Islanders F Jones agrees to one-year, two-way deal

The New York Islanders and forward Connor Jones on Thursday agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract.

Jones, 26, made his NHL debut with the Islanders in 2016-17, appearing in four of the final five games of the season. He also played 58 games with the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, recording 19 points (five goals, 14 assists) and 89 penalty minutes.

A native of Trail, British Columbia, Jones has collected 42 points (15 goals, 27 assists) in 155 career AHL games with the Sound Tigers and Oklahoma City Barons. He also scored 26 points (10 goals, 16 assists) in 27 games with the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL during his first professional season in 2014-15.

Jones spent four seasons at Quinnipiac University, recording 129 points (49 goals, 80 assists) and 151 penalty minutes in 153 games with the Bobcats. He served as an alternate captain during his junior and senior seasons.

Islanders Promote Cronin to Associate Coach

The New York Islanders announced today that Greg Cronin has been promoted to Associate Coach.

"Greg's hockey knowledge and experiences of over 30 years in the coaching profession are an asset to our coaching staff," Head Coach Doug Weight said. "He's run our penalty-kill the past several seasons and each year, it's been one of the best in the league. He has a tireless work ethic on the bench during games, at practice and in meetings. His desire to get the best out of every player, to help achieve our goal of winning is impressive and I'm thrilled to continue to work with him."  

Cronin was hired as an Assistant Coach on June 16, 2014, and has worked under that title for the past three seasons with the Islanders. This is currently his second stint with the Islanders, initially serving as an Assistant Coach with the organization from 1998-2003 and as Head Coach of the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers from 2003-2005. In two seasons with the Sound Tigers, Cronin led the team to a 78-61-12 record.

Prior to re-joining the Islanders in 2014, the Arlington, MA native spent three seasons behind the bench as an Assistant Coach with the Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Cronin served as Head Coach at Northeastern University from 2005-2011. He rebuilt the program, improving from three wins in his first season, to an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2009, the school's first in 15 years. That season he won the Bob Kullen Coach of the Year Award as best coach in Hockey East. From 2008-2011, Cronin compiled the greatest win total in a four-year span in NU history.

He also coached in college hockey at the University of Maine (five seasons), with the final year serving as Interim Head Coach and Colorado College (three seasons). Cronin got his start in coaching as an assistant at Colby College in 1987-88.

On the international stage, Cronin served as an Assistant Coach for Team USA at the World Hockey Championships in 1997, 2011 and 2012. In 2012, he helped guide the U.S. to a first-place finish in the preliminary round. He also was the founder, Director of Development for the United States National Development Program Under-18 Team and Head Coach of the Under 18 team. He also served as an Assistant Coach for Team USA's World Junior team in 1997 and 1998, winning silver in '97.  

Cronin played four seasons at Colby College in Maine from 1982-86. He earned a Master's Degree in Business at the University of Maine in 1990 while serving as a graduate assistant for the men's ice hockey team

Islanders sign G Gudlevskis to two-way deal

The New York Islanders announced the signing of goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis to a one-year, two-way deal Tuesday.

Gudlevskis, 24, was acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Carter Verhaeghe on July 1. Gudlevskis was a fifth-round draft pick of the Lightning in 2013.

Gudlevskis appeared in one game with Tampa Bay last season, making three saves in a 4-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on Dec. 23.

In 37 games with AHL's Syracuse last season, Gudlevskis was 15-10-7-4 with a 2.65 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage. He is 74-47-19-10 with a 2.75 GAA and a .902 save percentage in 158 career games with Syracuse.