Logan Stanley's physicality could help the NY Islanders prevent as many high-danger chances

While battling for their playoff lives for most of the season, the NY Islanders hopes were placed on the shoulders and Matthew Schaefer. Faltering down the final stretch, the team did themselves no favors in their own zone, finishing 30th in the league allowing 858 high-danger chances at 5v5 according to Natural Stat Trick. Opposing teams had their way with the Islanders in close to the crease. Signing Logan Stanley to a one-year contract is an addition Mathieu Darche and Peter DeBoer believe can help clear the crease area.

"We have to get better around our net," DeBoer said yesterday after Stanley's first practice with the team. "There's no secret to that. We were 30th, I think, in high-danger chances given up around our net. We've got the ability now to ice a pretty big, heavy defense back there."

Stanley, who remained unsigned throughout the summer, spent the off-season training with the Kitchener Rangers of the OHL, his hometown team and the organization he spent a season with in juniors. It also happens to be the franchise DeBoer coached for seven seasons before making the jump to the NHL.

Stanley spent last season with the Winnipeg Jets before being traded to the Buffalo Sabres. He had the best offensive season of his career, finishing with 9 goals and 17 assists.

Stanley may not be an attractive signing, but his 6'7" frame certainly adds more size to the lineup, and he's a player who isn't afraid to drop the mitts when called upon.

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