Isles Dip Big Toe into Free Agent Pool
July 2nd, 2008 by murph
The NHL Free Agent shopping mall opened for business yesterday, and while the Isles are expected to pass on the big names like Brian Campbell, Marian Hossa, and Mats Sundin, they aren’t about to sit out this pool party.
Addressing the team’s woeful powerplay, the Islanders signed defenseman Mark Striet away from Montreal yesterday. A solid move by Snow and crew especially when you look at the terms and $$ thrown at Campbell and Wade Redden yesterday.
With the supply of offensive defensemen dwindling quickly on the first day of free agency, Snow swooped in to grab the 30-year-old power-play specialist. Streit tied for third among the league’s defensemen last season with 62 points, including 13 goals (seven on the power play) and 49 assists.
“Mark solves our power play,” Snow said. “He was a player we targeted early on. He’ll come here and be a solid contributor on the blue line and obviously play a significant role on the power play. I see him as a top-four defenseman, but his play will dictate that.”
Some Striet highlights.
385 Says
Signed Doug Weight as well. 1 year at 1.75 mil.
Jul 2nd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
fauxrumors Says
1) Sorry, the Streit signing is nice, but that hardly “solves” the power play. Looking at the anticipated roster it looks like they are relying on inexperinced kids and vets who’s best years are 5+ years past:
Forward lines
Jeff Tambellini – Doug Weight – Bill Guerin
Blake Comeau – Mike Comrie – Kyle Okposo
Jonathan Sim – Mike Sillinger – Trent Hunter
Sean Bergenheim – Frans Nielsen – Richard Park
Defense pairings
Brendan Witt – Radek Martinek
Andy Sutton – Freddy Meyer
Chris Campoli – Mark Streit
Jul 3rd, 2008 at 4:22 pm
385 Says
Shoot, aren’t we still a pretty good ways below the salary floor? We still have a lot more old players to overpay.
Jul 3rd, 2008 at 10:58 pm