The New York Islanders have reached an agreement on a new two-year contract with Sebastian Aho, according to Arthur Staple of The Athletic. No, the Carolina Hurricanes star forward has not somehow signed another offer sheet. The Islanders have signed their own Aho, a restricted free agent defenseman that has spent the last two seasons in the AHL.
Aho, 24, was a fifth-round pick of the Islanders back in 2017 and actually played in 22 NHL games during the 2017-18 season. Since then he has been manning the Bridgeport Sound Tigers blue line, racking up points as one of the minor league’s most effective offensive defensemen. This season, Aho scored 30 points in 49 games and was included on the Islanders 52-man travelling party for the return to play postseason.
Aho’s deal will be a two-way contract in 2020-21 and a one-way in 2021-22 according to Staple, avoiding restricted free agency. He will qualify for Group VI unrestricted free agency at the expiration of the contract if he fails to play in 58 NHL games over the next two seasons.
Better player, the not as good Sebastian Aho? Or the not as good Petr Sykora from a decade ago?
What about the goalie Matt Murray, who the Pens brought to training camp a few years back?
I know it’s not the same exact name, but imagine drafting Joel Lundqvist higher that Henrik Lundqvist
That’s Aho-Lotta value!