GIONTA SIGNS ONE-YEAR DEAL:
In wake of Cizikas' injury, Stephen Gionta signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Islanders on Saturday. The veteran, who came to Islanders training camp on a PTO (professional tryout) will fill in for Cizikas against the Predators on Saturday night.
"I want to thank the coaching staff and Mr. Lamoriello for the opportunity to continue playing," Gionta said. "To come in and let me stick around the practice, it turned into a contract and I couldn't be happier and excited for the opportunity tonight."
Gionta, 35, played 30 games last season for the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and scored five points (two goals and three assists). Gionta's season was marred by a pair of injuries, as he suffered a meniscus tear in his knee and later tore a labrum in his shoulder, which required surgery. Gionta was undeterred by the injuries and lack of offers over the summer, confident that an opportunity would present itself.
"I was convinced I'd be playing. After last year, I battled a couple pretty serious injuries and to come back I trained like I was playing," Gionta said. "To get the opportunity to come to camp on the PTO real late was something that I cherished just to come to camp and that turned into a contract and playing tonight, it's going to be fun."
The former New Jersey Devil has ties with Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello going back to the start of his pro career, but Lamoriello said it was Gionta's work ethic, not their prior relationship, that led to Saturday's two-way deal.
"He wasn't in our plans at all this year," Lamoriello said. "He asked to come to camp and certainly stuck with it the whole time. He is in great shape, does all the little things and we feel with this short period of time he can help. He'll go to Bridgeport and teach young players how to be pros. How to work and all the things he does himself without trying."
