Grit in Your Stocking: Islanders ink Stephen Gionta to two-way deal, recall him from Bridgeport

The Islanders - a team with very bad possession numbers that has trouble getting more than one player to score in a given game - have agreed to terms with old, small, light-scoring grind machine Stephen Gionta on a two-way contract and have recalled him from Bridgeport of the AHL.

The Islanders had signed Gionta over the Summer to a PTO. He broke his foot in camp and then signed an AHL deal with the Sound Tigers, with whom he’s played seven games this season, tallying one goal and two assists.

With the big club’s season having gone off the rails basically from the moment it left the station, most of us figured Gionta would ride out the season in the AHL and move on. And yet here he is, probably to siphon playing time from a younger, better player that could use it.

But, as Arthur Staple notes, there might be more to it than just giving Jack Capuano some extra Battle Level for Christmas.

So if they’re gonna call someone up, why not someone who could, like, contribute something? Here’s garik:

Either way, the news is a bummer, even if - as I assume most of us do indeed assume - the season is basically over. Maybe there’s still time to hit the mall and pick up another gift before Friday’s holiday party against the Sabres.