New York Islanders: The Case for Andrew Ladd

New York Islanders GM Garth Snow made a bold statement today signing forward Andrew Ladd to $5.5 million to put him in a New York Islanders sweater for the next seven years.

Garth Snow knows he has to be aggressive. Islanders fans are notoriously impatient, for good reason as the team just won it’s first playoff round since 1993. The key for Garth Snow is to improve his team on that success, while also dealing with the departures of Kyle Okposo, Frans Nielsen, and Matt Martin.

One of the NHL’s most sought-after rentals at the trade deadline, Andrew Ladd ultimately returned to the Chicago Blackhawks, with whom he won a Stanley Cup within 2010. It turned out to be a first round exit to Central Division rivals, the St. Louis Blues. The first time the Blackhawks made a first round exit when qualifying for the playoffs, since 1980-81.

Ladd is the only captain of the new Winnipeg Jets franchise since their move to Winnipeg. A native of Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Ladd won a gold medal with Canada at the World Junior’s in 2005 and has won two Stanley Cups.

In addition to the aforementioned 2010 Stanley Cup with Chicago, Ladd first won the Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006. He was a teammate of now New York Islanders Assistant GM and Assistant Coach, Doug Weight.

New York Islanders

Ladd is a great addition for the Islanders

Ladd will surely slide right onto the first line, riding shotgun with John Tavares. A few years older than Okposo, Ladd has 769 NHL games under his belt, with 466 points. Including five seasons with 20 or more goals.

At a career rate of .61 points per game, Ladd has never had the chance to play with an elite center like John Tavares. The last time he was with a true number one center was with Ryan Getzlaf with the Calgary Hitmen of the WHL in 2003-04.

Getting to play with a player like Tavares, has got to be one of his main reasons for signing with the Islanders.

$5.5 million is nice, but it’s not often you get the chance to play on a line with a first overall pick feeding you pucks. Ladd will have to play more than his career average of 16:52 ice time and he will have to use his 205 pounds, 6’3” frame to create time and space for Tavares.

Next: New York Islanders UFAs Departing

At 30 years old, Andrew Ladd is entering the final few years of his prime and joins an Islanders roster that will benefit greatly from his offensive abilities, leadership and playoff experience.