Flyers land upcoming UFA defenceman Streit, send Harper and pick to Islanders

PHILADELHIA, Pa. – The Philadelphia Flyers have acquired veteran defenceman Mark Streit from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Shane Harper and a fourth-round pick in the 2014 NHL draft.

The deal gives Philadelphia a window of opportunity to negotiate a contract with the Swiss defenceman before he becomes an unrestricted free agent on July 5. Streit is coming off a US$20.5-million, five-year contract with the Islanders.

The 35-year-old Streit recorded six goals and 21 assists in 48 games last season. He added three goals and two assists in six playoff games.

He joined the Islanders as a free agent in 2008. He led the team in scoring his first season with 56 points (16 goals, 40 assists) and was an all-star in 2009.

Streit was named the captain of the Islanders prior to the 2011-12 season. The five-foot-11, 191-pound defenceman was drafted by Montreal in the ninth round of the 2004 draft.

He has 65 goals and 223 assists in 491 regular-season games with the Canadiens and Islanders.

A native of Englisberg, Switzerland, Streit represented his country in the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics. He has also represented Switzerland 12 times in the IIHF World Championships.