Strait is far from a fan favorite; in fact, he may rank among the least popular players on the team, if message boards and sports talk radio are any indication. The Islanders use Strait as their seventh defenseman, and he plays when there is an injury to one of the top six defensemen or if coach Jack Capuano is trying to send a message to one of his players. Why do the fans dislike him? He offers very little talent wise in either his own zone or on the offensive side. Strait is just a roster filler, but for one reason or another, he does seem to be a favorite of Capuano.
Strait is a bottom-pair defenseman with limited upside but the kind of player the Islanders seem to collect frequently on defense. His playing days for the team however could be coming to an end after this season with Griffin Reinhart, Ryan Pulock, and a few others nipping at his heels.
Strait is another move that adds fuel to the fire about the Islanders not really knowing what they are doing. He had hardly played in the previous two seasons when the Islanders inexplicably gifted him a three-year contract. He then promptly got injured and sat out most of 2012-13. You can blame his poor performance on his injuries, but I don't see him as anything more than a bottom-pair defenseman.
Strait is a defenseman who probaby won't help fantasy teams win leagues. He's spent the majority of his last three seasons in the AHL with Wilkes-Barre, where he's compiled 40 points in 194 games. The 24-year-old blueliner saw action in nine games with Pittsburgh over that spin, tallying a lone assist. He's another one of the Pens' older defensive prospects who isn't receiving much fanfare but will probably see more action in the NHL than previously. Still, his skillset lies inside his own zone and he won't be counted on for scoring, wherever he goes.
Strait, 23, should see time in Pittsburgh in 2011-12. A defensive-oriented rearguard, Strait registered only two goals and 10 points in 75 AHL games last season. He also played in parts of three games for the Penguins, but did not record any shots or points. He's in the minority of blue line prospects within the Pittsburgh organization that actually can be considered a stay-at-home defenseman.
