Islanders forward Sean Bergenheim has singed a two year deal according to Greg Logan’s Blog.
One might think that this is simply Garth Snow tidying up some lose ends, but isn’t it a little bit suspect that he locks up two important pieces in terms of the “youth movement” and rebuild days after Nolan’s departure? What’s also great is that Bergenheim and his new agent progressed quickly in talks with the Islanders. Both contracts are great values and the length allows both players the chance to show the club, should they improve – they could be worth much more in the long term.
Per the Islanders release:
The New York Islanders and forward Sean Bergenheim have agreed to a two-year contract worth $1.725 million. The energetic forward will earn $800,000 in 2008-09 and $925,000 in 2009-10. Bergenheim has also voluntarily made a large donation to the Islanders Inspire.
“We’re very happy to have Sean locked up for two years,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. “He’s another young player who we’re excited to see at training camp and competing.”
Last season, Bergenheim played in 78 games with the Islanders and scored ten goals with 12 assists for 22 points. Bergenheim scored eight of his ten goals in the final 34 games of the season. He also finished second on the Islanders in hits with 138. Bergenheim has played in 124 career NHL games over the course of three seasons and in that time has scored 15 goals with 18 assists for 33 points.
Bergenheim was originally drafted by the Islanders in the first round (22nd overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.
This on the heals of Jeff Tambellini being locked up two more years, taking less than his qualifiying offer in exchange for a one-way contract.
Per the Islanders release on Tambellini:
The New York Islanders and forward Jeff Tambellini have agreed to a two-year, one-way contract worth a total of $1.175 million. The contract will pay him $550,000 in 2008-09 and $625,000 in 2009-10.
Tambellini split his season between the Islanders and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League last season.
“We’re extremely happy that we have Jeff as a member of the Islanders organization for the next two years,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. “We know that Jeff will come to training camp in shape and ready to compete in September and we look forward to it.”
In 31 games with the Islanders in 2007-08, Tambellini scored a goal with three assists for four points. With Bridgeport, Tambellini led the Sound Tigers with 38 goals and 38 assists for 76 points in 57 games and set a new team record for points scored. The two-time AHL All-Star, who finished tied for second in goals scored in the AHL last season, has played in a total of 79 NHL games and has scored four goals with 13 assists for 17 points.
Also signed were forwards Jeremy Colliton and Ben Walter who each agreed to their two-way qualifying offers.
Can someone, for the life of me, explain what Tambellini has done to get a 2 year, one-way contract extension? He has looked awful in the pros.