Free agent Signings (so far)

When GM Garth Snow said their would be no big name signings this off season he meant it. The Only big name to join the Islanders roster so far was a desperately needed 1-a goalie by the name of Dwayne Roloson. The 40 year old net minder who played 63 games last season for the Edmonton Oilers put up a .910 save % , and a 2.77 GAA. When asked, Dominik of Lighthouse Hockey gave this opinion on the signing of Dwayne Roloson:
“I'm fine with Roloson. Obviously, in a vacuum he's not the most ideal option. But considering the Islanders are only offering a job with the caveat of a) backing up DiPietro if he's healthy and b) not sticking around for long if he ever does get healthy, Roloson is a good fit. I doubt Anderson would have taken that role, and certainly Biron and Khabibulin wouldn't have. Roloson, though old, has more legit starting experience than Anderson, Clemmensen, or Conklin.”
Roloson admitted if the Oilers had offered him a second year he would have stayed. The Signing of Roloson finally brings a reliable goaltender to back up Rick Dipietro if/when he gets re injured, now all the Islanders have to do is fix everything else.



The following day Snow add depth to the Isles farm system by signing goalie Scott Munroe, LW Jeremy Reich, and defensemen Brett Westgarth.

UNIONDALE, NY, July 2, 2009 -- The New York Islanders announced today that they have agreed to terms with three players. Goaltender Scott Munroe, left wing Jeremy Reich and defenseman Brett Westgarth all have signed one-year, two-way contracts.

Munroe, an undrafted goalie from Moose Jaw, SASK, has been a part of the Philadelphia Flyers organization for the past four seasons. He received his first call-up to the National Hockey League last year with the Flyers. The 27-year-old net-minder posted a career year last season with a record of 31-19-0-4, a save percentage of .926 and four shutouts. Munroe led the Phantoms to the Calder Cup Playoffs in each of the past two seasons. During the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs, Munroe made 65 saves in a five overtime contest against the Albany River Rats to earn the victory in the longest game in American Hockey League history.

Reich has played in a total of 99 NHL games scoring two goals and four assists while compiling 161 penalty minutes. The Craik, SASK native has been a part of the Boston Bruins organization for the past three years and played under Islanders head coach Scott Gordon his first two seasons with the team's AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins. Last season, the 6'1", 196 pound left wing, served as the team captain of Providence, setting single-season career high numbers of 21 goals and 13 assists for 34 points in 76 games. Reich was originally drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks in the second round (39th overall) of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft.

Westgarth played the last three seasons in the AHL. Last year, the 6'2", 215 pound defenseman played for the Worcester Sharks, AHL affiliate of the San Jose Sharks, scoring nine points (2 goals and 7 assists) while totaling 137 penalty minutes. Westgarth, a native of Amhertsburg, ON, is a Princeton University graduate who skated for the Tigers from 2002-2007 where he compiled four goals and 20 assists for 24 points

Today wasn’t much different as the Islanders signed defensive prospect Mark Flood formerly of the Albany River Rats. Flood was 6-15-31 in 76 games with the River Rats. He had 10 goals in 53 games in ‘07-08. Greg Mauldin Was also signed today, maudlin was formerly of the Binghamton Senators. Along with that Hockey Buzz is reporting that the Islanders are interested in signing Alexei Kovalev.