it should sound weird...but dont tell us we didnt warn you
- LetsGoIsles

hahah I appreciate the warning.. From a Flyers fan's point of view though, we were expecting a Couturier and a First for Yandle type of thing or to lose Schenn. Not very good news when we just switched gears to a younger core in 2011. Even if this is a patchwork fix, it's better than that option.

See our record from 2007-2012. There's your answer. Steit was an unaccomplished dman that we overpaid to bring in at a time where no one else would play here. He was very effective over his first couple of years but as our level of talent increased, it became more apparent that Streit's lofty esteem in which he was held, was more to the lack of decent talent around him.

Frankly, he wasn't the Captain type and a few of us have been asking for him to lose that status for a couple of years now.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Gotcha. I still hope he can help us with puck moving. We are giving nothing up but money and a 4th + prospect so I am not that worried.

Streit can make dynamite first passes out of the zone. His vision and passing are his greatest assets, and both are still top-notch as far as I'm concerned. Combined with a good shot and a deceptive slap-pass he uses from the point, he definitely still has his uses, and the Isles will have to find ways to replace that.

The rest of his game, though...at least over the past two seasons...it certainly wasn't what it was when the Isles first signed him. This past season the most frustrating thing he kept doing was carrying the puck deep into the offensive zone, then turning around and making a very low-percentage pass behind him. More often than not, it just led to a turnover with Streit trapped deep in the offensive zone. His skating isn't what it once was, which really hurts his defense because ever since his shoulder injury he just won't take the body at all...so if someone goes wide on him, he won't slow him up physically, but can't keep up anymore to use his stick effectively.

Maybe that's not an issue next season. Maybe he really kicks it all into a better gear like he did when he first came to LI from Montreal when Habs fans were warning us about all of his shortcomings. Who knows. Personally, I'm glad the Isles didn't place a four-year bet on that though.

((UIF))

Another thing to keep in mind is that the perspective with which both fan bases are looking at him are quite different.

As Isles fans we are looking at the spot his taking up for the developing youth coming up in our system. As well as, like it or not we are used to being cheap when it comes to players and needs. We've had it shoved down our throats for so long we do it unconsciously.

The Flyers fans see a need that Steit fills and the need they seem to be explaining he does fill. As far as the possible numbers, the Flyers also operate at the top of the cap. They will pay for what they need.

I think in the end his deal works for both teams. Flyers get what they were looking for and we got something before we wound up with nothing.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the perspective with which both fan bases are looking at him are quite different.

As Isles fans we are looking at the spot his taking up for the developing youth coming up in our system. As well as, like it or not we are used to being cheap when it comes to players and needs. We've had it shoved down our throats for so long we do it unconsciously.

The Flyers fans see a need that Steit fills and the need they seem to be explaining he does fill. As far as the possible numbers, the Flyers also operate at the top of the cap. They will pay for what they need.

I think in the end his deal works for both teams. Flyers get what they were looking for and we got something before we wound up with nothing.
- MikeyBiggs

This move was not because the Isles were cheap. They made him a more then fair offer. They are not going to over pay an aging D-man on the decline big bucks for 3 or 4 years when they have a boat load of D- Prospects on the way in the next year or so. Doesn't make sense for them

Gotcha. I still hope he can help us with puck moving. We are giving nothing up but money and a 4th + prospect so I am not that worried.
- Hextall271

For what you gave up you really got a hell of a player, he's just over pricing himself & in this market if you don't give it to him, he will get it elsewhere. which is nuts in itself.

But who knows, if he is partnered with a solid stay at home guy who can compensate for Mark's weaknesses... you get one hell of a player.

XxNYIxX

This move was not because the Isles were cheap. They made him a more then fair offer. They are not going to over pay an aging D-man on the decline big bucks for 3 or 4 years when they have a boat load of D- Prospects on the way in the next year or so. Doesn't make sense for them
- Vukota

Exactly. More than anything, it's the ratio of price to ability. At 35, we've seen enough decline in Streit's game to realize he's simply not a $5 million a year player. His request for upwards of $6million per season over 4 years is way over what I'd consider a responsible contract.

I suppose ultimately this is why I consider the move a big mistake for the Flyers. If you're a team OVER the cap with other needs as well, committing 4 years and $5-$6 million on a guy who essentially is a power play specialist seems a bit careless. I don't believe the Flyers will be a cup contender this year or likely next year, so signing a guy of that age to big money to fill one role just seems odd.


Xxkeaner17xX

For what you gave up you really got a hell of a player, he's just over pricing himself & in this market if you don't give it to him, he will get it elsewhere. which is nuts in itself.

But who knows, if he is partnered with a solid stay at home guy who can compensate for Mark's weaknesses... you get one hell of a player.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

That about sums it up. He still has valuable uses. It's just a matter of weighing those uses against contract dollars, term and his age.

((UIF))

Another thing to keep in mind is that the perspective with which both fan bases are looking at him are quite different.

As Isles fans we are looking at the spot his taking up for the developing youth coming up in our system. As well as, like it or not we are used to being cheap when it comes to players and needs. We've had it shoved down our throats for so long we do it unconsciously.

The Flyers fans see a need that Steit fills and the need they seem to be explaining he does fill. As far as the possible numbers, the Flyers also operate at the top of the cap. They will pay for what they need.

I think in the end his deal works for both teams. Flyers get what they were looking for and we got something before we wound up with nothing.
- MikeyBiggs

fwiw, i still dont believe the islanders are cheap. they make significant offers, its a matter of if the players accept them or not...

Gotcha. I still hope he can help us with puck moving. We are giving nothing up but money and a 4th + prospect so I am not that worried.
- Hextall271

That he will defnitely help you with.

Malkin signed for 8 years $76 million. This means the Pens have signed two players to 28.3% of their salary. Those two players have missed 32.7% of games over the last four seasons

keaner17
- keaner17

How do you not sign Malkin to an extension? He and Crosby are so good they must be re-signed, regardless of what the cap implications are.

How do you not sign Malkin to an extension? He and Crosby are so good they must be re-signed, regardless of what the cap implications are.
- Jethro09

Exactly, thats a great deal right there

XxNYIxX

How in God's name was this guy your captain if he was such a horrible player and not liked by fans or the organization?
- Hextall271

He was liked by the fans and the organization, as evidenced by the captaincy. He still is. Nobody doesn't like Mark Streit. The problem is he doesn't fit into the Isles equasion at 3+ years at $5M per. The Isles have Visnovsky signed for the next two years to basically take Streit's spot as PP QB. They have a ton of prospects who are going to be NHL ready at some point over the next three or four years. Blocking them with a player in his mid to late 30's who is as weak in his own end as he is good in the offensive end at a cap hit of $5M per for 3-5 years just doesn't make sense for a team who's window to win isn't even open yet.

How do you not sign Malkin to an extension? He and Crosby are so good they must be re-signed, regardless of what the cap implications are.
- Jethro09

Oh I agree. There's no way I"d let him go anywhere. As long as he and Crosby are there, they're perenial contenders. Still, nearly a third of your cap space goes to two players, that's tough sledding.

Xxkeaner17xX

no one said he was unliked or horrible

He is in the downswing of his career, we have seen it over the last 2 years... he is no longer a top 4 D-men but he wants to be signed like a top 2. This is our problem with him, if we could sign him for 2 years 2.5-3 mill a season tops, im sure we would have for his PP ability, leadership and he was VERY liked in the locker room. But moving forward, we have the O that he brings and we NEED guys on our back end that can play D. so for 5-6 mill a season over a multi-year deal.... no thank you.. have a good day sir, nice knowing you, appreciate what you brought, good luck in your next endeavor.
So if you are expecting him to just come in and help your PP he will do that, If you are expecting him to be a leader and mentor.. you got a great guy... but if you are expecting a d-men that can play D..... not gonna happen.

XxNYIxX
- XxNYIxX

Well said.

Oh I agree. There's no way I"d let him go anywhere. As long as he and Crosby are there, they're perenial contenders. Still, nearly a third of your cap space goes to two players, that's tough sledding.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

Shero's pretty slick. I'm sure he'll find a way to keep the supporting cast around them pretty deep. Won't be easy, but he'll find a way.

Oh I agree. There's no way I"d let him go anywhere. As long as he and Crosby are there, they're perenial contenders. Still, nearly a third of your cap space goes to two players, that's tough sledding.

Xxkeaner17xX
- keaner17

If they resign Letang he is going to eat up a big chunk as well. Its still a good problem to have if your the pens

I know it's not malicious but it did sound weird to me that he was the captain yet lazy, beyond horrible defensively and no real redeeming qualities except a good shot.
- Hextall271

I don't know who called him "lazy", but I wouldn't call him that. With the Isles, he was a great offensive d-man, who played and carried himself with a lot of class and character. He will always be liked and respected by Isles fans. the only knock on him is that he is not good in his own end. He's slowed a bit as he's gotten older and he was never physical. Hes a bottom pair d-man who will QB the PP well. At $5M per, I expect more than that.

I don't know who called him "lazy", but I wouldn't call him that. With the Isles, he was a great offensive d-man, who played and carried himself with a lot of class and character. He will always be liked and respected by Isles fans. the only knock on him is that he is not good in his own end. He's slowed a bit as he's gotten older and he was never physical. Hes a bottom pair d-man who will QB the PP well. At $5M per, I expect more than that.
- Jethro09

XxNYIxX

I don't know who called him "lazy", but I wouldn't call him that. With the Isles, he was a great offensive d-man, who played and carried himself with a lot of class and character. He will always be liked and respected by Isles fans. the only knock on him is that he is not good in his own end. He's slowed a bit as he's gotten older and he was never physical. Hes a bottom pair d-man who will QB the PP well. At $5M per, I expect more than that.
- Jethro09

Why are we getting all these Flyers fans on this blog now...after a year Flyers fans will be wondering why they signed Streit longterm with his -20 +/- and 5 goals...

Shero's pretty slick. I'm sure he'll find a way to keep the supporting cast around them pretty deep. Won't be easy, but he'll find a way.
- Jethro09

My daughter was telling me that she saw on one of the blogs that Neill could be let go by the Pens as a cap casualty...it was probably speculation on the bloggers part but he would look great with JT...

My daughter was telling me that she saw on one of the blogs that Neill could be let go by the Pens as a cap casualty...it was probably speculation on the bloggers part but he would look great with JT...
- kear20

Id trade for him, id even offer real return for him

XxNYIxX

Now, according to TSN's Bob McKenzie in order to make cap space for a Streit contract, the Flyers will have to negotiate compliance buyouts with Bryzgalov and Briere. This will be intersting. Compliance buyouts (according to Mr. McKenize and the CBA) can't happen until 48 hours after the end of the Stanley Cup finale.


- Dee Karl

They won't have to negotiate anything.

Cut a check and phone NHL head office.

Done and done.

They're calling for "huge deals." That way they won't have to pack them up for the move.

she can't help herself..by the way I actually have time to be this websites blogger....i'm throwing my name in the hat...

They're calling for "huge deals." That way they won't have to pack them up for the move.

she can't help herself..by the way I actually have time to be this websites blogger....i'm throwing my name in the hat...
- NYI78

Yes!!!!!