New York Islanders Add Defenseman Logan Stanley On One Year Deal

Late Blue Line Addition

The New York Islanders have made a late move to bolster their defense. Just days before the regular season begins, the team announced the signing of defenseman Logan Stanley to a one year contract.

The left shot defenseman is 28 years old and a native of Kitchener, Ontario. He brings size and professional experience to the Islanders blue line. He joins a team looking to rebuild its defensive identity under new leadership.

Up and Down Season in Buffalo

Stanley spent the end of last season with the Buffalo Sabres after being traded there at the deadline. He was originally drafted 18th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 2016.

During the regular season, Stanley put up career high numbers. He finished the year with seven goals and 26 points. At the time, he was finishing up a two year contract worth 2.5 million dollars.

However, his time in Buffalo ended on a difficult note. Stanley struggled during the postseason, appearing in eight playoff games. He recorded 19 penalty minutes and finished with a minus two rating. He was eventually scratched for the final four games of Buffalo's second round playoff loss to the Montreal Canadiens.

Fresh Start Under DeBoer

The Islanders are desperate to turn things around after missing the postseason for the last two years. The franchise hired Peter DeBoer as their new head coach to guide this transition. Stanley will look to secure a regular spot in DeBoer's lineup.

Stanley also brings some international experience to New York. He represented Team Canada at the 2016 world junior championships, where the team finished in fourth place.

The Islanders will kick off their new campaign very soon. They open the regular season on Wednesday on the road against the Toronto Maple Leafs. This signing gives them another option on the left side of the defense as they prepare for a tough opening matchup.