Islanders sign McIver

The Islanders added some veteran depth and toughness on the blue line, signing former Providence defenseman Nathan McIver to a one-year deal today. McIver*, 27, has played 345 AHL games for Manitoba and the Bruins and another 36 in the NHL for Vancouver and Anaheim; he’s racked up 814 AHL and 95 NHL penalty minutes while playing solid defense, despite some bad injury luck recently.

He has worn an ‘A’ at least part-time for Providence the past two years; he counts as an AHL veteran (of the most likely Bridgeport candidates, the others are Colin McDonald and Ty Wishart, though Wishart would be exempt if they added three others). If I count correctly, he’s the 41st NHL contract for next year (42 with Matt Martin, 43 should Tomas Marcinko come back).

He’s also, Mark Divver reported last year after a Brett Gallant hit left Josh Hennessy injured, Gallant’s cousin.

*-Pronounced, if I have it right, “McEEver,” long-E, not like Norm Maciver (“Mc-EYE-ver”), long-I**. Also, capital vs. no-capital. Also, Norm played in New Haven.
**-Unless I’ve been mispronouncing Norm Maciver’s name for 25 years.

Michael Fornabaio