We’ll work off this post unless something crazy happens to change our minds.
Happy Canada Day. And Merry Christm…
If July 1 UFA frenzy is like Christmas, this is a Christmas when you're too old to get fun toys and know all the gifts are pajamas or socks.
— Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice) July 1, 2015
Well, OK, maybe in the NHL. The Islanders’ 23-man concerns are a backup goalie and a defenseman or two, but for here and for their depth, they’ll need a No. 3 goalie (which could be Kevin Poulin), possibly a veteran defenseman and a whole mess of forwards.
Here’s the NHL’s official list of free agents, which reminds us that Tomas Marcinko and Rhett Rakhshani are at last old enough for freedom.
Below on the blog are the annual free-agent scorecard and draft roster of signed players.
One free-agency splash for a former Sound Tiger today: Cory Conacher’s long-rumored move to Switzerland was announced. From yesterday, Scott Munroe stops playing to go to Moncton as a goaltending coach. (h/t Elite Prospects on those.)
–Arthur Staple says the Islanders took about 10 minutes to fill that backup goalie spot with Thomas Greiss, former Shark and Penguin. He also says the Thomas Hickey deal is done, and he’s got the long-awaited arrival of Kirill Petrov official.
–Florida, new parent of Portland, announced it has signed Mike McKenna, Shane Harper and Sena Acolatse.
–TSN’s Frank Seravalli reports Kael Mouillierat to Pittsburgh.
–The Rangers announced the signings of ex-Penguin Jayson Megna and ex-Bruin Matt Lindblad. Not sure who’s signing them, since reports are that Jeff Gorton will take over as GM from Glen Sather. Larry Brooks had mentioned that some time ago.
–Seravalli also has Matt Donovan joining the rising tide in Buffalo.
–The Rangers announce they’ve signed Brian Gibbons. The Islanders are quiet for the moment.
–Alex Prewitt of the Washington Post says Steve Oleksy goes to Pittsburgh.
–Milford’s Mark Arcobello to Toronto on a one-year deal.
–Two-way deal for Donovan in Buffalo, Tim Murray says; the Sabres also signed Jason Akeson.
—Aaron Ness signs with the Capitals for one year.
–Newsbreaker Jason Clark, no longer on the reserve list, still coming through for Bridgeport: He tweeted his congratulations to college teammate Tyler Barnes on signing with Bridgeport. Barnes, 25, put up about a point a game for Toledo this year. He’s played nine AHL games. Not expecting anything official from the Islanders tonight.
–Forgot to point out earlier that Dylan Reese remained with Phoenix. Could see him in Springfield.
–Speaking of: Dustin Jeffrey to Arizona as well.
—Brennan Klak tips off that Bracken Kearns is attached to the Islanders on NHL.com. Most recently a Worcester and San Jose Shark, but also played for Cleveland, Milwaukee, Norfolk and San Antonio in this league. Again, nothing forthcoming from the Islanders.
–Ren Lavoie says Joe Whitney to the Islanders for a year. Former Albany Devils standout.
If you’re thinking of all-time small former Albany forwards, you probably think first of Keith Aucoin. But Whitney’s not bad. He’s a V-320 next year.
–NHL.com has Kearns as an Islander, as mentioned, but it’s somewhat wonky today otherwise. It has knocked off the Group 2 free agents who weren’t on the roster at the end of the year — that is, Czuczman, Sundstrom, Halmo — while keeping Poulin and Nelson on the list. It took me a whole mess of tries to figure out why my numbers weren’t adding up. (Even more oddly, it knocked off Sundstrom earlier, with the non-tendered guys, than Halmo and Czuczman.)
–Agent Scott Norton tweets an NHL deal for Ben Holmstrom and an AHL deal for brother Josh Holmstrom, who ATO’d here at the end of 2013-14. Ben, former captain in Adirondack, could well be your new captain here. Josh was a rookie in Toledo last season. Norton adds Andrew Rowe on an AHL deal here. Rowe went to camp with the Sound Tigers last season.
–Unless someone else has a late-night announcement, that’s six additions, all forwards, that the Islanders can maybe announce Thursday. Whitney is the marquee name, with veteran additions in Kearns and Ben Holmstrom and depth in Barnes, Josh Holmstrom and Rowe. They needed depth desperately. They’ve added some. They can still use some more. See what comes tomorrow.