Hunter for Rolston

Trent Hunter, original and all-time Sound Tiger, is gone from the organization. The Islanders announced that they traded Hunter to the Devils for veteran Brian Rolston and a conditional draft pick (Edit: or, no draft pick.)

Hunter leaves after 459 games with the Islanders, 99 goals and 130 assists. Those two great years here have put him seventh on the team’s all-time scoring list (136), sixth in goals (60, with 30 in each), seventh in assists (76), sixth in PPGs (21), fourth in shots (511) and third in game-winners (11). Because he was a part of the only Sound Tigers teams to win a playoff round, earning better than a point per game in both seasons, he’s the franchise career leader in every significant offensive category in the playoffs.

Rolston, whom we can now call the younger brother of Rochester coach Ron, is on an over-35 contract. The move adds about $3 million to the Islanders’ payroll, so those desperate for the team to reach the salary floor will be thrilled.

Edit: Hunter’s departure leaves just two people in the organization who were at the bench That Night in Rochester: starting goalie Rick DiPietro, and trainer Garrett Timms.

Michael Fornabaio