UNIONDALE, N.Y. – Goalie Garth Snow signed a two-year contract with the New York Islanders on Sunday, the first day teams were permitted to negotiate with unrestricted free agents.

The contract also contains a club option for a third year.

Snow, a former University of Maine star who will turn 32 later this month, was 14-15-4 last season with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He lost his starting job to Johan Hedberg while out with a groin injury. Hedberg led the Penguins to the Eastern Conference finals, while Snow did not play a minute in the postseason.

“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,” Snow said. “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. I’m very happy.”

Snow, a veteran of eight NHL seasons, was 0-2 after missing 25 games with the strained groin. His first game back was a 4-1 road loss to the Islanders on April 2.

In 35 games last season, Snow posted a 2.98 goals-against average. He is 91-95-31 in 241 career games with Quebec, Philadelphia, Vancouver and the Penguins.

“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 well 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 probably will serve as a mentor to young Rick DiPietro, a role that was shared last season by veterans John Vanbiesbrouck and Chris Terreri.

Vanbiesbrouck was dealt to New Jersey for Terreri, who will not return to the Islanders next season.

The 19-year-old DiPietro was the first goalie ever selected No. 1 in the NHL entry draft when the Islanders picked him in 2000. He struggled when thrust into action during the Islanders’ seventh straight non-playoff season, going 3-15-1 with a 3.49 GAA in 20 games.

Before Snow’s signing, the Islanders’ depth chart in goal had DiPietro, Czech Republic draft pick Dusan Salficky, minor league prospect Stephen Valiquette and recent Quebec League graduate David St. Germain.

New York has been busy in the offseason as Milbury again tries to turn the Islanders’ fortunes around.

Peter Laviolette was hired as coach, and the Islanders made big deals during last week’s draft to acquire the rights to restricted free agents Alexei Yashin and Michael Peca.