Islanders Add Toews to NHL D-Mix & Re-Sign Burroughs

With a limited and thin free agent market this summer and trade options being explored, the New York Islanders have continued to address their roster needs for next season by looking into their farm system for depth and role-players. That trend continued today with a pair of moves.

One will give solid defensive prospect, Devon Toews his NHL shot and the other will help the organization retain a good depth D-Man on a two-way deal in Bridgeport with an option to play with the big club.

The Islanders announced that RFA defensemen, Devon Toews has agreed to terms on a two-year, NHL one-way contract. Terms were not disclosed. Per Andrew Gross, “Toews was extended a qualifying offer of $874,125 while Burroughs’ qualifying offer was for $715,000.”

Toews has lit it up for the Isles Major-League AHL affiliate, Sound Tigers on defense for two seasons where he scored 13 and 54 in for 67 points in 106 games. Toews made the AHL's All-Rookie team after the 2016-17 campaign, led all rookie defensemen in scoring & finished fourth in the AHL amongst all defensemen in scoring. Last season, Toews represented the Sound Tigers at the 2017 AHL All-Star Classic, winning the fastest skater competition with the quickest time ever recorded at 13.5 seconds.

Toews suffered a season ending injury in 2017-18 that limited his AHL campaign to 30 games (76 games played the season before) with Bridgeport, scoring 22 points and 3 PP goals at a +3 rating. Toews has been one of the top Isles D-Prospects for the last couple of years and was rumored to be an NHL contender this season for New York. A one-way, 2 year deal is pretty serious vote of confodence for a talented player coming off a serious shoulder injury. Many feel, myself included, Toews may be a difference maker and add an offensive punch to the Isles blue line.

Per BST coach, Brent Thompson, “He’s right at that Calvin de Haan level as far as being able to defend, move the puck, good reads, good stick ... He might have more offensive upside than Cal, but very similar players. If he works out as well as Calvin has, they have a hell of a defenseman.”

Per Isles release, “The 24-year-old defenseman, played three seasons with the Quinnipiac University Bobcats. He had a career year, recording seven goals and 23 assists for 30 points in 40 games in his third and final season at Quinnipiac. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound blue-liner posted 67 points (12-55-67) in 108 collegiate games, helping the Bobcats to the National Championship game in 2016.

Selected by the Islanders in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft, Toews played for the Surrey Eagles in the British Columbia Hockey League for two seasons before joining the collegiate ranks. The Abbotsford, B.C., native won the BCHL Championship in 2013 and was given the Coastal Conference's Defensive Award as the best defenseman.”

RFA, D, Kyle Burroughs has agreed to terms on a two-year, two-way contract.

Burroughs, 23 has 11 & 48 for 59 points in 186 games with a +9 rating for the Sound Tigers over the last four seasons. Last season, the 6’, 203# Burroughs had a career year with 25 points scoring 6 and 19 in 75 games. While down in the ECHL, he has played 18 games for the former Isles affiliate, Missouri Mavericks where he scored 1 & 6 for seven points.

Per release, “The Vancouver, BC native played five seasons in the WHL with the Regina Pats and the Medicine Hat Tigers. In 250 career games played in the WHL, Burroughs had 120 points (22 goals and 98 assists) and was a +48. He played in 19 playoff games and had six points (one goal and five assists). Burroughs was selected by the Islanders in the seventh round (196th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft.”

Isles Notes:

Josh Ho-Sang has clean slate with new Islanders regime.

Brock Nelson’s arbitration hearing is slated for Aug. 3

Per Andrew Gross, “The Islanders have two RFAs still to re-sign. Center Brock Nelson 26, has an arbitration hearing set for Aug. 3 after receiving a qualifying offer of $3.5 million. He had 19 goals and 16 assists last season, his fifth with the Islanders. Defenseman Ryan Pulock, 23, who was not arbitration eligible after compiling 10 goals and 22 assists in 68 games last season as a rookie, received a qualifying offer of $874,125.”

Per Rob McGowan, “It seems like the coaching staff/mgmt may feel that Lee, Barzal, Bailey, Eberle, Beau, & Nelson will provide enough offense w/a tough & physical bottom 6. I’m just not convinced enough offense will come from that group w/o JT, or a player that can at least somewhat fill that void.”

Tavares writes a note to Isles "faithful" with a detailed explanation on why he loves the Leafs. I wrote a note to him as well on July 2nd. I think its just time to move on.

Sound Tigers Notes:

2018-19 Season Schedule.