Islanders News & Notes (10/5/2011)

Islanders News & Notes (10/5/2011):

Islanders Sign Jay Pandolfo To A One-Year Contract.

CONTRACT DETAILS:

Length- One Year Base Salary- $600,000  Bonuses- $800,000 (Based On Performance) Cap-Hit- $1,400,000

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Jay Pandolfo came to training camp as an invite and many believed he had no shot at making the club. In my opinion, he did not prove enough on the ice to warrant that thought to change, but apparently the Isles felt differently. They liked his locker room presence and his defensive style game, and felt he would be a good addition to the Islanders 4th line. The Islanders liked the idea of having a seasoned veteran who knows how to win on the 4th line over younger candidates Micheal Haley and Matt Martin. Although I disagree with that choice, its understandable. Pandolfo will be a bit of a question mark though mainly because he is thirty-six years old and hasn't played in the NHL since the 2009-10 season. His durability will definitely be tested throughout the season, and will probably be a bit of a problem down the stretch. Regardless of that, he should be a nice addition to the PK, and to the Islanders locker room.

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Islanders Sign Ryan Strome To A Entry-Level Contract

CONTRACT DETAILS:

Length- Three Years Base Salary- $925,000 (NHL); $70,000 (AHL) Bonuses- $850,000 (Performance Based); $92,500 (Signing Bonus) Cap-Hit- $1,775,000

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Ryan Strome is going to be one heck of an NHL player, but not yet. I believe he is too frail and unequipped physically for the NHL at this time. If this signing was just a formality and he was going to be returned to juniors before Saturday I'd be fine with it, but it looks like Strome will stick around the big club for a bit. He might get his full nine game try-out, he might not. Either way, I think it would be a mistake to even give him one game. Strome has HUGE potential and I think it would only create problems if they were to give him any time before he is ready. Hopefully they just want to give him some experience through practice and traveling and not with actual games. Aside from that, this is a standard ELC for a player who should be a star in this league in just a few years.

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Islanders Cut Kirill Kabanov

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Kirill Kabanov is a great hockey player, and an even better person, but lets face it, he's not NHL ready just yet. The Islanders made him the absolute last cut which is something he should be proud of. Now here is where it gets interesting…according to the Islanders they returned him to the QMJHL to play for the Blainville-Boisbriand, but he is NOT going to be playing for that club or any QMJHL club for that matter. Despite numerous attempts by Blainville-Boisbriand management, he has in fact decided to play in Sweden in the Swedish Elite League. Which team I am not sure of, but I am sure he will be there. He wants to play against men so he will be fully prepared to play in the NHL next season, and he and his agent agreed that this would be the best way to do that. It will be interesting to see how this situation plays out.