7 Questions: Mark Streit

Former Islanders captain Mark Streit was back on Long Island over the past week, taking in a few games at Barclays Center and spending time around the team.
Streit, the 13th captain in Islanders history, was with the team from 2008-13 and served as captain from 2011-13, the first Swiss player to wear the C for the Isles. The defenseman scored 179 points (40G, 139A) in 286 games with the Islanders, the most points and games he'd amass with any of his four NHL teams (Isles, Montreal, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh) during his 12-year career. Streit won a Stanley Cup with the Penguins last season and played two games with Montreal this year before retiring from the NHL and moving back to Switzerland.
NewYorkIslanders.com caught up with the former captain to talk about life after hockey, his memories with the Islanders and the team's return to the Coliseum for 12 games next season.

NewYorkIslanders.com: What have you been up to? How's retirement?
Mark Streit: I had to get shoulder surgery after I was done playing, so I'm kind of rehabbing. We went home at the beginning of December and have been home ever since. It's been great to spend the holidays there, but at the same time, it's great to be home and see everyone. I miss hockey, so it's great of Jon and Scott and the whole organization to come and invite me to meet everybody, see everybody and watch some hockey.

NYI: Did you think about going back to play in Switzerland?
Streit: I had the opportunity to play in Switzerland, but then I figured I just retired. Originally I said I want to retire as an NHL player and that's what I did. It was a tough decision, I still love the game, but I felt like it's time to retire.
NYI: What's next for you?
Streit: I'm checking all the different options. I do some stuff besides hockey and there's something in the watch industry that will pick up this year, but I'd like to do something in hockey too. I could imagine doing something for Swiss hockey for the national team and you never know, maybe something over here as well. I'm open for anything. After playing 22 years of pro hockey, it's good to take some time off and that's what I'll do in the spring and summer and then transition into new life.

NYI: When you look back at your time with the Islanders, what memories stand out?
Streit:We had a really young team and it was great seeing Johnny and Bails and Okposo, Nielsen those guys getting older and turning into great NHL players. For me it was a great experience and I was named captain which was a huge honor, I was able to participate in an all-star game, but I thought playing in the playoffs at the Coliseum, that was spectacular. There you could really feel what the Islanders are all about and the fans, just the excitement before the game, during the game and after. That was a great series against Pittsburgh. That was a really great experience.
NYI: Speaking of the Coliseum, the team is going to play 12 games there next season, what are your thoughts on going back for a few more games at the old barn?
Streit:I think it's great. It's kind of ironic because when we played at the Coliseum, everyone was kind of complaining, when do we get a new rink? But now everyone's excited to go back and I think the players are, the whole organization and the fans forsure. Those games are going to be great, they're going to be loud and that's going to be exciting and bring great memories back.

NYI: You were at the Islanders captain's getaway before the season. What was that event like and what does it say about the current state of alumni affairs?
Streit: I think it's great. For me, coming from Switzerland, flying over and joining that, it was incredible and a huge honor. I was always in touch with Jon and you can tell it's a different groove in the organization in how they want to celebrate the past and how they're really focused on making a bright future. The Islanders have such a great tradition and have had so many great players in their organization so I thought that captain's meeting was a great experience. It was a lot of fun and you get to talk to all the older guys who were older than me and won four Cups. There were so many great stories and it was a fantastic few days.

NYI: Have you been following the team and have you had a chance to catch up with the guys?
Streit:Once I retired I blocked everything out because every time when I watched hockey it was tough. Once I got invited by the Islanders and the ownership, I looked into it and watched a few games and was following before I came over here. I will get back into it, but I just needed a bit of distance because when you watch it and you still want to play it stings.
I played with Josh [Bailey], John [Tavares], I played with Jaroslav Halak in Montreal and then Zeeker when he was a young guy. The time flies, but it's great to see those guys doing so well. I caught up with them. I saw Bails, I had dinner with JT and we go back a long ways, I've known him since he was 18, so it's great to catch up.