It figures, I layout a post with some salary figures and minutes later learn that another Islander has been bought out! Greg Logan has just posted that Islanders Center Shawn Bates is set to be bought out of the remainder of his contract tomorrow. Anyone who has followed the team for the past two seasons knew this was inevitable, it was just unacceptable for a player to be payed (gee, thanks Milbury) what Bates was making only to play a handful of games in that time span. Despite some of his salary remaining on the books for the next two seasons, there is now one less player and a bit of extra salary cap space to be dealt with. There is also the little fact only Islander fans can appreciate, the equipment staff should have some extra room in their budget for mouth pieces this year…..
Per Greg Logan’s blog:
The handwriting has been on the wall for the past couple seasons regarding the demise of Shawn Bates’ Islanders career. The Islanders are expected to make it official Friday morning when they announce their decision to buy out the remaining year of his contract.
Bates was scheduled to make $1.2 million, but under NHL buyout provisions, he will receiver two-thirds of that amount in equal installments of $400,000 spread over the next two seasons. Last season, Bates appeared in only two games, and he was limited to 48 games the previous season by a groin injury and hernia surgery.
Islanders general manager Garth Snow portrayed the move as another step toward a youth movement. “It was a tough decision because Shawn was a great Islander, and he scored some pretty big goals in the past,” Snow said. “It was a decision based primarily on creating a spot on the roster for a younger player.”
Homage to Bates:
The SHOT!
The FIGHT!
Thanks for the memories Shawn!
Those were some great times. Will they ever come back?