Islanders Sign Brett Gallant to Entry-Level Contact

[NJDevils17]

The New York Islanders announced today that forward Brett Gallant has agreed to terms on a one-year, entry-level contract.

Gallant, 24, is in the midst of his fourth professional season and third year with the Islanders American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. The Summerside, PEI native has appeared in 37 games this season, registering 174 penalty minutes, ranking him third in the AHL.

Over the past three seasons, Gallant has skated in 77 games with the Sound Tigers, totaling three goals, one assist and 327 penalty minutes. He’s also spent time with the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL, as well as the Elmira Jackals and Reading Royals of the ECHL. Over his four professional seasons, Gallant has recorded nine points (five goals, four assists) with 649 penalty minutes in 143 combined games.

Prior to turning professional, Gallant skated for both the Saint John Sea Dogs of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and for his hometown’s Summerside Western Capitals in the Maritime Junior Hockey League. Gallant had a breakout year in his final season of junior hockey, recording 73 points (24 goals, 49 assists) and 235 penalty minutes in 50 games with Summerside during the 2008-09 campaign, en route to the Kent Cup title.

[lilburtis9363]

Awesome!! Wish he was on the rags. He's gonna tear **** up!

[Humpzilla]

Well f'n Earned & Deserved! Probably the best news of this type since Jon Mirasty got signed to an AHL deal and got a chance to play a preseason game in the show.

[Big_Fat_Dan]

Excellent news, he has been tearing up the AHL, hope he gets a shot.

[Oilfield316]

Awesome news!! He deserves that contract!

[ValJamesRules]

Jeezum crow are the freakin Isles tough! The toughest in the league, no doubt, and add Gallant to the list of guys at their disposal...look out!

And they are playing pretty decent hockey right now. Tavares and Moulson have to be pretty psyched that they have got plenty of protection.

[JackalsKnuckles]

Incredible. Gallant is fearless. I am psyched over this.

Now lets hope he gets to play and is not scratched all the time. I can't think of a more deserving guy to get the call.

[FurnaceFace]

Nice. Cant wait to see him in the nhl. He's probably the main reason I check out the ahl forum

[Shawn33]

****in pumped about this signing. Hopefully they'll get him a longer deal after this year.

[NewNHLHater]

Man the Islanders are just piling up on the toughness. Gotta love it!!

Is an entry level contract an automatic two way?

Gallant is fearless and very entertaining with his wide open style of fighting. Pretty much about a carbon copy of Rechlicz. Fact the two of them have had some awesome battles in the AHL over the last two years.

If the fighting keeps up I may have to break down and buy center ice again.

[acdcrocksno1]

Brilliant signing!

[I like Boobs]

Another tough PEI boy getting a break in the big show! Great job, glad to see that the Islanders signed him.

[Broons66]

Good signing. Usually check the AHL threads to see his scraps. Is he related to the Gallant that played for the Wings in the 80's-90's?

[I like Boobs]

Not closely. Gallant is a common family surname in the Maritimes, and especially in PEI. They are both from the Summerside area though... Turk (Gerard) did coach him with the Saint John Seadogs. Turk now is an assistant coach with the Habs.

[Y Ddraig Goch]

He has two brothers that play a similar style game to him. Brad and Alex.

I'm pretty sure he's not related to Gerard though.

But Rory, Turk didn't coach him in Saint John. Brett's last year was a couple of years before Turk became coach.