It's official: The New York Islanders have signed Steve Staios to a one-year contract, which ESPN's Katie Strang reports is for $800,000 and TSN's Darren Dreger reports includes potential bonuses that could push it to $1.2 million -- even $1.6 million "if" the Islanders win the Stanley Cup. [Earlier FanShot discussion here] [Update: Expanded official site write-up here.]
Staios has been a solid defenseman in the NHL before but at age 38 has not been a very good one lately. That said, the Islanders invited him in for a training camp tryout and at least from eyeballing him, he delivered the PK and yeoman's work you'd expect from a veteran depth defenseman whose career hung in the balance.
The risk with signing someone with that kind of mileage and recent injury/performance history is that the performance that earned him a contract in training camp is not likely to be the performance a 38-year-old body will allow during the grind of an NHL season.
However, the payoff is cheap, waivable depth when the Islanders already have some injury concerns (four blueliners returning from significant injuries) and a bevy of promising but not necessarily ready prospects who would be better served in Bridgeport. If he does (re)decline, I just hope they recognize it quickly and react accordingly.
Other news and the bubble-rific roster for tonight's game in New Jersey:
Lineup Tonight
Forwards:
Comeau, Reasoner, Niederreiter,
Pandolfo, Bailey, Parenteau,
Martin, Strome, Wallace
Gillies, Frischmon, Haley
Defensemen: Streit, Staios, Ness, Eaton, Donovan, Mottau
Goaltenders: DiPietro, Poulin
That's from the official site. But Newsday's Arthur Staple also discusses the lines here.
That is not exactly the B lineup and it's not exactly the A lineup. Curious mix of both. Nino Niederreiter, having seen some time with first-liners, now appears to get a look with bottom-sixers. Noted.
One interesting name from that group is in the links below: Aaron Ness has had a good camp.
Isles News and Notes
- Strang with a quote from Capuano about Ness, with Michael Fornabaio providing a little more as well as quotes from Bridgeport coach Brent Thompson on his first camp in the organization.
- It was originally thought Andrew MacDonald would play tonight, but that doesn't appear to be the case.
- UniWatch is hearing the real 3rd jersey design is "more sedate" than what's been leaked. [FanShot here]
- Rick DiPietro on the goalie situation [ audio/video at Newsday]
-
Travis Hamonic on sticking with the club (he hopes) [Newsday]
- Here is the location for the official site live blog of tonight's game.
- P.A. Parenteau thanks Capuano for giving him the first-line shot, aims to improve on last year.
- This Polished Puck thing (not Polish) has both Parenteau and Michael Grabner as breakouts from last year.
Hockey News and Notes
- Don't worry: NHL will look into fighting: Shanahan [CBC] [FanShot here]
- For the Euro-inclined: Here are Europeans involved in NHL transfers.
- Dan Marr is said to be replacing the late E.J. McGuire at Central Scouting. [Pipeline Show]
- Your daily suspension commentary: The Sheet: Going through growing pains - sportsnet.ca
- Schedule analysis: Breaking down what’s ahead for all 30 NHL teams | ProHockeyTalk
- Heard this before: Researchers looking at helmets to cut down on concussions [TSN]
- And the Sabres, who have money now, might bury Alex Kotalik in Europe.
- Heh, awkward: Ladies: Rocco Grimaldi requests you put your boobs away - Puck Daddy
- Less awkward: Five NHL stars that will shine or flop in their new positions - Puck Daddy
- Similar: Fantasy Hockey: Movers, decliners and poisonous players in your draft - Puck Daddy Sports
- On the nature of expectations and why you shouldn't think your team should have 12 15-goal scorers and three 40-goal scorers: Common Misconceptions: How Much Should That Forward Score? - Pension Plan Puppets
- More: An Expanded Look At "First Liners" - Pension Plan Puppets
- Our long
nationalL.A. nightmare is over: Drew Doughty, Kings end stalemate with 8-year blockbuster deal - Puck Daddy - NHL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
Tonight is one step closer to real games.