(August 24) The Islanders have re-signed restricted free agent forward Justin Papineau to a one-year contract. With the deal, both sides avoid an arbitration hearing.

In his first full NHL campaign in 2003-04, the 25-year old Papineau appeared in 64 games and went 8-5-13. Papineau scored five of his goals on the power play and finished the season with a +4 plus/minus rating. The Ottawa native spent the 2004-05 season with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and went 18-15-33 as their fourth-leading scorer.

Papineau was acquired at the trade deadline on March 11, 2003 along with a draft pick from St.
Louis for Chris Osgood. The Blues originally drafted him in the third round (75th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. In his three years of junior hockey at Belleville (OHL), Papineau scored 41, 52 and 40 goals.

The Islanders originally had four players elect arbitration, but have come to terms with each. The team will not participate in any arbitration hearings this summer.