to end his offseason looking for free agents, Carolina Hurricanes signed Brad Isbister to one year deal this past Wednesday.
happy with his acquisition, defending Stanley Cup champions now have another threat to replace an injured player Cory Stillman, who, according to team president and general manager Jim Rutherford, you will be missing 40 games due to surgery earlier this month , to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder.
"This gives us a player who has shown in the National Hockey League who can achieve goals, Stillman injury opens up opportunities for many different players, and he is one of them." Coach Peter Laviolette said.
Isbister will be paid $ 600,000 a year on NHL level and $ 95,000 if it is sent to the Hurricanes' American Hockey League affiliates in Albany.
During the 8-year career, he has 99 goals and 107 assists with the Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers. Last season he had six goals and 17 assists last season for the Boston Bruins.
29-year-old Isbister has had the opportunity to train Laviolette for two seasons beginning in 2001-02 when they were on the island.
"He's big, strong, hard skating forward who can achieve goals," said Laviolette. Rutherford was not sure if they have completed the acquisition of players: "We have a lot of guys signed, probably where it may now (there) a couple more than we thought, especially when you look at the entire organization with so many places we have in Albany," said Rutherford .
In addition to the signing of forward Jesse Boulerice and Shane Willis along with defenseman David Tanabe, Laviolette is confident that they can maintain a core team that won the trophy, the players as team captain Rod Brind'Amour, defenseman Glen Wesley and forwards Justin Williams, Erik Cole and Eric Staal.
"There is a strong core of our team who came back, and to be honest, it is the strength of the summer," said Laviolette.
