New York Islanders reach agreement with Blake Comeau, avoid arbitration –NHL offseason Update
In a late re-signing manoeuvre by New York Islanders, who are topping the headlines at a time usually when the National Hockey League (NHL) is set to sleeping mode, agreed on mutual terms and conditions with forward player, Blake Comeau, and signed him to
a one-year contract on Tuesday, August 2nd, worth an estimated $2.5 million.
With the Eastern Conference franchise facing defeat in their proposed project to build a new stadium for the team in Nassau County, Islanders are facing a potential lockout.
After 2015, their lease on the current arena is set to expire, which would force them out onto the streets.
If a plan is not devised until then, Islanders could be seeing themselves relocated to another city.
New York was also prepared for an arbitration hearing, which was filed by Comeau, scheduled for Tuesday in Toronto. Avoiding it in the nick of time, Islanders agreed with the 25-year-old left winger and signed him back on.
Blake Comeau, a Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada native, was drafted as the 47th overall pick during round-two of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft pick by New York Islanders.
He has remained with his original draft team since the pick and has constantly improved in his game-play.
According to hockey analyst, Domini, from Lighthouse Hockey, this deal is a win-win situation for both sides.
“This is probably ideal for both sides (unless Comeau was hoping for a “core” length deal). Comeau is coming off a career year; he has another season to prove it’s repeatable before either side wades into something more lasting. Meanwhile, if he’s pushed
for ice time from the young prospect forwards, then both sides will have a better idea of where he fits next year at this time, when he’ll be eligible for restricted free agency again”, he said of the re-signing.
Comeau played his best season during the 2010-2011 timeframe in which he registered 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists) in 77 games.
It is likely that Islanders would be in favour of Comeau to continue his improvement for another year before they sign him on to a bigger and longer contract.
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