7:40AM Monday
February 18, 2013

Defenseman Mark Streit and the New York Islanders have had "preliminary" contract extension talks, Arthur Staple of Newsday reported Saturday.

Streit, the Islanders' 35-year-old captain, is in the final year of a five-year deal worth $20.5 million. He is also coming off a 47-point (and minus-27) campaign a year ago.

So far this season, Streit has seven points in 14 games. The Islanders are 10th in the Eastern Conference, but three points out of seventh.

"The fact is I like it here. We have a really good team," Streit told Newsday.

"I've been here five years and I have a really good role, I love the room and I can tell the improvement is here the last few years. It's maybe 5 percent we're missing to break through. Overall, I'd like to stay."

The Islanders are coming off a 5-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils Saturday. John Tavares had the hat trick for New York.