The team on Long Island is adding some organizational depth up front.
On Tuesday, the New York Islanders signed forward Marc Gatcomb to a one-year, two-way contract. The deal will carry a $775,000 cap hit through the 2024-25 season, with a $125,000 minor-league salary. PuckPedia was the first to report the signing.
It is the first NHL contract in Gatcomb’s professional career. Since finishing a four-year career at the University of Connecticut, the Woburn, Massachusetts native signed an American Hockey League contract with the Abbotsford Canucks, the Vancouver Canucks primary affiliate, in 2022.
After trying to find his footing during his rookie season in 2022-23, where he also spent time with the Kalamazoo Wings of the ECHL, Gatcomb had a respectable year in Abbotsford. In 61 games, he notched nine goals and 20 points, including a goal in the Canucks’ six Calder Cup Playoff games.
In 106 AHL games, Gatcomb has notched 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points.
While with the Huskies, he was one of the leaders for UConn. Though he didn’t have the offensive output of an All-American, Gatcomb was a strong presence for the Hockey East program. As a senior, he served as an alternate captain, posting a career-high 21 points–eight goals and 13 assists–in 36 games. In four seasons, he played 124 games, scoring 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points.
Gatcomb also played at the prep level for the Frederick Gunn School in Connecticut after a couple of years playing high school hockey in his hometown.
With the signing, the Islanders have 40 players on the books with standard player contracts. According to CapFriendly, the team will have less than $1 million in projected cap space.
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