I'm not sure how many people expected the Islanders would still have an NHL slot for the chef, Bruno Gervais, a long-serving Islander who is an RFA this summer. In part due to injuries last year, the Islanders stocked up on mid-level NHL contracts on the blueline. Gervais ended up being a healthy scratch and his career appeared to plateau.

So today at Day 2 of the NHL Draft, in the middle of the third round, the Islanders consummated a trade of Gervais -- or "Broono Jer-vez" as the M.C. pronounced it, indicting both himself and Bruno in the process -- to the Tampa Bay Lightning for future considerations.

We'll add any further details on those considerations, likely a conditional late pick of some sort, as they become available.

Gervais played 331 games with the Islanders, collecting 9 goals, 59 assists and compiling a minus-60 during some trying times for player and club. Here was our report card for Gervais' 2010-11 season, which kind of read like a eulogy for a well-liked defenseman who nonetheless was a scapegoat for some fans, as his play never sustained the level expected.

The Campoli-Gervais era on Long Island is now officially over.

Leave your thoughts and tributes to Bruno in this thread. Our second-round open discussion thread continues over there.