UNIONDALE, N.Y., July 1 -- The New York Islanders remained busy Sunday, adding goaltending depth by signing unrestricted free agent Garth Snow to a two-year contract with an option for the 2003-04 season.
Snow was 14-15-4 with three shutouts and a 2.98 goals-against average in 35 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins last season, his eighth in the NHL.
With New York, he will battle 2000 top overall draft pick Rick DiPietro for the starting job.
"We had a need and we made it a priority to fill it," Islanders general manager Mike Milbury said. "Garth is exactly what we were looking for. He's played everywhere he has been and he's also known for being a team player.
"Before he got hurt last season, he was Pittsburgh's No. 1 goalie and was playing extremely well."
Snow, who turns 32 later this month, broke into the NHL with the Quebec Nordiques in 1993 but was traded to Philadelphia and helped the Flyers reach the 1997 Stanley Cup Finals. He was traded to Vancouver the following season and recorded a career-best 20 wins in 1998-99.
"One of the league's emerging teams called me first thing this morning, told me they really wanted me and worked to get a deal done quickly," said Snow, a Maine native who played for the United States at the 1994 Olympics. "This has been a great day for me. I'm going to get a chance to play and be part of an exciting team that is not far away from being a contender."
On draft day last week, the Islanders acquired center Alexei Yashin from the Ottawa Senators for the second overall pick, defenseman Zdeno Chara and right wing Bill Muckalt. The following day, they obtained center Michael Peca from the Buffalo Sabres for center Tim Connolly and left wing Taylor Pyatt.
