The New York Islanders announced today that Joe Finley has been claimed off waivers from the Buffalo Sabres.

Finley, 25, has appeared in 36 American Hockey League games this season with the Rochester Americans, scoring five points (one goal, four assists) with a plus-3 rating. The Edina, MN, native has appeared in five career National Hockey League games, all with Buffalo in 2011-12.

The Washington Capitals selected Finley in the first round (27th overall) of the 2005 NHL Draft. In 101 career AHL games with the Hershey Bears and Rochester, the 6’8, 249-pound defenseman has totaled 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) with 246 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating.

Finley played four years at the University of North Dakota, highlighted by a National Championship in 2006. In 150 career games in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, Finley totaled 35 points (seven goals, 28 assists) with 297 penalty minutes and a plus-61 rating.

Finley becomes the 27th player on the Islanders training camp roster and the ninth defenseman.