After trading for the rights to forward A.J. Greer last week, the New York Islanders have now come to terms on a new contract with the restricted free agent. CapFriendly reports that Greer has agreed to a one-year, two-way contract to begin his tenure with the Islanders. The deal carries the minimum $700K salary at the NHL level and $100K at the AHL level, with a minimum of $125K overall guaranteed.
Greer, 23, landed in New York early last week in a deal that saw defenseman Kyle Burroughs go to the Colorado Avalanche. In four seasons with the Avs, Greer struggled to stick in the NHL lineup. It’s been a theme in the career of the talented forward, who also didn’t fit at Boston University and ended up leaving for the QMJHL. A 2015 second-round pick, Colorado gave Greer chances to carve out a role, but he consistently struggled to make the most of his opportunities. This past season, Greer did not play in the NHL at all. He counts just 37 games and six points at the top level for his career thus far.
With that said, Greer has always showed promise even if it hasn’t translated to the NHL. A big, two-way winger with good AHL numbers, a fresh start may be exactly what Greer needs. In the Islanders’ defense-oriented system, he may actually be an ideal fit in the bottom-six if he can win a job in camp or work his way into the lineup during the season. On just a one-year deal, Greer is hoping to establish his value before another round of RFA negotiations. A strong campaign could land him a multi-year extension, while a failure to make anything of his new chance could cost him a qualifying offer and land him on the open market. It’s a do-or-die season for the young forward.