New York Islanders Sign Brendan Witt

[jgdeadrabbit]

Originally Posted by Phila26Flyers

It's been the same mantra with the Eagles. What shiitty front offices we have.

Stopped being Orange and Black after 35 yrs of being.Gonna quit supporting Iggles soon too if they dn't get their act together.

Certainly not going over to P-burgh with all those slack-jawed trailer park Western Pa hilliard yokels.It seems like Western Pa. begins at the Lancaster/Chester County line.

[CairnsisGod]

Originally Posted by Godard49

Rumors said Laraque was being looked at by us but i want Godard back

Don't get me started.

[bigjack]

Originally Posted by Thrillhouse

One of the most relentless defensemen in the National Hockey League is now a member of the New York Islanders. The Islanders have agreed to terms with Brendan Witt on a three-year contract.

'We were looking for competitors and today we signed one of the fiercest in the league in Brendan Witt," said Islanders Vice President and general manager Neil Smith. "Our coach Ted Nolan holds Brendan in the highest regard and was very interested in bringing him to Long Island, and I know Brendan was extremely excited about the prospect of playing for Ted.

"After battling against Brendan for ten seasons when he was with the Capitals, our players and our fans know how great it is to have him on our side now. He never takes a shift off. There's no question we're a much tougher matchup with Brendan on our blue line."

The veteran of ten NHL seasons is one of the game's hardest hitters and most reliable defensive defensemen. In 642 NHL games, all but the last 17 with Washington before a late-season trade to Nashville in 2005-06, the 6-2, 220-pound defenseman has 20 goals, 66 assists and 1,103 penalty minutes.

Witt was the Capitals' first round pick (11th overall) in the 1994 Entry Draft. The 32-year old Saskatchewan native played ten seasons in Washington, including a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 1998. Last season, he had a goal, ten assists and 141 penalty minutes in 55 games before being traded in March to the Predators for Kris Beech and a 2006 first round draft pick. Witt had three assists in 17 regular season games and was scoreless in five playoff games with Nashville. For the season he had an even plus-minus rating and a combined 209 penalty minutes.

"From the beginning, the Islanders were at the top of the list of teams I wanted to sign with," Witt said tonight. "This is a franchise with an incredible tradition and I'm excited to be part of the new era on Long Island. I appreciate the faith Neil Smith has put in me and I'm looking forward to being coached by Ted Nolan. We're going to be a team that Islander fans can be proud of."

Solid signing, I was actually hoping the Rangers would of signed him. Jagr and company better have their heads up next season when he's on the ice.

[Kikuchiyo]

Nice to see some thought going into the signings so far. It looks like the Islanders front office actually has some sort of a plan this summer. I expect great things from Smith and Nolan. They know what they're doing.

[kingcobrafan]

Witt would've fit perfectly on the Wild. While they've vastly improved the team, they're still way too soft.

[BM24]

Witt could have helped every team in the league!

I was really hoping my team got him so I'm dissappointed!

[Isles4life]

Very good signing. Witt provides something the Islanders have never had since Charles Wang bought the team in a good physical defenseman. Sillinger is also a solid pick up. Now we just need a puck-moving defenseman and an enforcer. If we can pull that off and pull some scoring out of somewhere, this team is back in business.

[BENNETTWOLF]

Good move NYI. Figure Witt has made many lists for most disliked opposing player in the east. Nice combo of abrasive and skillful play. Always a plus to dress a physical prescence who can log top two line type of minutes.

Suprised David Poile didn't offer Brendan the moon after giving up a #1 draft choice for a "rental".

Look forward to seeing How Brendan approaches playing the Caps. Could be interesting. I know he had moments with most of the islander lineup and consistently drew the ire of Aaron Asham.

[bengino]

man, this is another guy i wish would have been signed by the Habs... as is the Isles got a good guy.