UM’s Libby headed to Islanders> Player to get $300,000

After joining the UMaine hockey team as a walk-on freshman, redshirting his first year, and playing through two seasons without playoffs, defensemen Jeff Libby of Waterville has landed a pro contract with the New York Islanders.

Friday, Libby made a verbal agreement with the Islanders for a $300,00 signing bonus. Libby said the size of the contract was unexpected, but the offer was not.

“It was unexpected in the amount of money, but I was ready to go. I’m 22-years-old, I’m only five classes away from finishing,” said Libby, a finance major. “I can do that in the summer. I don’t think I’m going to develop as much in college. I think I will at the next level.”

Maine coach Shawn Walsh said his former player could make a lot more than the contract’s first-year NHL salary of $375,000 if he plays in that league.

“He stands to make over a million dollars if he plays in the National Hockey League over the next two years,” Walsh said. “He probably won’t start there. He’ll probably start in the American Hockey League. The minimum amount is what you look at.”

Libby, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound defensemen, finished his senior year with six goals, and 25 assists for 31 points and his college career with 8-38-46. Libby was a three-time All-State choice at Waterville High before attending New Hampton Prep School where he was the top defensive player from ’92-93.

Libby became a regular defensemen his sophomore year at Maine when he was named the team’s best defensive player.

Libby was limited in when he could turn pro because of his age. Libby was able to sign a two-year contract if he left college now. Had he waited until next year, he would have been able to sign a one-year contract.

Libby worked with the UMaine compliance office drafting a letter to NHL general managers asking for interested teams to send proposals to the compliance office. The Islanders’ proposal came in Friday. Libby will sign Monday or Tuesday.

Libby’s father, Bill, said when the news came to him and his wife, Cindy, it was thrilling – and a bit sad, since Jeff has not had an opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re excited beyond belief for Jeff,” Bill Libby said. “But we were looking forward to his senior year with the team they’ve got coming back – after the hole they’ve been in for the last two years. [Playing in the NCAA Tournament] was one of the things we talked about a month ago when Jeff thought of not coming back.”

Libby was voted captain of next year’s team by his teammates three weeks ago. As it turned out, the Black Bear associate captains – Steve Kariya, Shawn Wansborough and Brian White – were named captains at the Black Bear hockey banquet Saturday night.

Walsh said Libby will be difficult to replace.

“It’s a gaping hole. We’ll have to search to find a replacement. We always try in our situation to have someone in mind,” Walsh said.

However, Libby is not worried about his former teammates.

“Leaving the team was one of the hardest things,” Libby said. “But look, last year they lost Jeff Tory, Blair Allison, Brett Clark and we were fine this year. Maine hockey is a great program. I’m looking forward to going to Boston to watch them in the Final Four.”

Libby will join the Islanders, who missed the playoffs, finishing 29-41-12, next fall.