Islanders Sign Mitch Fritz, Three Others

[Thrillhouse]

The New York Islanders have announced that the club has signed Kurtis McLean, Chris Lee, and Mitch Fritz all to one-year, two-way contracts and goaltender Peter Mannino to a one-year entry-level deal.

McLean stepped up as one of the most consistent members of the American Hockey League's Eastern Conference Champion Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins last season. A graduate of Norwich University, McLean compiled career high numbers centering one of the Penguins top lines last season with 22 goals and 32 assists for 54 points in 76 games. The 27 year-old Kirkland, ON native also had 19 points throughout Wilkes-Barre/Scranton's playoff run. McLean has spent his pro career within the Pittsburgh Penguins' organization with both their AHL and ECHL affiliate. The past three seasons in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, McLean has scored 42 goals and 59 assists for 101 points in 163 contests. In 57 games with the Wheeling Nailers, Pittsburgh's ECHL affiliate, McLean totaled 42 goals and 37 assists for 79 points.

Lee, a 27-year old defenseman who spent the 2007-08 season with the Iowa Stars of the AHL has seen action with four different teams over the course of his career. Last season, Lee scored seven goals, 28 assists and 42 penalty minutes in 68 games with the Stars. In 104 career AHL games, Lee has registered 11 goals and 35 assists for 46 points to go along with 62 penalty minutes. Since 2004-05, Lee has spent parts of seasons with the Albany River Rats, Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights, respectively.

Fritz brings a total of 234 AHL games over the course of eight seasons to the Islanders' organization, totaling 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points while compiling 703 penalty minutes. Throughout his career, Fritz has played for the Lowell Lock Monsters, Hamilton Bulldogs, St. John's Flames, Milwaukee Admirals, Worcester Sharks, Springfield Falcons, and Hartford Wolf Pack. The 27 year-old was a part of the New York Rangers AHL affiliate last season but was hindered by injury, playing in only 11 games, registering a goal and four assists with 34 penalty minutes. Fritz is the winner of the AHL's Yannick Dupre Memorial Award for the player who gives the most to the community in 2006.

Mannino graduated from the University of Denver this spring after playing for the Pioneers for four straight seasons. Last season, Mannino a native from Farmington Hills, Michigan, played in 40 of the team's 41 contests and had a 25-14-1 record with a 2.27 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. The 24 year-old has played in 103 contests over his career at Denver, ranking first in school history in shutouts (15), second in save percentage (.917), and third in goals against average (2.35) and wins (63). As a freshman, Mannino led Denver to a National Championship in 2005.

[Snipes19]

Cool to see Mitch Fritz get signed. I'm sure that he will stay in the AHL, but at least he adds some toughness to the organization nonetheless. Now only if the Isles would sign Brennan (or any other HW) and keep him in the NHL while Fritz handles the enforcing job in the 'A'...

[Brash_Fan]

The addition of Fritz most definately is indicating that Isles intend to keep Brennan in the NHL.

[Habs # 1]

Originally Posted by Brash_Fan

The addition of Fritz most definately is indicating that Isles intend to keep Brennan in the NHL.

Hope so... him and Orr will have some good battles.

[Purely_Purinton]

God dammit, Fritz is a monster and a damn cool guy, I wanted him to get a full year in at Hartford, but hopefully this means Lessard and Gratton will be back.

[caps05]

Originally Posted by Wes McSnipes

Cool to see Mitch Fritz get signed. I'm sure that he will stay in the AHL, but at least he adds some toughness to the organization nonetheless. Now only if the Isles would sign Brennan (or any other HW) and keep him in the NHL while Fritz handles the enforcing job in the 'A'...

Didn't Brennan get re-signed earlier in the offseason?

[Podollan]

Originally Posted by Wes McSnipes

Cool to see Mitch Fritz get signed. I'm sure that he will stay in the AHL, but at least he adds some toughness to the organization nonetheless. Now only if the Isles would sign Brennan (or any other HW) and keep him in the NHL while Fritz handles the enforcing job in the 'A'...

I agree with that-
Brennan for the Islanders,
a healthy Fritz along with Haley playing for bridgeport would be awesome.

[Purely_Purinton]

Originally Posted by Podollan

I agree with that-
Brennan for the Islanders,
a healthy Fritz along with Haley playing for bridgeport would be awesome.

Bridgeport has Wrecker too don't forget, should be a real tough team.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by caps05

Didn't Brennan get re-signed earlier in the offseason?

I don't think so. Last I checked he was an UFA.

[caps05]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

I don't think so. Last I checked he was an UFA.

You're right. I just did a search for him, and there's a thread in the AHL forum about him being on Bridgeport's list of UFA's that was just posted 2 weeks ago.

[Southpaw23]

Kip Brennan is NOT a New York Islander and after this signing of Mitch Fritz my strong guess is he wont be anytime soon. The organization will not carry Fritz, Brennan and Rechlicz!!!!! Looks like Fritzy will finally get a legit shot in preseason to stick with the big club. Maybe split the season up and down from Bridgey..

[blackngold]

I'm not so sure Bridgeport is gonna go with 2 legit heavyweights. Fritz may very well find himself playing on the big club at some point this season.

[Podollan]

So do you think they will play Fritz in the NHL ?
Fritz was injured a lot and was scratched a lot in Springfield.
I love him, he is a great guy! All you hear about him is positive and he was Top Fighter but I am not sure if he will see NHL ice time soon.
So do you think the Isles wont have a fighter dressed next season, or do you think they will play young Rechlicz?

I can see the Isles bringing Brennan back, he was very well liked by the SoundtigerS Fans and as far as I know also by the whole organization who understood his punch against Geoff Peters for exmaple. ( but I could be wrong).

They had Brennan, Haley, Morency, Bootland, Rullier, Ford, Spiller, Fata, Pitton, Labelle last year in the organization too and I am sure they will have a lot of tough players next season too. So I can see them signing Brennan .

Its not that they have soo many great skilled players that they cant afford playing Brennan.

[caps05]

I don't think Haley will ever go beyond Bridgeport/Utah to the NHL. Just a hunch. And neither will Morency.

[BGDDYKWL]

Originally Posted by Podollan

So do you think they will play Fritz in the NHL ?

Seriously doubt it. As you mentioned, he only played 11 games in the A last year. It's gotten to the point now where I just don't see guys like this, i.e. him, MacIntyre, Mirasty, Cormier, etc. ever making it to the NHL. And while I realize Peter Vandermeer finally got in a game or two, I'm talking more actually getting a shot as the team's heavy for the bulk of a season.