The New York Islanders Buyout Brendan Witt
The New York Islanders have announced that they have bought out the last year of defenseman Brendan Witt’s contract. This means that the Islanders will now have to pay Witt $1.33 million next season and $833,333 the following year. The buyout makes the 35-year-old an unrestricted free agent (UFA), and he can now sign with any club.
Brendan Witt
Witt began his professional career with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Witt played three seasons with the Thunderbirds, posting 39 points in his final season with the club.
He was drafted 11th overall by the Washington Capitals in the 1993 National Hockey League (NHL) entry draft. Witt spent 10 years with the Capitals, making a name for himself as a tough stay-at-home defenseman. He did not manage many points but proved himself as a penalty killer and shut-down man.
In 2005-06, he had a brief stint with the Nashville Predators before leaving to join the New York Islanders. Witt played four seasons with the club, his latest was split between New York and their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
Last season Witt managed two goals, and three assists for five points in just 42 games with the Islanders.
New York’s Perspective
It did not come as a surprise when the Islanders chose to buyout Witt’s contract. The defenseman was aging and could no longer compete the way he used to. In addition, the Islanders are getting younger, and had he stayed, Witt would have been taking away ice time from a developing rookie.
General Manager Garth Snow had Witt buried in the AHL for most of last season, and the team was able to achieve what they did without him. Snow could keep Witt in the AHL for another season, thus keeping his contract off their books, and they would not have to pay the veteran for two more seasons. However, the Islanders do not have a great deal of money and a contact like Witt’s is expensive for a player that does not start in the NHL every night.
Moreover, the Islanders are a team attempting to get younger, and anywhere Witt played he would have been taking minutes from a youngster.
New York is set at defence for next season in both the AHL and NHL, and therefore they do not have to worry about signing another defenseman to take Witt’s place. The buyout was a smart move by Islanders management.
Witt’s Perspective
Witt is in the twilight of his career, and will no longer be a top-four defenseman in the NHL. In actual fact, he will have a tough time breaking into the top-six anywhere in the league. Nevertheless, he is still a tough customer, and a leader in the dressing room. These attributes could help Witt find a depth job somewhere in league.
Snow put Witt through waivers earlier in the summer and he was never claimed, which means teams were not interested in his services at the price. Now Witt has the opportunity to sign with a club for a lower figure, something some squads may be interested in.
Witt will likely sign with a perennial playoff contender that is looking for more depth or a bottom feeder that just needs a cheap defenseman to fill out their line-up.
Do not be surprised if the Carolina Hurricanes make a play for Witt’s services as their seventh defenseman. Already with a weak defence core, that lacks depth, a single injury could throw off the balance of their roster, something Witt may be able to help solve.
In addition, the Los Angeles Kings have a very strong top-four among defenseman but are weak in the fifth and sixth spots. Adding Witt could give the team more stability, and a veteran voice in a very young dressing room.
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