Today, your New York
Islanders began free agency and were looking for a veteran D with offensive
upside, a top line winger & young backup goalie with 1A possibilities.
Chad Johnson, G -
2yrs @ $2.6M
Johnson was 17-4 for the
Bruins last season with a 2.15 gaa and a .925 Sv%. As a great acquisition to support Halak, Johnson have
a chance to make a lot of noise in New York next season.
The Goalie Guild reports, "Connection does exist between Isles
assistant goalie coach Steve Valiquette and Johnson. Both were in Rangers org
in 2009-10 season."
T.J. Brennan, D - 1
Yr @ $600K
Brennan was 25 &
47 for 72 pts with a right handed shot.
A solid young defensemen with offensive abilities and a possible future
top pair guy. Brennan won the Eddie
Shore Award as the outstanding defensemen in the AHL for 2013-14.
Kael Mouillierat, F -
1yr, two-way contract.
Mouillierat returns
to the organization after playing 44 games in 11-12. He had a career high, 53 points in 60 games for St. John's in the
AHL last season and added 13 pts in 21 games on the way to the Calder Cup
Finals.
Harry Zolnierczyk, F
- 1Yr two-way contract. $600K/$300K
Zolnierczyk had 4 goals in 16 games with the Penguins & 36
pts in 57 regular season AHL games. He
added 10 points in 17 playoff games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
David Leggio, G - 1 Yr
two-way contract.
Leggio played 45
games (23-18-3 with a 2.63 gaa & a .913 Sv%) for the Hershey Bears and has
averaged 27.8 wins in 4 full AHL seasons.
Leggio represented the United States in the 2010 & 2014 WC's. He is a great depth signing & will most likely join Kevin Poulin in
Bridgeport for next season.
Cory Conacher, F -
1yr @ $600K
Conacher is a fast
& gritty bottom line forward who may provide depth at the forward position for the Islanders.
He had 26 pts in 79 games last season.
Jack Skille, F - 1yr
two-way contract.
Skille scored 4 goals
in 16 games with Columbus & 24 pts in 22 games with Springfield of the AHL. He has 53 pts in 194 NHL games. Skille
represented Team USA at the 2011 World Championships, the 2006 and 2007 World
Junior Championships and the 2004 and 2005 World Under-18 Championships.
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Snow has shown he
likes to pick up players who he feels are "hidden gem" guys. Guys
that are not elite, but can flourish if given the chance. Those kind of moves are ok for ancillary
acquisitions, but fans wanted some top tier talent for once this year. Garth Snow made big money offers to several
top tier players, including Dan Boyle whose rights were traded for a few weeks
back. Boyle elected to sign with the
rival Rangers. Vanek was down to the
Islanders and Wild, but chose to go to Minnesota as rumored. Igilna was offered a 4 year deal by New York, but signed
with Colorado. While the FA defense pool
has all but dried up, the Islanders can overpay a forward that makes sense. Legwand, Grabovski, Michalek, Vrbata or even Ribiero would fit
the role, especially at $6M below the cap floor.
While its frustrating
to see more evidence of top players steering clear of Long Island, credit Snow
with identifying top guys who he feels would fit team concept and going after
them. Even more responsible is not just
going down a list a throwing top money and lesser players who might have name
cache, but be of lesser quality. With acquisitions
at forward and a log jam at the D position, I feel Snow intends to make a trade or two, especially with many of the higher tier players getting scooped up already. Players like Grabner, Donovan or Bailey
might be pieces that the organization would move if given the right deal. That being said, today wasn't a success in my
mind, but I am hopeful of more moves over the course of the week and coming
summer. Clock is definitely ticking on Snow and the Isles.
Isles Notes:
Isles tender
Qualifying Offers to Eight Players.
Calvin de Haan was
not on RFA list, which leads us to believe he may have signed his QO.
Per Capgeek, Isles are
still more than $6M from the floor with the lowest cap payroll in the league
($44.9M).
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