New York Islanders Free Agency and Trade Predictions

By Matt O'Leary

May 28, 2019

UNIONDALE, NEW YORK - APRIL 12: Jordan Eberle #7 of the New York Islanders celebrates his third period goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins in Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2019 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at NYCB Live's Nassau Coliseum on April 12, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Penguins 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

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UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 16: Nick Leddy #2 of the New York Islanders skates against the Philadelphia Flyers during a preseason game at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2018 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Islanders trade Nick Leddy

We’re at the point where I think it would be surprising if Nick Leddy is on the roster when the 2019-2020 season begins. After a brutal 2017-2018, where he was an inexplicable -42, he followed it up with a fairly mediocre 2018-2019 season.

In 82 games he had 26 points (4 goals, 22 assists). When Johnny Boychuk went down in the playoffs, Leddy wasn’t very good leaving a sour taste in the mouths of Islanders fans.

In this trade, the Islanders are flipping a former 40 point defenseman for some help on their top-six. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins can play center or left wing, which just adds depth to the weaker center group, so considering they just paid Brock Nelson, RNH will play on the wing.

Nugent-Hopkins has two years remaining at $6 million per year. The 26-year-old is coming off a 69 point (28 goals, 41 assists) season. He also had 26 points on the power play which the Isles desperately need help with.