Islanders Extend Tryout Offers To Four Veterans

    The New York Islanders have extended their hand to four veteran players with tryout offers in an attempt to add some depth to what looks like a very thin roster at this point. Forwards Dean McAmmond and Krys Kolanos along with defenseman Anders Eriksson and goaltender Manny Legace will get a short look from the Isles brass and find out if their careers in the NHL are destined to continue. If they don't catch on with this club, it is very difficult to imagine they will be recieving offers elsewhere around the start of the season. Teams may come knocking during the middle of the season if injuries become a problem.

    37 year old Dean McAmmond spent last season in New Jersey putting up 17 points (8G-9A) in 62 games. Known for his speed and forechecking ability on the bottom two lines, McAmmond is good for no more than 20 points at this stage of his career.

    After only appearing in 21 NHL contests in the past five years, Krys Kolanos will be looking to stick with a big club. Even at only 29 years of age, this could be his last chance at a regular NHL job. He spent last season with Adirondack of the AHL notching 15 points (9G-6A) in 27 games.

    Anders Eriksson is looking to resurrect his career after only seeing 20 NHL games since 2008. He split the 20 games with the Rangers and Coyotes posting 5 assists with a +2 rating. Eriksson has put up good AHL numbers (49 points in 2009), but at age 35 he could be done in the NHL.

    The Islanders are potentially looking to do what they did last year with three goaltenders. "Franchise goaltender" Rick Dipietro isn't a sure bet to play any large chunk of the season due to his injury prone nature and the fact that the Isles wont want to play veteran Dwayne Roloson in 70+ games. At this stage of his career Manny Legace is a great inexpensive backup option that could allow the Islanders to let Dipietro come back at his own pace again without having to go with an unproven rookie such as Nate Lawson as the number two. This would also allow Lawson to develop in the AHL. Legace was a stopgap for a terrible Carolina Hurricanes team that greatly underperformed. In 28 games with Carolina, Legace went 10-7-5 with a .907 save percentage and 2.81 goals against average with one shutout.

-Dustin Lundberg