Bootland bolts Motown for the Island

The New York Islanders have signed right wing Darryl Bootland to a one-year deal.

The 25-year-old Bootland comes to the Islanders after playing in the Detroit Red Wings organization for the past five seasons. He played 68 games for the Red Wings American Hockey League affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, last season totaling 18 goals and 13 assists with 222 penalty minutes.

"Darryl will be counted on as a power forward, who will contribute points on a consistent basis," Bridgeport Sound Tigers (AHL) president Howard Saffan said. "His experience with the Red Wings will benefit our young players because he will be able to show them what it takes to compete at an NHL level every night."

During the 2006 Calder Cup playoffs, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound Bootland helped Grand Rapids make the Western Conference Finals by scoring five goals and seven assists in 16 games.

Over the course of the Bradford, Ontario native's AHL career, he has registered 72 goals and 68 assists with a total of 1,164 penalty minutes in 293 games. In 28 career NHL games, all with Detroit, Bootland has a goal and an assist with 83 penalty minutes.

"The style of play that I have always prided myself on playing is one of accountability," Bootland said. "My new teammates, coaching staff and fans will always be able to rely on me to put forward an honest effort every time I step onto the ice."