Bryan Berard has agreed to rejoin the New York Islanders as a training camp invitee.
| GM | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM |
| 11 | 0 | 3 | 3 | -4 | 8 |
Berard, 30, will compete for a job on the Islanders' blue line when camp opens Sept. 14.
"I loved my time on Long Island and I have great memories of how everyone treated me during my first three years in the NHL," Berard said. "I'm coming off a tough season when I was injured and I know I have a lot to prove. The Islanders offered me this opporunity and I'm going to repay them by making the most of it. I'm healthy and I'm determined to show [coach] Ted Nolan and the team that I can help the Islanders have a great season."
Berard, who was selected first overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 1995 NHL entry draft and then traded to the Islanders in January 1996 for Wade Redden, beat out Jarome Iginla to winn the Calder Trophy with the Islanders in 1996-97. He spent the last two seasons in Columbus playing for Gerard Gallant, who is now a member of Nolan's coaching staff. In 565 career NHL games with the Islanders, Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Blue Jackets, Berard has 71 goals and 230 assists.
"You can never have enough skill in your organization," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said. "Bryan Berard still has tremendour upside as a defenseman and a power-play point man. We're happy to give him this opportunity to try and make our club."
Berard played for Team USA at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. After he was clipped in the right eye by a Marian Hossa stick during a game in 2000, Berard had seven surgeries to improve his vision to meet NHL standards so he could return. In 2004, he received the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to the game.
"Bryan is definitely worthy of a long look from us," Nolan said. "You're always looking for depth on defense, and Bryan is a defenseman with excellent skating ability and someone who can run a power play. Gerard Gallant spoke highly of him, our staff likes his competitiveness and I know our fans understand how talented Bryan is. I'm looking forward to him showing us what he can do."
Source: ESPN.com
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