New York Islanders Winners And Losers Of Week 2

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Oct 16, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Anaheim Ducks left wing Andrew Cogliano (7) sends the puck past New York Islanders left wing Andrew Ladd (16) during the first period at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Loser: Andrew Ladd

Going into the game against the Minnesota Wild, Islanders marquee free agency signing Andrew Ladd had zero points.

That’s zero points in the first five games. Zero points playing alongside one of the better players in the NHL in John Tavares. Something just isn’t clicking for the two.

Either both don’t know how the other is going to act on the ice, or there just out of sync. They just aren’t clicking.

And it’s not like Ladd’s fortunes changed against the Wild. While the Islanders were on the right end of a 6-3 win, Ladd contributed a single point. Getting an assists on the final goal, an empty netter for John Tavares.

It’s not to say that Ladd isn’t trying. The former Jets captain has 14 shots to his name in the regular season. But for whatever reason he just isn’t able to bury his chances. Maybe it’s poor shot selection, bad positioning on the ice when taking a shot, or maybe it’s just bad puck luck.

Either or, it shouldn’t last. Ladd is too good of a player to have this trend stick over the course of an 82 game season. Ladd’s PDO is a horrendous 92.3, meaning he should return to the mean of 100 sooner rather than later.

Thankfully Islanders fans can rest in the knowledge that coach Jack Capuano will likely resist the urge to split the two up just yet. Instead letting the natural course of playing time rectify Ladd’s scoring woes.