New York Islanders Assign Hamonic, Niederreiter Along with 17 Others to AHL Bridgeport

By Christian Arnold (CA_NYHockey)

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The New York Islanders have assigned 19 players to their minor league affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, ahead of Saturday’s CBA deadline that would see the NHL lockout for the third time in commissioner Gary Bettman’s Tenure.

Among the players starting their season in the AHL are defensemen Travis Hamonic and former first round draft pick Nino Niederreiter. Hamonic has not played in the minors since 2010, when he played 19 games for the Sound Tigers before being called up by the Islanders. Since then he has become one of the Islanders top defensemen.

Just a week ago Hamonic told the Sporting News that he was confident that a new CBA would be worked out and that he had not even thought about playing in the AHL.

“It’s a situation, we’ll cross the road when it comes,” he said. When we get there, but as of right now, my mindset is getting ready for the NHL season and getting ready for training camp. That’s where I’m at right now.”

Niederreiter was assigned to Bridgeport last season for a six game rehab stint and put up three goals and an assist for four points. The start in the minors could work in favor of the young Swiss forward, who scored just one goal last season in 55 NHL games.

The other 17 players that were assigned include Casey Cizikas, David Ullstrom, Matt Donovan, Calvin de Haan, Anders Nilsson, Kevin Poulin, and Aaron Ness, who all saw time in the NHL last season.

Marc Cantin, Jason Clark, Brandon DeFazio, Mike Halmo, Brock Nelson, Johan Sundstrom, John Persson, Kirill Kabanov, Jon Landry, and Blair Riley were also assigned to the Sound Tigers.