from the CP at Sportsnet,

Maybe Jaroslav Halak just needed to feel wanted.

First the goaltender was second fiddle to Carey Price in Montreal then got pushed out in St. Louis for Ryan Miller. Nothing more than a rental in Washington, Halak last June heard from a team that wanted to turn the reins over to him and invest in him for the long term.

Now the New York Islanders are atop the Metropolitan Division, riding the wave of Halak’s all-star-calibre play during his franchise record 11-game winning streak.

"This team showed interest in me and interest in signing me," Halak said. "Interest was on both sides, and I’m glad it worked out well."

It has worked out for the first-place Islanders because general manager Garth Snow was willing to trade a fourth-round pick for Halak’s rights two weeks after the regular season ended and even more willing to give him a long-term contract. Halak did his homework on the Islanders, talking to current and former players, and ultimately signed a US$18-million, four-year deal.

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