Berard to Tryout at Islanders Training Camp

We've seen the news in a few spots over the last few days that former Islander (and 1997 Calder Trophy winner) Bryan Berard will be in camp on a tryout basis.

Surprising to some is the fact that Berard hasn't hooked up with another team but without Tom Poti, the Islanders are going to be looking for another puck-moving defenseman. That certainly suits Berard's style of play.

There are reports that Berard has a bad back and that fact is what may have scared off the other teams in the league. Also, let's not forget that the man lost most of the sight in his right eye in 2000 while playing for the Maple Leafs. But he's been effective at other stops in the league and has put up some pretty good numbers on the offensive end. He'd never be described as any kind of defensive stalwart but he may be able to find a role on the power play for Ted Nolan's Islanders.

Berard also received a two-year suspension from international competition before the 2006 Olympics for use of a banned substance, which he claimed was unintentional. It was doubtful that he'd even have been invited to play for the US in the games, but he was suspended and
ruled ineligible nonetheless.

Perhaps a new start back at home is exactly what Berard needs. Should he make the squad, I wonder if he will make an offer to last season's late-arriving hero, Wade Dubielewicz, for sweater number 34.

There are two other former Islander defenseman who remain unsigned as training camps approach. Janne Niinimaa looks like he is heading to Sweden and Brent Sopel is still holding out for a NHL deal. With many Russian players choosing to go back home, there have also been a handful of European-based NHLers who are heading to places like Sweden and Finland to play this season. Count former Islanders winger Juraj Kolnik as one of them. He will be playing next season in Switzerland.