Islanders Trade Kyle Burroughs to Avalanche for AJ Greer
After six seasons, Kyle Burroughs is no longer a member of the New York Islanders organization. Following 313 games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, placing him third all-time, Kyle Burroughs was dealt Sunday morning to the Colorado Avalanche organization for speedy winger AJ Greer. For both players, it will be the first time going to a new organization and the two players are restricted free agents.
Burroughs was selected with the 196th pick in the 2013 NHL Draft in the seventh round. Burroughs had spent three seasons with the Regina Pats before being selected. In 2013-14, Burroughs made his professional debut, playing in nine games for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. He spent his final season of junior eligibility split between Regina and the Medicine Hat Tigers.
In 2015-16, he officially went professional, spending time in both the ECHL with Missouri and AHL with Bridgeport, playing in the 2016 Calder Cup playoffs. Before the 2018-19 season, he was named co-captain with Ben Holmstrom with Bridgeport. Burroughs got the full-time captaincy after Holmstrom left in 2019-20. Kyle Burroughs was named the Sound Tigers recipient of the Man of the Year award.
AJ Greer will be entering his fifth professional season, after spending the first four with the Colorado Avalanche organization. Greer has played 37 NHL games where he has a goal and five assists. Greer started in San Antonio and in the last two years in Colorado with the Eagles, Greer has posted three 30+ point seasons for the Avs’ AHL affiliate, which included playing for former Sound Tiger head coach and Islanders assistant Greg Cronin. Greer won the 2017 AHL Man of the Year Award in his rookie season. Greer was an AHL All Star representing the San Antonio Rampage as well in 2017.
This is an interesting deal, but it gives the Sound Tigers some more scoring punch especially with the future of Kieffer Bellows unknown after being disciplined for violating the AHL’s drug policy. Kyle Burroughs ends his tenure as one of the best captains in Sound Tigers history.
A Native of Danbury, CT. Christian is one of the longest tenured Drive4Five writers, Christian Gardecki began writing for Drive4five In May of 2017. Christian covers Minor League Hockey and the Bridgeport Islanders for Drive4Five. Outside of Drive4Five, Christian was the captain of his High School Hockey team and currently attends Hofstra University with a major in journalism. Christian was the play by play broadcaster for the Danbury Westerners summer collegiate baseball team during their 2021 NECBL Championship. Christian also was the Public Address Announcer for the Danbury Hat Tricks Minor Pro Hockey team in the Federal Prospects Hockey League and NAHL Junior team from 2019-21.
