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Bryan Berard Invited to Camp

Aug. 26, 2007: According to the Edmonton Journal, the New York Islanders have invited their 1997 NHL rookie of the year D Bryan Berard to training camp in September. Berard, now 30 years old, made his NHL debut in 1996 with the Islanders and recorded 8 goals and 48 points in 82 games played during his rookie season of 1996-97. Originally the first overall pick in the 1995 NHL draft by the Ottawa, Berard refused to play for the Senators and was soon acquired by the Islanders GM Mike Milbury in a deal that included D Wade Redden.

From 1996 to January of 1999, Berard scored 26 goals and 109 points in 188 games played for the Islanders. He was then dealt by an impatient Milbury, amidst rumors of a soured relationship, to Toronto in exchange for G Felix Potvin. Milbury cited Berard's inability to learn and defensive liabilities, but in the end it was just a bad decision to give up on a young star.

In 2000, during his first full season with Toronto, Berard suffered what seemed to be a career ending injury when he was hit directly in the eye by a stick during a follow through from a shot taken by Ottawa's Marian Hossa. He sat out the entire 2000-01 season and even announced his retirement. But he soon had a change of mind after accepting the lack of vision and made a comeback with the NY Rangers in 2001-02. Since then he has seen action with Boston, Chicago and Columbus. In his NHL career he has scored 71 goals and 301 points in 565 games played.

Berard could be a candidate to make some noise at the Islanders training camp with the offensive skills he possesses. But that will only be if he is truly over his injury problems which have hampered him over the last two years once again. Berard over the last two season's has missed 82 games with a bad back. It was so bad in 2006-07 that Berard only saw action in 11 games with the Blue Jackets.

islesinfo.com comment: An interesting move by the Islanders. I think Berard could challenge for a spot on the team ONLY if he returns to the form he played at before the lockout. Since then, as mentioned, a bad back has kept him off the ice. Nice to see the Islanders giving him a chance though.

Camp Invites

LW Gordie Dwyer...spent the 2006-07 season over in Europe. 6'3" and 215 pounds. 29 years old from Dalhousie, NB. Originally drafted by St. Louis in the third round of the 1996 NHL Draft but re-entered the draft in 1998 and was taken by Montreal in the sixth round. Was traded to Tampa Bay in 1999 and made his NHL debut with the Lightning during the 1999-00 season. During the 2002-03 season, Dwyer was dealt to the NY Rangers and later acquired off waivers by Montreal. Since then he has signed as an unrestricted free agent with Carolina and Vancouver but never played for either club. In 108 career NHL games he has recorded 5 assists. He's not afraid to mix it up and play the physical side of the game having racked up 394 PIM's in the NHL and 926 PIM's in 232 combined games between the IHL and AHL.

Lets Go Isles!