The Islanders have signed Kael Mouillierat, Harry Zolnierczyk, Jack Skille and David Leggio to one-year contracts. More below.
The Islanders hit a couple of targets early, signing Chad Johnson as their backup goalie and AHL defenseman of the year T.J. Brennan as an offensive defenseman. (Arthur Staple reports it’s a one-way deal for Brennan.)
Dylan Reese comes back to North America with the Coyotes, reports Chris Johnston.
–Non-free-agency-related, but enjoyed the teammatey banter between two Bridgeport defensemen from entirely different eras.
–A different kind of free-agent frenzy: Manchester has a coach, Mike Stothers:
| TEAM | Old | New |
| BPT | Scott Pellerin (5/2) | Brent Thompson (5/2) |
| MCR | Mark Morris (5/7) | Mike Stothers (7/1) |
| HER | Mike Haviland (Colorado Coll., 5/9) | — |
| ADK-a | Troy G. Ward (6/7) | Ryan Huska (6/23) |
| SPR | Brad Larsen (CLB ass’t, 6/16) | Jared Bednar (6/16) |
| TEX | Willie Desjardins (VAN, 6/23) | — |
| NOR | Trent Yawney (ANA ass’t, 6/23) | — |
a-Former Abbotsford Heat and new Adirondack Flames.
–Kael Mouillierat’s agent tweets that Mouillierat has signed with the Islanders. Two years later. No secret that he was well-respected here. When the Islanders didn’t bring him back, he found a home in St. John’s and thrived. He can be a solid piece here and maybe take a run at an NHL job along the way.
Talked to Mouillierat; he said he’d expected this to take a little time, that teams would be going after the big names today, but he was glad to get it done. May post a quote or two, depending how the rest of the day and the story for the paper go.
–The Rangers have made a few signings today, and Cedrick Desjardins should help shore up what had been a weakness in goaltending depth last year after Marty Biron’s retirement. Has been a solid AHL goalie the past few years.
–Andy Miele to Detroit, his agent reports.
—Jon Landry to Washington, tweets Scott Stuccio.
–Two big additions: Gritty forward Harry Zolnierczyk and goalie David Leggio, as reported by Ryan Rishaug and Katie Strang. Zolnierczyk, Rishaug reports, gets $300,000 on the back end of the two-way contract from a team that hasn’t gone past $105k.
–Arthur Staple’s also got Cory Conacher, cut loose by the Sabres yesterday, to the Islanders for a year. AHL MVP for the Admirals two years ago.
—Jack Skille too, Staple reports.