Isles draft pick Jason Gregoire signs with Jets

 Islanders draft pick and former University of North Dakota forward Jason Gregoire has signed with his hometown team the Winnipeg Jets. According to the Winnipeg Free Press, the Manitoba native signed a two-year, two-way deal.

Gregoire, selected by the Islanders in the third round of the 2007 draft, recently elected to forego his senior season with the Fighting Sioux and subsequently became an unrestricted free agent because of a provision in the NHL's Collective Bargaining Agreement..

According to the CBA, a college player can become an UFA if not signed by the club that drafted him within four years.

Gregoire, 22, finished his junior season at UND with career highs in goals (25) and points (43).

Another collegiate player and 2007 Islanders draft pick that recently opted to take the same route to free agency is University of New Hampshire product Blake Kessel. Unlike with Gregoire, however, the Islanders were not interested in signing the 22-year-old defenseman.