Mark Streit wanted more money than the Islanders were willing to offer.
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The Islanders’ difficult contract talks with captain Mark Streit will never take place. Instead, the team decided to simply move on and trade his rights to Philadelphia.
The Islanders received a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft and 24-year-old forward Shane Harper. Harper had just 10 points — five goals and five assists — this season for the AHL’s Phantoms.
The Flyers now have exclusive negotiating rights with the 35-year-old defenseman prior to free agency’s start on Aug. 1.
Streit had six goals and 21 assists last season, but the Isles had not offered him a new deal since earlier in the regular season — a deal significantly less than what Streit was targeting.
The Islanders still have forward Brad Boyes, starting goalie Evgeni Nabokov and center Keith Aucoin as unrestricted free agents, as well as goalie Tim Thomas, who the team acquired at the trade deadline and did not play last season. He has not yet stated his plans for next year.
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