Islanders Talk To Gionta, Represent In 2016 World Cup.

Earlier today, Arthur Staple reported that the Islanders are in talks with C, Stephen Gionta on a PTO.  The soon to be 33 year old Gionta had 1 and 10 for 11 points in 82 games with the New Jersey Devils last season (avg. 12 min/game) and has been a part of their system since 2005.  While the news is sure to raise a few eye brows of a few fans, most feel it’s strictly a move to add depth.  If a season long agreement is in the cards, it would most likely be a one year, two-way deal, but I could also see a reasonably priced one-way NHL contract as well.  The 5’7 Gionta is a smaller, but experienced player who skates well, brings energy and shouldn’t hurt a team who still has question marks on a few of its young prospects and where they will fit into the scheme going into this season.  

UPDATE: Gionta agrees to a PTO with Islanders on 9/12.

As my buddy Ian pointed out, Ryan Strome still isn’t signed and we all know what happens if a player on the Isles roster isn’t signed by the start of camp on the 22nd. He sits out for the year, ala Sean Bergenheim.  Staple reports the two sides are still working on a deal and there doesn’t seem to be any real concern by either side on getting Strome signed in time.  Garth Snow has done this kind of thing a few times before and would continue to try and add serviceable players in lieu of giving up assets for a reserve player like he did with ex Devil, Stephen Bernier last season.

In other news, John Tavares (Canada), Nikolay Kulemin (Russia), Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss (Team Europe) have been named to their national teams in the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.  The preliminary games are being played now to fine-tune line ups and try to build chemistry for this year’s tournament that runs from 9/17 through 10/1.  Jaro Halak was pretty much left alone in net for Team Europe in last night’s 4-0 exhibition loss to a younger and faster, Team North America.

I remember going to both USA wins (Rus. and Slov.) at MSG in September of ‘96 when the Americans eventually beat Canada to win the Cup in Montreal a short time later.  It was awesome to experience live and watching the games on television got me and all my Rangers fan friends to get along and cheer together for a few days.

Check out this year’s tournament, currently in exhibition play if you haven’t already.

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I miss you Buddy.

R.I.P Hades.