Islanders Sign Jesse Joensuu

Per Arthur Staple, The New York Islanders sign F Jesse Joensuu to 1-year, one-way deal, bringing him back into the organization after a season in Sweden where Joensuu, 24, was 13-16-29 in 50 games for HV-71.  His new contract has Euro Out Clause, which would allow him to return to play for HV-71 in the Swedish Elite League if he failed to make the Islanders roster this season.

Jesse Joensuu made the news recently over the summer with his performance in the IIHFWC’s helping his native Finland eliminate team USA from the tournament with two goals in the game, including the GWG with 8 seconds remaining.

The move is an interesting one with the fate of P.A. Parenteau’s time with the Isles in limbo.  Parenteau is a free agent this summer and may be asking for more money than the Islanders are willing to offer ruling out a hometown discount.  There is no doubt Parenteau has been awesome during his tenure on the Island, but with the prices paid for the future core of the Isles already signed, it isn’t known if what they would or could offer would be acceptable to him.  The plans for attracting other free agents may also not include Parenteau in the future for N.Y.

Joensuu was selected 60th overall in the second round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft by the New York Islanders.  On March 2, 2009, Joensuu made his NHL debut, and scored his first NHL goal, as member of the Islanders in a 4-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.  Most recently, Joensuu played 35 AHL games for Bridgeport during the 2010-11 campaign with 8 and 16 for 24 points. With 42 NHL games that season, he scored 6 and 3 for 9 points with the Islanders.

Isles Notes:

I don’t know how, but I missed this last week.  Trevor Gillies will be playing in the KHL next season with Vityaz Chekhov.  Best of luck Trevor.

As far as Michael Haley and the Isles, It is well known Haley felt slighted with the opportunity he had to play for the Islanders last season, and he may want a change of scenery.  We will have to wait and see.

I have mentioned many times of what I thought about the play of Gillies and Haley and what they brought to the line up.

It was rumored that both players would be replaced after the signings of Mike Halmo and Blair Riley by the Islanders organization this spring.  Both players have been brought on to add toughness to the organization.

Per New York Islanders, On June 14th In 1977 – Isles select Mike Bossy in 1st round of the NHL Entry Draft. John Tonelli is selected in the 2^nd round.

Per AHL, the Last team to win (Norfolk/TBL this season) the Calder Cup in last year of NHL affiliation: Springfield, 1990 (NYI). Indians partnered with Hartford and won again in 1991.

NHL Notes:

Per Chris Botta, Source tells @SBJSBD that KHL is planning to have franchises in Milan and Paris in next 2-3 years.