Unrestricted free agent Ben Holmstrom has signed a one-year, two-way deal with the New York Islanders.
Last season was Holmstrom's first with the Checkers. The veteran center was named an alternate captain prior to the start of the season and turned in 20 points (5g, 15a) and 92 penalty mintues in 62 games with Charlotte.
Holmstrom was a key part of a veteran core that kept the Checkers together and competitive through a tough season. That leadership was most evident at the tail end of the season, where Holmstrom played through what was essentially a broken leg.
From our offseason profile of Holmstrom:
Just before the buzzer to end the second period in front of a record crowd at Time Warner Cable Arena on Saturday night, Holmstrom dove to block a shot, immediately appeared to be in considerable pain and needed assistance to leave the ice while appreciative teammates tapped their sticks.
Somewhat surprisingly, he took the opening faceoff to start the third period of that game and was back at it for Sunday afternoon’s equally low-stakes rematch. He would have made it through, too, if not for one final knock to his injured leg, one suffered when he again extended it to block a shot with one minute remaining in a one-goal game, that ended his season one week early.
“It didn’t feel good on Sunday at all but I still tried to play, then I felt it completely break on the last shift when I was just standing in front of the net there,” [Holmstrom] said. “That’s kind of the cherry on the top of the season.”
They were both key plays in games that were anything but.
Holmstrom is the first from this season's group of unrestricted free agents to sign elsewhere.
