New York Islanders 3 Things to be Excited for in 2018-19

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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 30: Nick Leddy #2 of the New York Islanders skates against Nikita Zaitsev #22 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during their game at the Barclays Center on October 30, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Nick Leddy With Structure

Nick Leddy has been the New York Islanders best defensemen ever since they acquired him on October 4th, 2014 in a trade with the Chicago Blackhawks.

He’s one of the better skaters in the league. He’s one of the best players on the team when it comes to moving the puck out of the zone. And his ability to make a defensive play was matched by few on the team.

Except in 2017-18 when Nick Leddy seemed to be completely out of his element. Under Doug Weight, Nick Leddy looked completely lost. That won’t be the case with new head coach Barry Trotz.

Last season the defensive system that was employed by Dough Weight clearly didn’t play to Nick Leddy’s strengths. In fact, I’d like to wager it didn’t work to any of their strength’s.

Leddy was often caught doing far too much far too often. He and his defensive partners were routinely out of position as they struggled to adapt to their coach’s new defensive system.

Trotz’s first goal will be to stabilize a defensive group that remains relatively unchanged from a group that was the worst in the NHL last season. Achieving that goal will enable Nick Leddy to do what he does best, and that’s getting the puck out of the zone.

After making steady progress year after year, Leddy took a dip in 2017-18. Leddy is going to be a completely different player in 2018-19. Expect him to return 45-50 points by the end of the season. In 2018-19 we’ll get the Nick Leddy of old thanks simply to a better defensive structure.