Bit of a shocker out of Brooklyn.
Per Newsday, the Islanders are set to waive veteran winger PA Parenteau -- the same PA Parenteau they signed to a one-year, $1.25 million deal this summer, in the hope of reuniting him with captain John Tavares.
Update: Isles have made the news official.
But the reunion’s over. Before it ever got started, really.
Parenteau, 33, was cut loose following an exhibition campaign in which he only played once with Tavares -- in Sunday’s 4-0 loss to Washington -- and apparently didn’t show enough to warrant an opening-night roster spot.
It’s an odd development, to say the least.
Parenteau was always good with the Isles, scoring 20 goals for them in 2010-11, then posting a career-high 67 points the following campaign. He also had a pretty effective year in Toronto last season, netting 20 goals and 41 points.
So needless to say, today’s move is a surprise.
#Isles signed Parenteau in hopes of rekindling magic with JT. Only played last night together but org clearly feels better options on roster
— Arthur Staple (@StapeAthletic) October 10, 2016
Various folks, including Isles play-by-play man Brendan Burke, have suggested the move was made to free up minutes for rookies Mathew Barzal and Anthony Beauvillier, each taken in the first round of the 2015 draft.
The pair have impressed during the preseason.
It’s possible we’ll see more surprise moves like this today, as teams need to get their houses in order ahead of the start of the regular season on Wednesday.