Confirmed with Link: Staple: Strait signs 3 year contract

[LAPPY13]

One less dman to get signed this summer. Now we have Carkner, MacDonald, and Strait signed.

Joe Finley is also signed for next season as well at $525,000. I still feel Finley can fit with Islanders as a 7-8 D man giving him very limited min per game when in line-up. He is very raw and still learning the game but you cant teach size and he has that going for him!

 

[IslesBeBack*]

Ok, seriously, why does Garth have to make us all look like morons.

I LOVE Strait. Top 4 defenseman without a doubt. To find this guy on the waivers is amazing.

And he locks him up.

775 for this guy next year is going to be stupid ridiculous.

 

[petrocelli]

Hmm, possible future blueline in 2 or 3 years?

Hamonic - MacDonald
Donovan - Reinhart
Carkner - Strait
de Haan/Hickey

You forgot Mayfield, Pedan, Pokka and Pelech.. maybe even Robbie Russo and Kichton..

The shelves are STOCKED!!

 

[original islander]

Good news for our blue line. Good motivation for Hickey.

Things just got more interesting for Martinek and Vis.

Long term no effect on Martinek and Vis since they're gone after this year. But it would be ironic for Vis to come over here and not see the ice or get limited ice time.

 

[LAPPY13]

Solid signing by Snow. $775,000 for 3 years is going to look like a real bargain. Brian Strait looks like at worst a number 5-6 NHL D-man and might prove to be an everyday top 4 D-man. I can see Snow giving Thomas Hickey a new deal as well at some point.

 

[Quicklime]

I've already forgotten Visnovsky. I'd rather stick with players with a good attitude. Strait's shown some quality and Hickey's statement of "I'm going to make the Isles glad they took a flier on me" works MUCH better than a seemingly constantly butthurt Visnovsky.

I may need someone with some photoshop skill to whip together a Batman style "I believe in Garth Snow" avatar for me.....

 

[Captain Hook]

I knew he'd be good for you guys. Still hurts to have lost him for nothing but Ben Lovejoy had a 1-way deal and I guess they didn't want to pay him $525,000 to play in the AHL if he cleared waivers vs. paying Brian Strait $62,500 to play in the AHL on his 2-way deal if he would have cleared or at least they didn't see a big enough difference between the two to pay the difference in money but clearly there is a difference since Strait is playing much better this season and also played better last year too. Oh well, our loss is your gain. Congrats.

 

[NYIguy]

No issue with this signing at all, as I feel his game is not the type to be a 'flash in the pan'.
But more importantly I feel money should be spent ASAP to reward AMac with a deal that is more fitting to his stature on this team. He is arguably the best dman day in day out, and he is the worst payed by far. I think it would be good for his play and the moral of the team to see him 'rewarded'.
Thoughts?

 

[Richie Daggers Crime]

Top 4 defenseman without a doubt.

Come on, now.

 

[No Need To Vanek]

Kinda iffy on this, but he has looked good next to Streit. Good value.

 

[steveat]

I say top 2 for sure Look, if he plays this well in his first season as an NHL player..he's def got potential to work his way up to top 4 or top 2. He IS a rookie for crying out loud.

 

[seafoam]

Congrats Strait. I'm happy about this.

 

[PWJunior]

No issue with this signing at all, as I feel his game is not the type to be a 'flash in the pan'.
But more importantly I feel money should be spent ASAP to reward AMac with a deal that is more fitting to his stature on this team. He is arguably the best dman day in day out, and he is the worst payed by far. I think it would be good for his play and the moral of the team to see him 'rewarded'.
Thoughts?

AMac still has another season in his contract so I don't think the Isles could negotiate a contract extension until the season is over at the earliest(?). He should be rewarded for outplaying his contract like Frans did, I'm sure the Isles will take care of him when the time comes.

 

[A Pointed Stick]

Long term no effect on Martinek and Vis since they're gone after this year. But it would be ironic for Vis to come over here and not see the ice or get limited ice time.

Sure not long term, but the trade possibilities could open up.

If Viz has to show up or eat next season, and Garth said "Ok, who WOULD you accept a trade to since you don't want to skate for us," then maybe this works out for us after all.

My mind wouldn't even go there since the guy doesn't deserve the opportunity to go to another club he would prefer after what he pulled, but I would welcome the 2nd round pick back all the same.

 

[Isles Junkie]

I totally get what Snow is trying to do here. And it's a safe bet he's making. Still, I would have liked him to have waited at least half the season before making this offer.

Strait has been real steady. He makes smart, safe plays. He may not be exciting, but he's just a smart Dman. A very welcome addition. Still, 6 games into his career and he gets a 3 year deal? It's strange more than anything else I suppose.

 

[kasper11]

I totally get what Snow is trying to do here. And it's a safe bet he's making. Still, I would have liked him to have waited at least half the season before making this offer.

Strait has been real steady. He makes smart, safe plays. He may not be exciting, but he's just a smart Dman. A very welcome addition. Still, 6 games into his career and he gets a 3 year deal? It's strange more than anything else I suppose.

Problem is after half a season Garth loses leverage. Once Strait has proven he is an NHL dman over a long stretch, there is no reason for him to accept 3 years at a low price. Especially since he gave up a year of UFA for this deal.

Right now, Garth probably said something to the effect of "You've been playing great so far, but Hickey was a 4th overall pick and we have Vis coming in less than two weeks so somebody is going to be the odd man out. Are you part of the long-term solution here?"

And Strait did the smart thing for a 25 year old player that hasn't made a consistent NHL salary yet. It may be peanuts compared to some players, but he is still going to make $2.25M over three years guaranteed. And he will be a UFA at 29 with a chance to make even more.

 

[aemoreira1981]

Even if Strait doesn't work out long-term, $775K is very low risk...I might daresay criminally low risk. Now the next contract to do will be that of Travis Hamonic, whose ELC expires after this season.

This really sends a message to Visnovsky in that he may not be able to break into the lineup; however, I see it as also likely that his contract will NOT be tolled.

 

[Moosie]

His play last night showed his heart. Beating the Devil to the puck and lugging it all the way up the ice, then battling for it on the boards behind Jersey's net was a pretty good shift for Strait. I didn't see this contract offer coming, but it's not a bad thing.

 

[bigd]

His play last night showed his heart. Beating the Devil to the puck and lugging it all the way up the ice, then battling for it on the boards behind Jersey's net was a pretty good shift for Strait. I didn't see this contract offer coming, but it's not a bad thing.

Ya, didn't think he had that kind of speed. He showed a little more upside on that shift than what we've seen so far. That contract put a little more jump in his step.

 

[Brooklanders*]

IMO no need to wait this guy earn that contract and will be a steady defenseman for the team with some offensive upside in years to come. Congrats Brian!!!!!! I hope you read this boards because NYI are counting on you.

 

[IslesBeBack*]

He made a really bad play on Doucheson (Clarkson) that led to the tieing goal for the Devils late in the third.

Then he follows that up with a ridiculous shift, beating said Doucheson up the ice, which lead to the shift that lead to the PP!

This guy has been amazing.

 

[Renbarg]

He made a really bad play on Doucheson (Clarkson) that led to the tieing goal for the Devils late in the third.

Then he follows that up with a ridiculous shift, beating said Doucheson up the ice, which lead to the shift that lead to the PP!

This guy has been amazing.

This isn't the Washington board dude.

 

[Sidney the Kidney]

Ok, seriously, why does Garth have to make us all look like morons.

I LOVE Strait. Top 4 defenseman without a doubt. To find this guy on the waivers is amazing.

And he locks him up.

775 for this guy next year is going to be stupid ridiculous.

Didn't you describe him as an AHL player and nothing more in the original waiver claim thread about him?

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On the topic of Strait, good to see him get the chance to prove himself. I'd said at the time the Islanders picked him up off waivers that I was certain he was ready to play regular NHL minutes on a bottom pairing, but it looks like Strait's done even better than that, logging solid minutes in the top four.

 

[PWJunior]

Didn't you describe him as an AHL player and nothing more in the original waiver claim thread about him?

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On the topic of Strait, good to see him get the chance to prove himself. I'd said at the time the Islanders picked him up off waivers that I was certain he was ready to play regular NHL minutes on a bottom pairing, but it looks like Strait's done even better than that, logging solid minutes in the top four.

Very pleased with Strait, the guy is absolutely no frills who is just so composed. He's gaining confidence too as we saw from him last night. It put a smile on my face when he went end to end late in the game, he's not supposed to do that with his defense only reputation.

Your young Mark Eaton comparison seems spot on STK.

 

[isles31]

I've already forgotten Visnovsky. I'd rather stick with players with a good attitude. Strait's shown some quality and Hickey's statement of "I'm going to make the Isles glad they took a flier on me" works MUCH better than a seemingly constantly butthurt Visnovsky.

I may need someone with some photoshop skill to whip together a Batman style "I believe in Garth Snow" avatar for me.....

completely agree with you. Id love to see the isles move Vis for a 2nd and call it a day, but that prolly wont happen. Dont see how him being here will HELP the PP any more.