Islanders Ink All-Star Guerin
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The islanders finally found a free agent to sign, inking All-Star forward bill Guerin to a two-year contract yesterday.
Guerin, a four-time All-Star, scored 36 goals last season while splitting time with the St. Louis Blues and SanJoseSharks. He joins a team that suddenly is rebuilding after losing forwards Ryan Smyth, Jason Blake, Richard Zednik, Viktor Kozlov, and defenseman Tom Poti since the free-agent signing period began last Sunday.
Despite the hits over the past few days, Islanders general manager Garth Snow vowed to be patient and prudent as he negotiated with players still on the market.
“My family and I are so happy to be coming to Long Island,” Guerin said in a statement. “Garth Snow first contacted me on Sunday and was so positive, so persistent right from the outset explaining to me why I would be ideal for his team. Ownership’s commitment to winning at almost every cost and Garth making it clear to how determined he is to build a winner is why I’m an Islander today.”
Financial terms weren’t immediately available.
Guerin, a three-time U.S. olympian, has 364 goals and 719 points in 1,026 career NHl games. He was chosen as an All-Star for the fourth time last season when he put up 56 points in 77 games. He was dealt to San Jose at the trade deadline, but managed only two assists in nine postseason game for the Sharks, who were knocked out in the second round by Detroit.
