The brief reunion of Mark Streit and the Montreal Canadiens officially ended today as the two parties mutually agreed to terminate the Swiss defender’s one-year contract after playing only two games this season.
The Canadiens announced a mutual agreement with defenseman Mark Streit to terminate his contract. DETAILS -> https://t.co/Tz61heDWg2.
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 16, 2017
Mark Streit was originally placed on regular waivers by the Canadiens last week, as a way of offering him to other teams in the League. After not being claimed, Streit was assigned to the American Hockey League Laval Rocket, but decided to not report to the team to consider his options.
He was then placed on unconditional waivers on Sunday, which was a necessary step towards contract termination.
This move will free up an additional $654,839 cap space for the Canadiens who are now the team with the third highest cap space in the league.
Mark Streit placed on Unconditional Waivers for purpose of mutual contract termination. #Habs will save $654,839 against their salary cap.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 15, 2017
Mark Streit will receive $45,161 for his 12 days of service while he was on the Active Roster for the #Habs.
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) October 15, 2017
Although signing with another NHL team remains possible, few teams will be willing to take a shot on the veteran defender who was set aside by Pittsburgh during their Cup run last year, and again by the Canadiens this season.
More than likely Streit will now move back overseas to play in the Swiss NLA to cap his career where it started.
Mark Streit most likely finished his NHL career as it started, as a member of the Montreal Canadiens. He would have played 207 of his 786 NHL games with the Canadiens, also sporting the colours of the New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, and Pittsburgh Penguins.
He was originally selected by Trevor Timmins and the Montreal Canadiens in the ninth round of the 2004 entry draft on the recommendation of amateur scout Pierre Gauthier who followed the Swiss rearguard carefully starting at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics where he captained the Swiss national team. He impressed enough to earn a spot with the Habs at the start of the 2005-06 season, sending first round pick Ron Hainsey to the AHL.
Claude Julien was the coach who not only gave Streit his first chance to play in the NHL that season, but also his final chance to play in the NHL this season.
Considered one of the greatest hockey players to come out of Switzerland, he was their national team captain from 2002 to 2012, and continued to play for the team until 2015. He was widely credited with raising the stock of Swiss hockey in the eyes of the NHL, opening the door for modern day stars like Roman Josi, Nino Niederreiter, and Nico Hischier.
