Rathgeb signed a two-year, two-way contract (standard entry-level) with the Islanders in April 2018. He, however, spent the entire year with their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, for which he suited up 32 times and managed to record four goals and five assists.
According to a report from Le Matin, the former HC Fribourg-Gottéron defender seems close to a return to Switzerland. At least three teams from the National League, namely HC Lugano, EHC Biel, and Lausanne HC are apparently chasing him. The Bianconeri are currently in pole position and, according to the Journal du Jura, have made a more lucrative offer than Biel.
In an interview with La Liberté one month ago, Rathgeb said that he does not want to regret anything by coming back to Switzerland too early and therefore intends to honor also the second year of his contract with the organization of the New York Islanders, even if he had to change teams during summer. Moreover, he revealed that he would not be against returning to Fribourg if he were to return to Switzerland in 2020.
( 14 May 2019 | rlu )
