Comments on: VOICES: BRENDAN WITTWhy he committed to the Islanders and Long Island

By: Jim Fails

Jim Fails — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:49:44 +0000

Jim one word to describe your posts….FAIL

By: Jethro09

Jethro09 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:21:22 +0000

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.

By: ISLEOFNJ

ISLEOFNJ — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 20:03:21 +0000

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 !

By: jaxx

jaxx — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 19:40:26 +0000

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.

By: UIF

UIF — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:57:20 +0000

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.

By: Chris TMC

Chris TMC — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 18:50:47 +0000

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.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 17:17:51 +0000

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!

By: Chris TMC

Chris TMC — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:13:58 +0000

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.

By: Brian

Brian — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:04:19 +0000

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.

By: UIF

UIF — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:38:19 +0000

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.

By: Travelchic59

Travelchic59 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:13:53 +0000

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.

By: sketchykg

sketchykg — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:54:46 +0000

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.