VOICES: BRENDAN WITT
Why he committed to the Islanders and Long Island
The news got lost between the UFA swap and shop and the parting with Ted Nolan, but Brendan Witt’s decision to sign a two-year extension with the Islanders was unmistakably a big deal for reasons beyond the playing surface. Take this to the bank: the rugged shutdown defenseman could have fulfilled the final year of his Islanders contract in ’08-09 (or perhaps been traded at the deadline to a contender, if the Islanders were out of it) and could have signed for more money than the $3 mill annum he accepted from his current team.
At the risk of taking this out on not-so-poor Jeff Finger, you saw how much dough a bunch of dime-a-dozen dboys got in July. How much would a seasoned, shot-blocking, pain-loving man who drives Crosby and Malkin to distraction have brought home?
For the way he always plays hurt and recklessly flings his body around the rink, I always thought Witt was a bit screwy. So I called him up to get his take on why he committed to the Islanders.
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“I got a call from (agent) Paul Theofanous after the unrestricted market settled down in mid-July. He really stunned me with the news. Paul said Garth Snow had been in contact and wanted to make an offer to keep me an Islander past the year I had left on my deal.
“The reason why I was surprised is that I’ve been in the game a long time and that’s not usually how it’s done. Teams usually take a wait-and-see approach. They see you as a commodity. Most of the time, they want to do a deal only at the last moment when it is the right time for the team.
“I was really flattered that Garth approached, and I knew Charles Wang endorsed the decision – which meant a lot to me. Garth was up-front with me about his plans for a youth movement, which I understand, but he made it clear he wanted me to be around as one of the leaders. I was honored.
“Paul laid out all of my options – what the next year could bring, what the market might look like, what I could be worth. I immediately talked it over with my wife (Salima). We were instant agreement that we wanted to stay on Long Island. It wasn’t a very long discussion. Salima and our children, we all love it here. To me, it’s one of the great secrets in the NHL – how incredible Long Island is. Before I came here, I was like every other player in the league: you saw the Marriott and the Coliseum, and that was it.
“We’ve also have made great friendships here and the fans have been so good to us, too. So it was a pretty smooth negotiation, if you could even call it that. From the day of the first call to me signing the deal, I don’t think it was any longer than a week.
“I don’t know if I left anything on the table and I don’t think much about it. I know it was a fair deal for both sides, and my family and I are so happy about it. The economics of the game have changed, that I know for sure. You’re seeing some very young players get huge contracts. Most of the older players, not so much. You’re not going to hear me complain about this deal.
“I just want to keep on playing the way I do and hopefully help the kids along. When I started out with the Caps, I learned a lot from their older guys. Calle Johansson was great to me, so was Mark Tinordi. Kevin Hatcher was at my first camp, Al Iafrate. The biggest thing they taught me is that you can have a good time at work, but you have to bust your tail off. You can never go through the motions or it will hurt the team.
“I know how much those guys helped me. I want to do the same for our guys on the Island.”
25 Responses to “VOICES: BRENDAN WITT
Why he committed to the Islanders and Long Island”
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He better be the captain next year!!!! Guerins game has slipped big time. He should be on the 3rd line. If they want to keep him around next year with a 1 year deal he better give up the C and get ready to play 4th line minutes. Otherwise thanks for the leadership and good luck.
I wrote this in the Win Witts seats thread on IslandersMania and is true to the way Witter is: Brendan Witt is the ultimate teammate. He is a guy who will lay down in front of any shot and step up to any player. He’s a guy who if you step anywhere near the crease, you’re going to get a glove to the face. A guy who when the going gets tough, he just gets tougher. You mess with one of his teammates, he’s coming to their defense. Brendan Witt is a very underrated defensemen in today’s game, although the game has changed and become a much faster paced game, where mobile and puck moving defensemen are the big need, he has been able to still be as effective a defensemen as he has ever been. Witt has added credibility to an Islanders defense that needed it and been the ultimate Islander. Brendan Witt is an Islander and us fans are damn proud of it!
Witt is definitely the staple of the Isles’ defensive core. What intrigues me most is what will happen to this team once Campoli and Sutton return. We may lose some speed on the ice with Sutton but we gain toughness and a guy who plays a solid “big man” game. Very much looking forward to the returning guys on D.
How is he not captain? No offense to the current…Witt is just the epitome of a team player and leader.
I hope he destroys Kaleta next time around.
Couldn’t be happier about locking up Witt and him appreciating LI - easily my favorite player… amazing with the hatred I used to possess for the guy in previous Capitals years..
Bottom line…that’s why he’s a fan favorite! Always comes to play!!
This guy Witt, and I know Isles fans know this already, but I write it because maybe Witt would one day read it, he is a great hockey player. Last year he gave his body up in order to preserve the integrity of the Islanders. He dove to block pucks, he played one on one D with some of the best players in the league. Sticks flying everywhere ( within the rules) to mkake sure he could secure his positionsing and prevent an opponent from gaining an opportunity to score. He stpeed up big time. Now, there are not many players that would risk their bodies like Witt. Alot of Players are selfish and do not want to get hurt or lose a tooth, or get a bruise on their face. Witt is a true Islander, and he has proved that by letting the fans know that he will not let anyone come into our house and push us around. NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE, COMES INTO OUR HOUSE, AND PUSHED US AROUND. Brendan Witt can say that, Brendan Witt has exemplified that. Brendan Witt is a true Islander. We, as Islander fans love this guy. He has proven that he not only a talent, but a man and one fo the greatest Islanders in history, simply by sacrificing and pressing and laying the lumber, baby. Similar to how Richie Pilon DOIMINATED Lindross in the late 90’s, Brendan Witt has etched his name in Islanders history. Thank you, Brendan.
~The Commodore.
“its OUR cup.”
Exactly what Darren said, he’s such a fan favorite and there’s just one of the many reasons why. What a stand up guy.
he is a legend. period
I totally disagree. The reason Witt signed here was for the money. Let’s not fool ourselves. Its the only reason anyone signs here, there or anywhere. If Witt thought he could get more money somewhere else, he’d be gone. It’s the truth.
I just wish Brendan was a better skater. He gets fried all the time. TB’s first goal last night was on him 100%. In Gordon’s overspeed system he might have a hard time sticking.
When Brandan and his wife did that interview that was on ITV in a few parts last season, I knew from listening to her that Witt would re-sign when given the chance. His wife was saying how much she loves NY and how living in LI is great, and I just knew. I figures that he wouldnt even wait to see what kind of money other teams were throwing at him, and he didnt. If your family loves where they are, you play for a team that respects you, you are respected in the lockerroom, you are paid well, and the fans absolutely love you, what reason is there to leave?
When Brendan Witt was re-signed I think the positive reaction to it was one of the most uniformly agreed-upon things that Ive seen happen in this organizations fanbase in ages.
Guys, stop it. Witt just isn’t that highly thought of around the league. That’s why the Isles got him for a decent price a few years ago, because nobody else would pay him. Aftyer experiencing the lack of interest, he re-upped here knowing there probably wouln’t be much interest anywhere else. It’s all about money. If he could get a nice lucrative deal somewhere else, he’d be out the door.
Witt would have fit in perfectly with the early 80’s teams during the cup runs. Does his job every single night and every d-man we have coming through the sysytem is better for it.
Thanks for staying “witter”
jIM, you’re wrong. During his time at ESPN, the coach of the team we played last night said many times that Witt should be in the All-Star game. I was shocked over the summer when he signed since he could easily get $4 million per season next summer.
I was thrilled to hear Witt re-signed. I think his leadership skills should be greatly valued. If he can teach his work ethic to the younger guys on the team, he will have been worth his weight in gold.
jIM, I think you’re right and wrong. Just after the lockout, many teams were probably uninterested in Witt because of concern about a slow-footed defenseman getting burned and taking penalties given the rule changes. But some of those d-men have been able to thrive in the “new NHL,” and Witt is one of them. Pittsburgh picking up Hal Gill at the deadline shows that a lot of contending speed teams are once again understanding the importance of a crease-clearing defenseman that punishes other players.
I think Witt would have definitely received a lot of interest in the market now from contenders looking for the last piece to the puzzle - true big physical d-men that use their size and do not look horribly out of place when faced with some speed are rare, and there is a demand for the ones that have been able to stick since the rule changes.
Witt is thriving? I mean, he’s a nice, tough player? Thriving? The guy on many nights is accident waiting to happen. Good player, nothing more.
Witt is a defensive defenseman. Yes he has thrived here on LI because he has been effective at his job and a respected asset to this team. Everything isnt about scoring goals and assists- real life is not a fantasy hockey team.
The Iron Horse Witt was one of the last great Signings for the Islanders if not the the Last. And remember who made that deal “NEIL SMITH”!
And Islander Fans are thankful!
Welll…. considering the number of days that NS was actually here on the Island, he deserves the credit for bringing the guy here in the first place but nothing more. After all, NS isnt the one that Witt says he is happy with and NS isnt is the one that just re-signed him.
MM brought some good people here too, but at this point does that really matter? Both he and NS are nothing but history.
Brian, my point is there is a market in the NHL, particularly among contenders looking for a final piece to the puzzle, for what Witt brings to the table…and I’d put his value, currently, above what he got from the Isles. Especially looking at what defensemen around the league are getting (including Streit, btw). So as not to get hung up on semantics, we can substitute “effective” for “thriving,” but I wouldn’t say he’s an accident waiting to happen either. He gets beat sometimes - most defensemen do! With the skilled forwards in the league, especially the elite forwards that Witt is reponsible for containing on most nights, you’re not going to stop them all the time.
Jim you are 100% wrong. He could have doubled his salary on the open market. Playoff teams on the cusp of winning it all would be willing to give up a ton to get him. Jus tthe way he plays against Malkin & Crosby alone would double his salary. Too say he only signed for the money when he could have gotten more on the open market is comical.
Was extremely happy when this happened as he was most deserving. Believe the highest compliment I can think of is that Witt is the type of team guy who could have played for the dynasty team and been right at home !
Witter is my favorite current player on this team. Nobody on the team better symbolizes what a hockey player should be and how a professional should play the game. He’s all class and heart.
Jim one word to describe your posts….FAIL