Stephen Gionta came to Islanders training camp on a PTO as insurance. Unfortunately for Gionta, he got injured during camp. He ended up signing with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. After playing seven games in the AHL, the Islanders signed Gionta and recalled him to the big club.
The fear with the Gionta signing was that he would block a young forward from making the team. Unfortunately this was not an issue with general manager Garth Snow's Bridgeport roster.
Gionta's debut came in Jack Capuano's final game as Islanders head coach. While his sample size was small, the 33-year-old's presence in the lineup helped as the team went unbeaten in his first five games and 17-9 overall. His overall energy and his role as an agitator sparked the fourth line when Cal Clutterbuck was out.
I can totally see Gionta coming into camp once again on a PTO with a good shot of making the team as a spare forward.
2016-17 grade: B
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