GM Garth Snow claims, “absolutely,” his Islanders stand to be better than last year’s squad, after signing Bill Guerin and Mike Comrie as unrestricted free agents last night.
“These were players we wanted from Day 1 of free agency,” Snow said, denying the moves were reactions to the earlier losses of Ryan Smyth, Jason Blake, Tom Poti, Viktor Kozlov and Richard Zednik, following the buyout of Alexei Yashin.
“We had them at the top of the list. We have a passionate fan base, and our fans sometimes become impatient if it doesn’t happen on Day 1,” Snow said. “Sometimes it takes a couple of days, and this is an example.”
Guerin signed a two-year deal at $4.5 million per season, coming to the Isles after being dealt from St. Louis to San Jose at the February trade deadline for two players and a first-round pick. He scored 36 goals last season, eight in 16 games with the Sharks.
“He was awesome. He played at an elite level last year,” Snow said of the 37-year-old former Devil who has also had stints with Edmonton, Boston and Dallas.
Comrie, a two-time 30-goal scorer, was traded by Phoenix to Ottawa last season. Not yet 27, he signed a one-year deal at $3.3 million. The Isles also signed forward Tim Jackman, who spent much of last season with the Kings’ Manchester farm.
The Isles shipped defenseman Allan Rourke and a third-round pick in the 2008 draft to the Oilers for a second-round pick. Rourke had one assist in the 11 games last season. The 27-year-old also had five goals and 15 assists with minor league affiliate Bridgeport of the American Hockey League. He is likely to be sent to Edmonton’s minor-league team.
Meanwhile, the Isles’ Trent Hunter elected salary arbitration.
With the Associated Press.
