Looking for a left-handed puck moving defensemen, the Montreal Canadiens have signed Mark Streit to a one-year contract worth $700K. The deal also contains $300K of performance bonuses, making it a potential $1MM total. Streit returns to the team who drafted him and gave him his first NHL opportunity, this time just months removed from winning the Stanley Cup for the first time.
The Canadiens needed help on the left side following the apparent parting of ways with Andrei Markov—the two sides could still come to an agreement, though this signing complicates things further—and Streit has been an effective option on the powerplay for many years. If the team were acquiring the Streit they last saw, who scored 62 points in 2007-08 it would be one thing, but this time he comes in at age-39 and a shell of what he once was. Still able to drive possession and contribute with the man advantage, Streit needs sheltering from tough minutes and isn’t the workhorse he once was.
That may fit in perfectly with the Canadiens’ defense group, as Karl Alzner and Shea Weber are widely expected to take on the tough minutes against the team’s best forwards while players like Jordie Benn and David Schlemko can be effective in a defensive role as well. It’s not clear exactly where Streit will fit in on a regular basis, but it does give the Canadiens some much needed depth for a group that has shipped out several young players in recent deals. This group does pose quite the risk though, as if Weber or Alzner took a step backwards they could be in for a real tough time trying to shut down an elite forward line like many Atlantic division teams have.
They should’ve just kept Beaulieu.
As someone who’s watched Beaulieu for years, I’m actually glad he’s gone. He’s talented, no argument there, but man he is one of the most frustrating players to watch. He has an explosive first step and a good first pass but never uses them to their fullest potential. He has all the tools to be a potential top pairing D but he severely lacks hockey sense and he makes questionable decisions on an alarmingly consistent basis.