. The team recently signed restricted free-agent goalie Jean-Francois Berube, 24, who made his NHL debut with the Islanders last season and will earn $675,000 in 2016-17.Its likely Snow could trade veteran netminder Jaroslav Halak, 31, who has two years remaining on his current deal worth $4.5 million annually. He suffered a severe groin injury in early March and missed the remainder of the season, and Greiss took over the job between the pipes.Moving Halak will give Snow much-needed cap relief, even if it means acquiring only a draft pick in return. After beating the top-seeded Florida Panthers in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs in April, the Islanders proved they are on the cusp of becoming a dangerous team in the Eastern Conference.Snow still has work to do this offseason, but how things unfold in Brooklyn in the near future will be the key to success for this team.LeBron James Jersey . Louis Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey last Sunday. The fine is the fourth this season for Goldson. He was fined $30,000 for a hit on the New York Jets Jeff Cumberland in Week 1. Alec Burks Cavaliers Jersey https://www.thecavalierslockerroom.com/Larry-Nance-Jr-City-Edition-Jersey/ . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. 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Webber, who is fifth in the championship, earned his second pole from the past three races and 13th of his career.Only in 2016 could a team being denied their first title in 68 years still result in a fairytale drought-breaker.When Cleveland led Chicago 3-1 midway through the seven-game World Series, they looked certain to claim their first championship since 1948.Instead, they now have the longest drought in MLB history, after the Cubs snapped their own 108-year drought with their 8-7 10th-innings win in the series-deciding seventh game in Cleveland on Wednesday (Thursday AEDT) to take out the series 4-3.Chicagos title drought dated back to 1908, and was the longest-running in US professional sports history.Folklore said the franchise were suffering from the Curse of the Billy Goat, after the owner of an animal kicked out of the stadium during their most recent World Series appearance in 1945 told the teams owner theyd never win again.That spell has now been broken.The city of Cleveland has known a thing or two about breaking their own curses this year too.At the turn of 2016, the citys professional sporting drought had dated back to 1964, or a combined 147 seasons of the NBA, MLB, NHL and NFL.But that all changed when LeBron James produced the block of a lifetime on Andre Iguodala to help the Cavaliers to a four-point win in the deciding Game Seven against Golden State to deliver the franchise their first championship since joining the league in 1970.But neither or those will go down as the greatest drought-breaker of 2016.Leicester Citys was the longest of them all, their spectacular English Premier League title their first top-tier league trophhy in their 132-year history.dddddddddddd.While every other global drought-breaker in 2016 had at least gone close to the title before, the Foxes entered the season 5000-1 outsiders, aiming to starve off relegation.Instead, they went on a miracle run, losing just three games to wrap up the title with two weeks to go.In August, Wellingtons Hurricanes also claimed their first Super Rugby title in their 21-season history, defeating a Lions side in maiden final.That came before the magical first weekend of October in Australia when Cronulla and the Western Bulldogs ended the longest-running droughts in their respective sports.In their first AFL grand final since 1961, Luke Beveridges men overcame a two-point half-time deficit to Sydney to run out 22-point winners - claiming their first title in 62 years.A day later, Cronullas dream of a maiden NRL title in their 50th season looked shot when Melbourne took the lead in the final 20 minutes.But a late Andrew Fifita try, combined with a last-ditch defensive effort on their own line sending their supporters into a frenzy of celebrations - just as 2016 has for long-suffering fans all over the globe.2016 TITLE DROUGHT-BREAKERS* Leicester City (English Premier League) - 132 years* Chicago Cubs (Major League Baseball) - 108 years* Western Bulldogs (AFL) - 62 years* Cronulla Sharks (NRL) - 49 years* Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) - 46 years* Hurricanes (Super Rugby) - 20 years ' ' '