Isles Claim Strait From Penguins

The New York Islanders have officially claimed D, Brian Strait off waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The 25 yr old Strait has appeared in 220 AHL games with the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.  He has 8 and 32 for 40 pts and a +46 rating with 182 PIMs.  In 12 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was 0 and 1 for 1 pt.  Strait was selected in the 3rd round (65th overall) of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

Strait spent two seasons with the United States National Development Team in 2004-05 and 2005-06 and in International play, Strait played for the U.S. National Team at the 2008 World Junior Championships and the 2006 Under-18 World Championships, winning gold as team captain in 2006.

 

 

The Islanders, Garth Snow has added depth and missing pieces from the waiver wire thus far this week when applicable free agent interests go sour.  Especially with Visnovsky's projected absense for at least another two weeks.  Call it dumpster diving if you want, but Snow is addressing team needs with low risk acquistions that he sees a value in as they become available.

 

If these acquistions dont pan out, no big deal.  If they do, the Isles could have another Matt Moulson or Michael Grabner on the roster.  The salary cap will make more quality players available from cap strapped teams as the shortened season goes on via trade.  And trades will happen from the Islanders side if tenured prospects or relied upon vets fail to live up to their projected skill levels as the team pushes forward in development.

 

 

Call the 2013 NHL season a live audition for the future product the Isles will want to introduce into the next stage of the plan.

 

 

The New York Islanders open the 2013 season tomorrow night against the New Jersey  Devils at the NVMC at 7pm.

 

Isles Notes:

Forwards: Moulson-Tavares-Okposo, Grabner-Nielsen-Boyes, Ullstrom-Cizikas-McDonald, Boulton-Reasoner-Martin-Aucoin

Per Arthur Staple, "Keith Aucoin splitting 4th-line C duties with M. Reasoner in Isles practice. Otherwise, lines and D-pairs the same."

"Isles announce that they have suspended Lubomir Visnovsky. Move to get to 23-man roster limit."

"Jack Capuano says still no timetable for returns of J. Bailey (knee), J. Joensuu (groin)."

 

B.D Gallof, " (Isles) Now at 23-man roster with D Brian Strait off waivers from Pens. 13 F, 8 D, 2 G."

Per NHLhistorygirl, "1973: Isles defeated Bruins, 9-7, at Boston Garden. The highlight of their inaugural season, most reporters thought score was a typo."

 

Sound Tigers Notes:

Per Michael Fornabio, "John Persson, Matt Watkins, Marc Cantin all on the ice in regular -- at least, non-non-contact -- jerseys. Couple of lines w/4 players.  In addition to today's full group, Scott Pellerin said Kirill Kabanov could be back to full contact as early as Monday."
 

NHL Notes:

Per Bob McKenzie, "NHL teams must submit official 23-man roster to league office by 5 pm ET today. Expected to be quite a few underage jrs on those rosters.  Underagers can play 5 games without burning first year of their entry-level contract. So many are on 5 GP - not team's 1st 5 games- trial."