Strait, 29, spent the 2016-17 season with the Winnipeg Jets' organization where he split time between the Manitoba Moose (AHL) and Winnipeg. He tallied two assists in five regular-season NHL games with the Jets as well as two goals and 14 points in 58 games with Manitoba. The left-shooting blueliner matched his previous AHL career high with 12 assists (also 2011-12 & 2009-10) and had a career best 84 shots on goal. Through his six-plus season NHL career, Strait has six goals and 23 assists for 29 points and 91 penalty minutes in 187 regular-season games. He also had one goal and 16 penalty minutes in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff contests.
Prior to signing with New Jersey, Strait spent time with Pittsburgh (2010-13), the NY Islanders (2013-16) and Winnipeg (2016-17). At the AHL level, the 6-1, 205lb., defenseman has career totals of 10 goals and 44 assists for 54 points and 218 penalty minutes in 278 games with Wilkes-Barre (2009-13) and Manitoba (2016-17). He also has one goal and five assists in 18 Calder Cup Playoff matches. Before his professional career, the Waltham, MA, native attended Boston University (HE) from 2006-09 and led the Terriers to the 2009 NCAA Championship. He also spent two seasons, 2004-06, with the United States National Development Program, where he captained the Americans to a Gold Medal victory at the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championship under the leadership of Devils' Head Coach John Hynes. Born on January 4, 1988, Strait was selected by Pittsburgh in the third round (65th overall) in the 2006 NHL Draft.
