Former top-prospect Steve Bernier has re-upped with the New York Islanders, signing a two-year two-way deal with the team. The financials have not been released yet, but it’s unlikely that the deal would be worth much more than the minimum of $650K at the NHL level. Bernier would have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. 
Bernier, now 32, scored 26 points in 33 games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers of the AHL last season and ranked third on their team in goals despite playing less than half the year. The incredible talent that made him a 16th-overall pick in 2003 is still there, but at this point the chance of an NHL comeback is slim. Bernier once was one of the top prospects in all of hockey, and made an immediate impact with the San Jose Sharks in his rookie season after the team had traded up to get him at the draft. Scoring 27 points in 39 games for the Sharks, he was deemed the next star power forward but conditioning issues that had followed him since junior crept up again and he could never duplicate that 2005-06 run.
After 633 NHL games spread between the Sharks, Sabres, Canucks, Panthers, Devils and Islanders, the 6’3″ 220-lbs Bernier has collected just 230 points. He does though provide some depth for the Islanders should they get into injury trouble, but more likely will play out the year at the AHL level and try to help Bridgeport win a Calder Cup.
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