Kristers Gudlevskis (37) (Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

BROOKLYN (July 11, 2017) – The New York Islanders have agreed to terms with goaltender Kristers Gudlevskis on a one-year, two-way (NHL/AHL) deal. The Islanders had acquired Gudlevskis from the Tampa Bay Lightning on July 1 in exchange for forward Carter Verhaeghe.

Gudlevskis, 24, posted a 15-10-7-4 (W-L-OTL-SOL) record last season with a 2.65 goals-against average and a .897 save percentage in 37 games with the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League. The Aizkraukle, Latvia, native also appeared in one National Hockey League game last season with the Lightning.

Tampa Bay selected Gudlevskis in the fifth round (124th overall) of the 2013 NHL Draft. In 158 career AHL games with Syracuse, he’s posted a 74-47-19-10 record with a 2.75 GAA and .902 SV%. He was selected to play in the AHL All-Star Game in the 2015-16 season. Gudlevskis has also appeared in three NHL games with the Lightning, posting a 1-0-1 record with a 1.37 GAA and .959 SV%.

On the International stage, Gudlevskis represented Latvia at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, the 2013 and 2014 World Championships, the 2012 and 2011 World Junior Championships and the 2010 Under-18 World Championships. He won a gold medal in 2011 (Division 1) and was named a Top Three Player on the Team in 2012 and 2013.

(Courtesy of the New York Islanders)

Whereas the Islanders were relatively quiet on July 1 when the free agent market opened up, General Manager Garth Snow did acquire Gudlevskis from the Bolts in exchange for Carter Verhaeghe. Snow cut a deal with Vegas Golden Knights’ GM George McPhee whereby McPhee chose Jean-Francois Berube in the Vegas Expansion Draft as opposed to other players who remained exposed.

In the absence of J-F Berube, the Gudlevskis trade-and-sign is nothing more than an organizational depth signing for the Isles and its American Hockey League-affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Salary and cap hit details of the contract for Gudlevskis remain unknown at this time.

Double G Sports will continue to keep you posted on any news of RFA signings, players being placed on waivers, or trades for the New York Islanders.