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The Islanders have re-signed goaltender Thomas Greiss to a three-year extension. The contract is worth ten million dollars.
Greiss is in the final year of the two-year, three-million dollar deal he signed in the summer of 2015. Since taking over as the starting goaltender, Greiss is 6-2-3, with a 1.98 goal-against average, .936 save percentage and two shutouts.
This is a perfect contract length as it provides enough stability if or when Ilya Sorokin come overseas from Russia.
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Eric Boulton's helmet lies on top of the goal as the scratched players of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers take turns trying to knock it off, first from the red line, then to their blue line and finally all the way to the opposing goal line.
"We work them hard. Today was one of the easiest pregame practices because we have back-to-back games and some of those scratched players perhaps will be playing in that game." said assistant coach Matt Carkner. "It’s gotta be fun, you have to have fun coming to the rink. That’s what it is all about. Keeping guys happy even if they’re not in the lineup to understand that they are a big part of the team even if they’re not playing."
No one ended up knocking the helmet onto on the ice but forward Travis St. Denis, who was one of the scratched players for last Friday's game against the Hartford Wolf Pack scored the game-winning goal Saturday night the Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
Carkner retired following the 2015-16 and immediately began his coaching career. The Islanders signed Carkner to a three-year contract in 2012. The 6'5" defenseman played 75 games over two seasons with the team. He missed the majority of the 2014-15 season following back surgery. When he was cleared to play, the Isles sent him to Bridgeport.
"I hurt my back again during last season. That was an uphill battle. I didn't want to make it any worse." he said.
Carkner knew he wanted to stay in the game. "A few years ago when i saw the writing on the wall, you can’t play forever. I was thinking about what i was going to do. I had a lot of ideas. I still had the passion for the game. I love being a part of hockey in any aspect of the game. I thought coaching would be fun. But as I got closer to the end I had a good talk with Garth Snow and Doug Weight and they just recommended ‘don't worry about the work, just go in there and you’ll find that it’s the closer thing to playing and you will love it.’ So far, so good.”
So far the transition has been easy. "It’s been a pretty good transition actually, when you’re playing your heart and soul is in being on the ice and being with the guys, going through your daily routines, fighting the battles in game, living out those hockey moments you dream about when you were a kid" he said. "To transition to the other side I got to ease into it a little bit last year and the coaches were really great helping me along the way. So for me it’s been a fun transition, I got to play with some of the guys who I'm coaching now. I played with Eric Boulton in the NHL who is here now. So It’s a lot of fun and a learning experience. Getting eased into it and not thrown into the fire."
The first-year assistant coach has been up in the press box as an "eye in the sky" but Carkner is itching to come down below. "They are gonna ease me into it in the third period and go down to the bench with the guys. ‘Eye in the sky’ has its assets but at the end of the day I would love be on the bench. Brent (Thompson) and Bogy (Eric Boguniecki) have been very helpful in learning the game and their system. Once they bring in me onto the bench I should be in the flow and know what to tell the guys. Send the right message. I just cannot have popcorn on the bench."
Thompson, who became the Sound Tigers all-time winning head coach with 134 wins after Saturday's win has tasked Carkner with working with the young defensemen. "I think the best thing for young defensemen is to take the time down here and really learn the game to be super confident when you get to the next level" said Carkner. "It is a step. The more confident you are in your game the better and easier the transition it’s gonna be.
New York Islanders Blogger • 
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