The saga of Lubomir Visnovsky’s non-tenure with the Islanders continues.
Yesterday, the first day of unofficial team skates as the Owners’ Lockout III drew close to an end, Visnovsky decided to try to spurn the Islanders one more time and stick out the rest of the season playing in the KHL in Russia.
“I am thankful to the New York Islanders for being so good to me. My decision not to play in the NHL is due to family and personal reasons,” Visnovsky said in a statement released by his agent, Neil Sheehy. “I have made no decisions on next season. My focus now is on HC Slovan Bratislava, and enjoying my family in my home country.”
The Isles acknowledged Visnovsky’s decision, but had no comment on the issue last night. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said during the lockout that all existing contracts are expected to be honored once the new collective bargaining agreement is in place. That is expected to happen once the league and the Players’ Association ratify the agreement they reached in principle early Sunday morning.
It is not impossible once a league ruling comes down, Visnovsky will change his mind. He repeatedly has said over the past couple months he has nothing against the Islanders’ organization.
Visnovsky, a 36-year-old defenseman, was originally traded by the Ducks on the day of last year’s draft in exchange for a second-round pick in 2013. He eventually filed an official grievance with the Players’ Association, saying the trade was illegal because of a former no-trade clause. His case was brought before arbiter George Nicolau, who on Sept. 12 ruled the trade was valid and Visnovsky was an Islander.
Visnovsky was an ideal candidate for the Isles financially as they prepare for their departure to Brooklyn in 2015. He was owed $3 million in salary and carried a salary-cap hit of $5.6 million. If that money came off the cap, the Islanders’ payroll is estimated to be $44.615 million, just above the necessary floor of $44 million.
They also will need to fill two roster spots before the regular season starts, and have only four NHL defensemen.