Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

An NHL arbitrator has officially upheld the June 22 trade that sent Lubomir Visnovsky to the New York Islanders from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for a 2013 second-round draft pick. Visnovsky is now officially an Islander.

When Visnovsky was traded on draft night, he argued that the trade was invalid because a no-trade clause was still in effect and sought to challenge the transaction via arbitration.

In 2011-12, Visnovsky played 68 games and scored 27 points, all but six of them assists. His best year, though, came in 2010-11 with the Ducks. That season, he played 81 games, put up 18 goals, added 50 assists and had his best plus-minus rating, +18, in his entire career. Considering that he once had a season where he notched a -18 rating, that’s certainly an improvement.

Before playing in Anaheim, he was part of the Edmonton Oilers for two seasons and previously spent seven years with the Los Angeles Kings, the team that selected him in the 2000 draft.

A native of Slovakia, the 36-year-old Visnovsky has also represented his home country at the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, in nine different World Championships and at two World Cups. He has a gold, silver and bronze from Worlds, though no Olympic medals. In 2007, he went to the NHL All-Star Game. In 2005, he was named the best player in Slovakia.

Visnovsky’s addition to the Islanders’ defensive corps may help the team strengthen its blue line. He will also bring some veteran knowledge and experience to a team that is known primarily for the young ages among some of its biggest and most promising names.