Garth Snow has some work ahead of him in the signing department when it comes to prospects.
The deadline to sign some of these players is June 1st 2008 or they can re-enter the draft.
Let me give everyone a little background so we all have some ground work as to how this works under the new cba.
Background rules:
A player not signed by his NHL team within two years of being drafted can re-enter the draft, as long as he is 20 years old or younger at the time of the subsequent draft. Players over 20 become unrestricted free agents.
NCAA players are an exception: NHL teams retain the rights to a college player until 30 days after the player has left college.
A team that does not sign a first-round draft pick is awarded a compensatory pick in a future draft upon losing the rights to that player. A player who has been drafted a second time cannot re-enter.
Recent Changes:
European Players - Prior to 2005, NHL teams retained the rights to a European player until that player turned 31. Drafted Europeans must now be signed within two years, the same as North Americans, or the team loses the rights to the player.
Note-This does not apply to Russian Prospects because there is no transfer agreement, some reports list Russian Prospects have three years to be signed but that seems incorrect.
NCAA Players - As of 2004, 18-year-old players from NCAA Division I schools can be drafted and retain their college eligibility as long as they don't play for a pro team or hire an agent.
In previous years, an 18-year-old who opted into the draft lost his NCAA eligibility.
Islander prospect who need to be signed by June 1st:
RW: Robin Figren-3/70/2006-Needs to be signed before June 1st. (Oil Kings)
LW: Kim Johansson-5/141/2006-Swedish league prospect (Malmo), June 1st deadline.
C: Tomas Marcinko-4/115/2006-Needs to be signed before June 1st. (Barrie)
G: Stefan Ridderwall-6/173/12006-Swedish prospect, four teams and WJC in 07-08.
Must be signed by June 1st.
Expiring contracts/cannot re-enter draft/Restricted free agent.
C: Luciano Aquino-7/210/2005-signed a three year entry level contract 9/25/05-RFA
LW: Masi Marjamaki-5/144/2005-Signed three year contract with Isles 8/18/05-RFA
C: Frans Nielsen-3/87/2002-Signed two year contract 5/15/06-RFA
C: Ben Walter-5/160/2004-Signed a three-year contract. August 31, 2005-RFA
Russian Prospects/players listed by Isles as prospects to date:
C:Evgeny Tunik-2/53/2003-Russian prospect/exempt or UFA, signed Bridgeport 10/7/05.
RW:Igor Volkov-8/246/2003-Russian prospect/exempt or UFA.
D:Alexei Stonkus-6/189/2002-Russian prospect, exempt or UFA.
Note-Sergei Ogorodnikov as of August 2007 was signed but decided not to report to camp with team deciding between a buyout or holding onto his rights.
Dimitri Chernykh could still be prospect depending on transfer agreement but not listed by club as such.
Dimitri Upper-Listed as UFA last summer by NHL.com/hard to say with transfer agreement but he's thirty years old and well off the radar.
Other:
D: Emile Axelsson-7/210/2004-Not signed, UFA but listed on Isles prospect page, played for Västerås IK in 07-08.
College players who do not have to be signed by June 1st:
RW: Brian Day-6/171/2006-College prospect, Boston College.
RW:Shea Guthrie-3/76/2005-College prospect, Clarkson University.
RW:Rhett Rakhshani-4/100/2006-College prospect Denver.
C: Doug Rodgers-4/119/2006-College prospect-Harvard.
D:Tyrell Mason-6/180/2005-College prospect, Clarkson University.
D:Shane Simms-5/126/2006-College prospect, 2007-08 Ohio State University NCAA.
G:Jase Weslosky-4/108/2006-College prospect-St Cloud State.