End of the Line for Witt

The Islanders tweeted today that they have decided to buy out the remainder (one year) of defenseman Brendan Witt's contract. Witt had about $3 million against the cap and had been put on waivers yesterday (the third time since the start of this calendar year). He spent last season after February in Bridgeport of the AHL.

This is bittersweet. It gives the Isles a bit more money to play with plus an empty spot on the roster, yet they also lose one of the true heart-and-soul players of this team. Witter was not the fastest guy on the ice, nor the highest-scoring, and he was injured a lot. Yet often he seemed to lead his teammates without even trying, and he played through his pain. In the end, that seemed to hurt him more than help, but you can't deny he loved to play the game, and he loved the fans on the Island. I only wish things could have worked out differently for him regarding the team, but maybe he'll find a new start elsewhere.

You'll be missed, Witter.