The Bridgeport Islanders today lost forward Tyce Thompson as he signed with Barys Astana of the KHL. Thompson, this past season, played in 65 games with Bridgeport.
The New York Islanders signed forward Tyce Thompson to a one-year, two-way contract on Wednesday, according to PuckPedia. The deal is worth $775,000 in the NHL and $175,000 in the minors, with $200,000 guaranteed.
When Tyce Thompson woke up on Sunday morning, he did so to a phone call from Dan MacKinnon, the assistant general manager of the New Jersey Devils, informing him he’d been traded.
The New Jersey Devils have been known as a franchise that knows when to fold ’em. Tom Fitzgerald has traded players who are talented but don’t fit the mold anymore.
NHL head coaches have to hire good assistants. They have to set an overarching philosophy, juggle lineup configurations, and do the kind of “man management” that is impossible to track statistically.