Bergenheim, Gervais amongst six receiving qualifying offers

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK (TICKER) —Left wing Sean Bergenheim and defenseman Bruno Gervais were among six players who were extended qualifying offers by the New York Islanders on Wednesday.

Also receiving qualifying offers were centers Jeremy Colliton, Ben Walter and Frans Nielsen and left wing Jeff Tambellini. All six players become restricted free agents if not signed by July 1.

Bergenheim appeared in 78 games with the Islanders last season, registering 10 goals and 22 points.

Gervais saw action in 60 games for the Isles last season, collecting 13 assists.

NYIFORLIFE.com REACTION: Bergie and Gervais are obvious favorites of management. Colliton, Nielsen, and Tambellini all should have expanded roles with the team in 2008-09.

Walter is interesting. Clearly, he is a depth guy that will be counted on to carry the flag in Bridgeport, but he proved he is not out of place in the NHL. Since he has been qualified, it means that if the Isles want to send Walter (or any of the others who were qualified) to Bridgeport that they are going to have to leave him exposed to waivers. He could be claimed by anyone in the NHL.

More interesting are the guys who were let go. The Isles let go of three defensemen: Aaron Johnson, Drew Fata and Matthew Spiller. Also allowed to become a free agent was Bridgeport fan favorite Steve Regier.

COLLITON JOINS ISLANDERS

New York Islanders
Feb 6, 2008, 12:31 PM EST

Center Jeremy Colliton was recalled from the Bridgeport Sound Tigers on an emergency basis and joined the Islanders for practice at Iceworks this morning.

It is an opportunity Colliton has earned with his tenacity and perseverance after undergoing shoulder surgery last season. In 47 games with the Sound Tigers this season, Colliton has matched up against the opponents' top lines and has seen significant penalty killing time. He has six goals and three assists and is second on the Sound Tigers with two shorthanded goals.

Colliton played 19 games for the Islanders in the 2005-06 season and one game the following year. He has recorded one goal and one assist in the NHL.

The native of Blackie, Alberta was originally drafted by the Islanders in the second round of the 2003 NHL Draft. In 158 career games over three seasons with the Sound Tigers, Colliton is 37-47-84. In junior, he was a member of Team Canada at the 2003 and 2004 World Junior Championships and was captain of the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League.