Hudson Fasching signs two-year deal to stay with Islanders
The Islanders' Hudson Fasching drives the puck past the Hurricanes' Shayne Gostisbehere during the first period of Game 5 of an NHL Stanley Cup first-round playoff series in Raleigh, N.C., on Tuesday. Credit: AP/Karl B DeBlaker
Hudson Fasching didn’t wait to see what his best NHL season could bring him on the open market and instead will stay with the Islanders.
The pending unrestricted free agent agreed on Monday to a two-year, one-way, $1.55 million deal after earning a full-time role in the NHL for the first time since becoming a fourth-round pick of the Kings in 2013.
He set career highs with 10 goals and nine assists in 49 games after being recalled from the Islanders’ AHL affiliate in Bridgeport in December.
“It just fits my style of game,” said Fasching, 27. “I don’t think I take a lot of risks with my game. I try to minimize that as best I can. I think that’s how this team functions. I think that just fit really well with me from the beginning.”
Fasching had bounced between the NHL and AHL with both the Sabres and Coyotes’ organizations and entered this season with one goal and two assists in 38 career games.
He spent most of his time on third-line center Jean-Gabriel Pageau’s right wing.
“He came in and showed that he deserved his place in the NHL,” Pageau said. “He’s a very smart player that works extremely hard.”
Andrew Gross joined Newsday in 2018 to cover the Islanders. He began reporting on the NHL in 2003 and has previously covered the Rangers and Devils. Other assignments have included the Jets, St. John’s and MLB.
