Islanders Ink Tambellini, Bergenheim
POSTED: 6:02 pm EDT July 16,
2008
Uniondale, NY -- (Sports Network) - The New York Islanders signed forwards Jeff Tambellini and Sean Bergenheim to two-year contracts, the team announced Wednesday.Tambellini agreed to a deal worth a total of $1.175 million. The contract will pay him $550,000 in 2008-09 and $625,000 in 2009-10. "We're extremely happy that we have Jeff as a member of the Islanders organization for the next two years," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "We know that Jeff will come to training camp in shape and ready to compete in September and we look forward to it." Tambellini, 24, split time last season between the Islanders and the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the American Hockey League. He had one goal and three assists in 31 games for the Islanders and led the Sound Tigers with 38 goals and 38 assists in just 57 contests. The 76 points set a club record for a single season. The Calgary, Alberta native was originally a first-round selection (27th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft and has four goals and 13 assists in 79 career NHL games over parts of three seasons with the Kings and Islanders. A two-time AHL All-Star, Tambellini was acquired from Los Angeles along with defenseman Denis Grebeshkov in exchange for forward Mark Parrish and defenseman Brent Sopel on March 8, 2006. Bergenheim's new deal is worth $1.725 million. He will earn $800,000 in 2008-09 and $925,000 in 2009-10. The 24-year-old native of Helsinki, Finland compiled 10 goals and 12 assists in 78 games last season for the Islanders. "We're very happy to have Sean locked up for two years," Snow said. "He's another young player who we're excited to see at training camp and competing." A former first-round choice (22nd overall) by the Islanders in the 2002 draft, Bergenheim has 15 goals and 18 helpers in 124 career NHL games. The Islanders also announced centermen Jeremy Colliton and Ben Walker have agreed to accept their one-year, two-way qualifying offers. Both players split time between Bridgeport and New York last season.
Copyright 2008 Courtesy of The Sports Network.












