Islanders make a bizarre move in goal

This just in, the New York Islanders have signed former Ottawa Senators goaltender Marcus Hogberg to a two year contract.

Check it out:

The 29 year old Swedish netminder last played in the NHL for the Senators during the 2020-21 season. He's been playing in his native Sweden for Linkopings HC for the SHL the past three seasons. 

"It obviously feels good to get this chance again," Hogberg said earlier today. "I wasn't really prepared for something like this to appear, but I'm very happy and excited to test my wings on the extreme world elite again."

To be honest... this is a somewhat perplexing move from Isles GM Lou Lamoriello.

The Islanders are pretty much set in goal at the NHL level with veteran Semyon Varlamov inking a four year extension last offseason, while 28 year old Ilya Sorokin has yet to even start his massive eight year extension. So... I'm not sure how Hogberg factors into things for the Islanders.

At the AHL level the Isles have 24 year old Jakub Skarek and 29 year old Ken Appleby, so it's possible that that's where Lamoriello sees Hogberg coming in. With Appleby likely headed to free agency this offseason, Hogberg could provide Skarek with some veteran comfort at the AHL level, while also giving the Isles a bit of organizational depth in case of injury to Varlamov or Sorokin.

Read below for the Islanders' official press release announcement of Hogberg's signing:

The New York Islanders announced today that goaltender Marcus Hogberg has agreed to terms on a two-year deal.  

Hogberg, 29, spent the last three seasons with Linkoping HC of the Swedish Hockey League. The 6’5, 220 lbs. netminder posted a 2.51 goals-against average (GAA), a 0.914 save percentage (SV%) and a career-high 21 wins in 40 games last season. 

The Orebro, SW, native was selected by the Ottawa Senators in the third round (78th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft and played for the Senators for three seasons (2018-19 through 2020-21).  

Hogberg played 77 American Hockey League games with Ottawa’s top affiliate from 2016-17 to 2020-21, posting a 2.72 GAA and 0.907 SV%. In 2018-19 with the Belleville Senators, he posted AHL career highs in wins (21) and games played (39). 

On the international stage, Hogberg played for Team Sweden at the 2022 World Championships, the 2014 World Junior Championships and the 2012 Under-18 World Junior Championships.