Islanders Sign Martin Biron!

The Isles sign former Islander-killer, Martin Biron

From beating the ever-loving crap out of the Islanders on Buffalo and Philly to going with: "If you beat them that much, join them."

Here's a signing I definitely did not see coming. What this means is Rick DiPietro WILL NOT be ready for the season. It seems the Islanders will attempt to imitate the Bruins of 2008-09 by platooning their goalies. With 3 true NHL starters in the organization, it will certainly be an interesting season for former goalie and current Head Coach, Scott Gordon. How he manages the rotation and whether or not DiPietro should prove to be very telling over the next few months.

We've been hearing since the beginning of this year that "The Rick" would be ready to start skating in the first few weeks of next month. With the signing of Biron, that simply doesn't seem to be a possibility anymore. Could there be a major setback in his rehabilitation? It would seem so. Unfortunate. after so much postulating that Rick would be ready for training camp in Saskatoon.

ISLANDERS AGREE TO TERMS WITH MARTIN BIRON

Goalie Signs One-Year Contract

UNIONDALE, NY, July 22, 2009 – The New York Islanders today announced that they have agreed to terms on a one-year contract with goaltender, Martin Biron.

Biron appeared in 55 games with the Philadelphia Flyers last season, posting a 29-19-5 record and a 2.76 goals against average. The Lac St. Charles, QC native led the Flyers to the Eastern Conference Finals of the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs, recording a 9-8 record and a 2.97 goals against average.

“Adding Marty gives us three bona-fide number one goalies,” said Garth Snow, General Manager, New York Islanders. “We learned about the importance of stability in our line-up from last year and he now allows us to have another quality starter.”

Biron has played a total of 433 games in the NHL and comes to the Islanders with a career record of 199-162-25-20-25 (W-L-T-OT-SO), a goals against average of 2.59 and a save percentage of .912. The 6’3, 180 pound net-minder began his career with the Buffalo Sabres where he played parts of seven seasons with both the Sabres and the team’s American Hockey League affiliate at the time, the Rochester Americans. He currently ranks second on Buffalo’s All-Time List in shutouts (18) and third in game played (300) and wins (134).