Well it seems all along Bruno Gervais had a plan.

Despite rejecting a qualifying offer a few weeks ago, the 23-year-old is back on the Island. Signing a three-year, one-way deal worth a modest $2.225 million, Gervais is now another youngster signed for relatively nothing.

However, Gervais has the task of proving himself this season. Fighting injuries for most of his time on the Island, Gervais is going to have to get in the best shape of his carer and really cement his spot on not only the Islanders, but in the NHL.

With only 26 points in 139 career NHL games, Gervais has a long way to go before becoming the solid offensive defenseman the team thought they were getting when they drafted him in the sixth round of the 2003 draft. Nevertheless, with his skating ability, desire and character, he already has the beginnings of a more than capable stay at home defenseman.

He just has to prove it now.

“Bruno is a homegrown talent and has been developing in our system for a few years,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow on the team’s official website. “He’s a high character player and person and is someone who is great in the Long Island community. We’re very excited to have him on board for the next three years.”

Add in the fact that he’s a great team guy and loves to help out in the community, he could be a very big piece to the Islanders puzzle in a few years, alongside guys like Kyle Okposo, Rick DiPietro, Chris Campoli and Jeff Tambellini, who too have some work ahead of them this season. Together with those players and a few veteran additions, the Islanders can begin to build something that lasts on Long Island.

Will it be quite like Pittsburgh or Chicago? I don’t think so, but this team, if it matures and develops the way it should, can be a good team with a host of grit and passion that teams in the NHL won’t want to play.

Gervais can be a big part of that as well.

Let’s face it, he’ll never be a gritty guy like Brendan Witt, but he could develop into someone along the lines of a Kenny Jonsson without the offensive ability. Again, considering the Islanders signed him for three years, Gervais should have every opportunity to prove himself as a capable and dependable NHLer. He’ll get an opportunity to play in all game situations and will have an opportunity to become a leader. If he doesn’t, both he and the team can move on.