After attending training camp on a PTO, Steve Bernier has signed with the Isles.
On Monday, the club announced Bernier had agreed to a one-year, two-way deal, which gives him a second go-round with the club. Last year the veteran forward caught on with the club and proceeded to score six points in 24 regular-season games, and appear in six playoff contests.
A former first-round pick, Bernier’s deal comes with the Isles dealing with a few injuries up front -- Shane Prince is currently week-to-week with a lower-body injury, and Mikhail Grabovski is out indefinitely with post-concussion symptoms.
The Bernier deal could also give the Isles flexibility with their two 19-year-old rookies, Anthony Beauvillier and Mathew Barzal, as both are eligible to be returned to junior (and the Isles would prevent “burning” a year on their entry-level deals if they do it before the nine-game threshold.)
That said, Beauvillier is off to a terrific start, with five points through five games. Barzal has been less effective, dressing just once.