Retirement was an option, albeit an unwanted one, for Stephen Gionta after a campaign that included a knee injury and season-ending shoulder surgery. So, forgive the 35-year-old center for feeling “giddy” at finding his way back into the NHL
Gionta is filling in for the injured Casey Cizikas, out two to three weeks with a lower-body injury, as the Islanders fourth-line center after coming to training camp on a professional tryout offer and earning a one-year deal, two-way deal worth $650,000 in the NHL.
“It was really hard to find a job,” said Gionta, who had two goals and three assists in 30 games for Bridgeport in 2017-18 in his second season in the Islanders’ organization.