New York Islanders re-sign enforcer Ross Johnston

In their second act of the day, the New York Islanders have re-signed LW Ross Johnston for 4 years

NHL free agency has slowed down a bit after its first week. After signing KHL star Jan Kovar earlier in the day, the New York Islanders re-signed left wing Ross Johnston. The deal is for four years and is worth $1 million annually. Johnston scored six points in 24 games this season. If this underwhelms you, it’s because his primary role is that of an enforcer.

In said 24 games, he picked up 62 penalty minutes. This means Johnston had an average of 2.6 penalty minutes per game. That’s over a minor penalty per game, on average. Re-signing a player who takes a penalty a game sends a message about the sort of roster the Islanders are trying to create.

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Johnston also played 38 games with their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he managed three goals and eight assists for 11 points. Johnston’s reputation in the AHL dwarfs his time served in the box in the majors.

He served an incredible 113 penalty minutes this year in the AHL, which is just about three penalty minutes per game. Whether or not the Islanders decide to give him a regular spot in the lineup still remains to be seen.

Johnston has been with the Islanders organization since he was signed in 2015. He has hopped up and down leagues, playing with the Islanders, their AHL affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers and former ECHL affiliate Missouri Mavericks at different points in his career. The Charlottetown native stands at 6’5″ and weighs 232 pounds.

Additional Analysis

$1 million might seem like a lot, but theoretically, the Islanders could bury his contract in the AHL. Johnston’s four-year deal, however, likely means he will stay up in the NHL. An additional bonus of his four-year deal is if the Islanders put him on waivers (which they’d have to do to send him to the AHL), it makes it less likely that he’ll get claimed.

Next: Islanders 2018 Offseason Outlook

This is obviously not a major signing, yet it still can often define the philosophy of a team. Not everyone keeps an enforcer around anymore, but the Islanders are staying committed.