Bridgeport had the day off today — it might’ve been a very light optional, but sounded like they just wanted the players to rest today — but news happened anyway: The Islanders recalled Bracken Kearns under emergency conditions. They put Shane Prince on injured reserve to make room; Casey Cizikas and Cal Clutterbuck left last night’s game early.
@TheSoundTigers @NYIslanders @bracken66 they saw the Frozen video and realized they needed his singing talent
— Paul Ryan (@paulryanpaul) February 22, 2017
A well-earned call up, obviously, for a guy who has been Bridgeport’s leading scorer or close to it most of the past two seasons, as well as a veteran and an all-situations guy.
Soon after, the Islanders announced they’ve torn up Connor Jones’ AHL deal to give him an NHL contract for the rest of the year. He’s staying here (for now at least). Nice reward for a guy who’s worked hard the past couple of years here, and it gives them another recall possibility in that type of role.
Elsewhere, Hartford has a fantastic bobblehead to give away next weekend.
In a trade of sons of ex-Rangers defensemen (with adjacent numbers) yesterday, Carolina acquired Philip Samuelsson for Keegan Lowe. Phil’s dad is Ulf, who’s now his coach. A little Jason Chaimovitch crowdsourcing suggests Bridgeport may’ve had the last father-son coach-player duos in the AHL.
Speaking of sons, fathers and Bridgeport (kinda), Kevin Morris, who was here in camp as a tryout earlier this season, signed a PTO with Syracuse. He’s Mark Morris’ son, the former Nighthawks and former Manchester (AHL) coach.
Oh… and Happy 37th Anniversary. (I forget when I said it: That little kid is old enough now to do Herbie’s between-periods speech in the Finland game, right?)