Brave new world: Thursday notes

Capgeek has the contracts up for the four two-way guys the Islanders signed on Tuesday. Harry Zolnierczyk, as Ryan Rishaug reported, and Jack Skille both get $300,000 on the back end of the contracts, and Kael Mouillierat and David Leggio both get $175,000.

That’s a combined $950,000 for four players. Last year’s opening-night Bridgeport roster included 18 players on NHL contracts. (Granted, mostly entry-level contracts, mostly $60-70,000.) Again via Capgeek, those 18 combined to $1.21 million in AHL salary, nobody higher than Joe Finley’s $105,000 — which, though the Islanders didn’t give him that contract, had been their de facto AHL limit.

It’s a different world. And maybe it’s a chance to be more competitive.

….

Justin Hickman, who was on an ATO here the last week of the season, is on the Winnipeg development camp roster.

And Aaron Johnson leaves the Wolf Pack for Ottawa; Nick Tarnasky, probably best known around here as a former Falcon (if not as a Steve Regier pal), goes to the Rangers.

Michael Fornabaio