Habster:
Getting Mark Streit’s signature on a contract should be a priority within the Habs four UFAs. The remaining three UFAs (Brisebois, Smolinski and Ryder) should be a faint memory when the Canadiens start training camp next September. The Canadiens have some young and upstart players like Kyle Chipchura, Ryan O’Byrne/Pavel Valentenko and Matt D’Agostini (or a good UFA) who could easily replace the above mentioned players.
Bob Gainey needs to re-sign Streit to a fair yet affordable contract, something resembling 3 years $6 million ($1.5, $2 and $2.5 million). If Gainey decides to throw another $500,000 – $1 million into the total package, then I wouldn’t be too disappointed as Mark Streit had a solid season but anything beyond that would be too steep a price to pay.
The length of the contract could also be another deterrent for Gainey to consider as the Habs do have some very offensively skilled, young defensemen within their system with the likes of Subban, Weber, Emelin, McDonagh and Carle waiting in the wings.
Needless to say, it will be an extremely interesting off season for the Canadiens with a lot of tough decision to make……..one of them being Mr. Streit!!!
2 Million for someone who is only effective on the PP???? Even that was not in evidence in the post-season. I say let him walk. My head still hurts from the giveaways …
I’m not too sure signing him is such an urgent thing. I remmeber all the doom and gloom when we lost Sourey, and look what happened, Streit was helpful, but Like Sourey was a liability at times. Also defense is probably this team’s deepest position and you’ll need the spot for someone in a couple of seasons. I’m sure Streit will be looking for some security in this contract so you’ll be on the hook for 3 or 4 years and I wouldn’t want to commit that term to a marginal defense who is strictly a PP specialist. Not with the crop of defensemen this team will have in 3 years. Believe it or not I would rather see them sign Breezby or another year, than lock in longer with Streit. Also worth noting Streit was in the top 5 statistically for defensmen and Eklund in Hockeybuzz has him rated higher that Brian Campbell who had as many points, but Streit had more goals, so signing for the $$ you mentioned would be difficult because I don’t see him leaving millions on the table to play a bit role in Mtl. Nope take the 4 to 5 needed to sign him and use someto lock up Andrei K and put the rest on what this team really needs and that is another scoring centre.
I was with you Habster in LL…agreeing with you word for word. But then you had to mention Brisebois! lol Some say that Hatcher is the slowest defenseman in the NHL but I think that the playoffs proved that Brisebois has locked up that title. Starting Brisebois over O’Byrne was a huge mistake…and hopefully we have seen the last of him.
As far as Streit, you are absolutely correct. NFL rosters are large enough to accomodate special team players, but not the NHL. That’s all that Streit is. He is a defensive liability and his PP production not only dropped in the playoffs but also the last month of the season. The Canadiens have outgrown Streit and would be foolish to get locked into a 3 or 4 yr. contract with him.
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