Sound Tigers Captain Ben Holmstrom Re-Signs with Islanders

The news (and fan debate) of the Casey Cizikas five-year extension takes the headlines, but the New York Islanders also announced the re-signing of Bridgeport Sound Tigers captain Ben Holmstrom to another one-year, two-way contract.

General Fanager reports it as a $185,000 AHL salary and $800,000 NHL salary.

Holmstrom, 29, appeared in all 76 regular season games and three playoff games last season in his first year with the Sound Tigers, who named him captain at the beginning of the season.

As Michael Fornabaio of the Connecticut Post noted in the Soundin' Off blog:

Holmstrom would be only the second Sound Tiger to serve as captain in more than one season (Mark Wotton). He's already played more games (76, plus three playoff) as captain than all but two in team history (Wotton, 368 plus 10, and Alan Letang, 76 plus seven).

Holmstrom, a center who played all four years at the University of Massachussetts-Lowell, has a handful of NHL experience (seven games, all with the Philadelphia Flyers between 2010-12). He's now amassed 394 AHL games with three different teams, totaling 166 points (58 goals, 108 assists).

So as with yesterday's re-signing of Bracken Kearns, this is mostly about providing (continued) leadership from the many young players who will populate the Sound Tigers roster. But on a two-way deal, there's always the possibility for more.