What about Brad?

With a flurry of recent signings by the Carolina Hurricanes, the Albany River Rats are looking to be a good team. Carolina has signed a number of players with NHL experience to two way contracts, including Brad Isbister, who signed on Wednesday afternoon. When I heard that Carolina was going after him, I didn't understand. When I read that they had signed him, I was confused and slightly upset that the Canes didn't aim a little higher (read: Anson Carter) in free agency. As soon as I got to the part about the financials, it all made sense. His deal is for $600k if he plays at the NHL level, and $95k at the AHL level.

Jim Rutherford, after singing Isbister's praises, said:

Brad adds size and depth to our corps of forwards. His NHL experience will be an asset to our organization this season.(source)

and

We've got quite a few guys signed, probably to the point right now where maybe (there are) a couple more than we thought, especially when we look at the whole organization with how many slots we have in Albany.(source)

Those two quotes, and the two-way nature of his contract sort of suggest that Isbister would be headed to Albany to beef up the roster. However, I can't be so sure. Rutherford also said:

It's been a little bit of a puzzle, because this guy has the size and the strength and the skating ability and all the tools to be a really good player. He's never reached the level of his potential that people would have expected. You'd like to think at his age, and coming into a team like ours, that he can get back to where he was when he scored 22 goals.(source)

Peter Laviolette coached Isbister for two seasons with the New York Islanders during which Isbister tallied 61 points (27/34) in 132 total games. Lavi said:

I know he can score goals. We've got to put him in a position where he can succeed. He can skate, he can shoot, he's got experience. The fact that we picked him up, it gives him an opportunity to get back. He had a tough year last year, so it gives him an opportunity to get back to those numbers.(source)

At the end of the day, I just don't know what any of this means. I have no idea what to expect.

Meanwhile, Anson Carter is still on vacation.

Also, on Thursday morning, Carolina re-signed tough guy Stephen Peat to a one-year deal. There is absolutely no question in that matter. He'll play in Albany.

There are, by the way, some new developments regarding sweater numbers. More on that later.