Not Quite a Signing: Shawn Bates

According the the International Ice Hockey Federation, Former Islander center Shawn Bates has signed a tryout contract with Helsinski IFK of the SM-liiga. Bates will have the month of November to prove he is at physical peak considering he has suffered a series of injuries that essentially led to him being bought out by the Isles this summer.

Originally drafted in the 4th Round, 103rd overall in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft by the Boston Bruins, Bates split his career between his hometown team and the Isles. Bates played in 465 games tallying 72 goals and 126 assists for 198 points. He had a career -28 rating with 266 penalty minutes, 11 game winning goals and an impressive 13 shorthanded goals. Bates is 6th all time in Isles history in shorties. However he will most be remembered for the penalty shot he scored on Toronto Maple Leafs' goaltender Curtis Joseph in Game 4 of the opening round series of the 2002 playoffs. Bates was only the 2nd American-born player to ever score a playoff penalty shot and the first Islander to accomplish the task.

We wish Bates the best over in Finland and we hope he can stick with the big club.