The New York Islanders are trying to trade defenseman Nick Leddy. As per a few sources, including Arthur Staple of The Athletic, with NHL expansion protected lists due on Saturday, there is a bit of a rush by some teams to move players they’re at risk of losing for nothing. The Seattle draft is July 21 and Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello is among the many GMs looking at making moves ahead of that draft.
Staple writes, “There have been rumors around the league ever since Lamoriello took over the Isles that Nick Leddy might be on the trade block.” He adds that the NHL Expansion Draft has really kicked the desire to move Leddy into high gear and because he’s probably the odd man out on the Islanders’ expansion protected list, two league sources have indicated the 30-year-old defenseman is being shopped so as not to lose him for nothing.
The Islanders are also looking to free up cap space so trading the final year of Leddy’s contract at a $5.5 million AAV ($7 million in actual salary) is something the team is wanting to do. The fact his salary is higher than an already high cap hit isn’t going to lure in a lot of teams but Leddy is still a useful top-four defenseman. There are bound to be interested parties.
Staple also notes:
If there’s no deal and Lamoriello decides to leave Leddy unprotected then there are two likely scenarios: One, the Kraken takes Leddy. A veteran D-man who can still play and is on an expiring deal? That’s extremely tempting for Seattle. Two, Lamoriello makes a side deal with Seattle to give up assets so that the Kraken selects another unprotected Islander.
Leddy Available for Cheap
That Leddy is going to be dumped for cheap by the Islanders is more evidence that teams are going to be able to pick up really good defensemen for next to nothing over the next couple of days. The Oilers arguably overpaid for Duncan Keith, but gave up a fringe NHL player and a conditional third-round pick. The Minnesota Wild just information Ryan Suter he’ll be bought out and there are bound to be more of these kinds of moves as teams navigate their expansion protected lists.
What’s the actual ask for Leddy? That isn’t clear. But, if it’s more than a mid-round pick, that would be surprising. Staple adds, there almost certainly wouldn’t be any asset by the Islanders in the deal to take him.
More must-reads: