Garth Snow recently signed centers Andy Hilbert and Rob Hisey to one-year, two-way contracts for the upcoming season. Islander fans are familiar with Andy Hilbert as he spent a few years with the club after being let go to free agency last summer. He ended up signing with the Minnesota Wild and spent most of the year with their farm team, only appearing in 4 NHL games.
However, Hisey has yet to play an NHL game but has the potential to be a future goal scorer for the Islanders.
Born on September 24, 1984, Hisey will be turning 26 in about a month and will likely be joining the Bridgeport Sound Tigers at the start of the season unless he has a very impressive training camp. He was seen splitting last season with the CHL Tulsa Oilers, where he posted 19 goals, 22 assists and 47 points in 24 games, and the Phoenix Coyotes AHL affiliate, the Springfield Falcons, where he notched 11 goals, 14 assists and 25 points in 37 games played. As you can see, in both leagues he was close to producing on a goal/point per game basis.
Hisey also has experience in the OHL, his first season coming with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in 2001-2002. The following season he only appeared in 23 games with the Greyhounds and put up 25 points before being traded to the Erie Otters, where he put away 49 points in 50 games, compiling for a 74 point season. His best year came with the Otters in 2003-2004, having scored 38 goals, 58 assists and 96 points in 63 games. The following year in 2004-2005, he continued his offensive output with another season split with two teams: the Otters and the Barrie Colts. In 25 games with the Otters, he recorded 34 points and then posted another 52 points in 41 games with the Colts for a combined 86 points on the year. He led each of his OHL teams in scoring in those three seasons.
Many hockey fans might not recognize his name despite his offensive talents, but I am willing to bet that many have seen this video from the Colts’ skills competition and remember it as one of the most creative shootout attempts in the past decade:
He also scored another goal while spending time in the Finnish Elite League that turned some heads as well:
And now the Oakville, Ontario native has found his way to a pro-contract with the New York Islanders. He may just be a quality depth forward in the minors, but you never know. He could be another experiment that turns out with positive results as Matt Moulson and Rob Schremp have done so far.
Either way, the Islanders have added a flashy forward that has the potential to score some highlight reel goals. Don’t be surprised if you see him wearing an Islanders uniform at some point during the 2010-2011 season.
-Rob McGowan