When they purchased the Islanders in April, Charles Wang and Sanjay Kumar promised to rebuild the once-proud, but now deteriorated team.
Of course, their predecessors, and their predecessors’ predecessors, and their predecessors’ predecessors’ predecessors had made the same pledges.
But this time, the owners have actually followed through.
Continuing their substantial overhaul, the potentially playoff-bound Islanders came to terms yesterday with unrestricted free agent defenseman Garry Galley on a one year contract plus a team option for another season.
Galley, 37, is expected to make a salary of $850,000 this season, and would earn $1.1 million in 2001-02.
“Galley brings experience, versatility and depth against injuries,” Isles GM Mike Milbury said. “He still has some mileage left and he’s an excellent skater and competitor.”
After spending his entire 16 NHL seasons with the Kings, the 6-foot-0, 202-pounder brings expert leadership to what is still a mostly young team.
But he also adds more scoring to the blueline. Last season, Galley was the Kings’ second leading scorer as a defenseman behind Rob Blake. He tallied nine goals and 21 assists with 52 penalty minutes and a plus 9 rating.
With Galley’s acquisition, the Islanders have further revamped their defensive corp. In what has been a hectic, but standout off-season, Milbury has brought in Roman Hamrlik in a trade from the Oilers and Kevin Haller through free agency.
These incoming veterans will play alongside Kenny Jonsson, Zdeno Chara and Eric Cairns, forming a formidable unit, for sure.
“Of the team that finished last season pretty well, we have added Hamrlik, Haller and Galley without losing anyone off our roster,” Milbury said proudly. “Thanks to ownership, this is a far cry from any season the team or the fans have had to endure in a long time. Last season we were building hope. This year we are building a team.”
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The Islanders open up their preseason tonight by facing the Flyers at Trenton. Goaltender John Vanbiesbrouck, who lost his starting job with the Flyers late last season, will get the start. Rookie goaltender Rick DiPietro will start for the Islanders tomorrow when the two teams meet again at the First Union Center in Philadelphia.
“I feel pretty comfortable, the transition [from college] has gone pretty well so far,” DiPietro said during the just-completed training camp in Lake Placid. “The true test will come in the exhibitions when I’ll tell for the first time if I’m ready for the challenge.”
