At first, it seemed like the New York Islanders got Johnny Boychuk instead of Nick Leddy. Instead, GM Garth Snow said: “I’ll have both.”
The Islanders landed Leddy (and goalie Kent Simpson) from the Chicago Blackhawks for a prospect package of Anders Nilsson, Ville Pokka and T.J. Brennan.
On Leddy: Much like Boychuk in Boston, the Blackhawks needed to free up Leddy’s $2.7 million cap hit. Many Chicago fans will wonder why the team didn’t move someone else, but it’s easy to overlook the fact that you need to find a willing partner to dump salary. It’s much easier to get rid of a guy with value like Leddy than, say, someone of lower repute like Johnny Oduya.
Still, losing the 23-year-old stings, even if some of that sadness comes from perceived potential.
I'll miss your obscenely high percentage of controlled zone entries the most Nick Leddy.
— Jen LC (@RegressedPDO) October 4, 2014
Chicago’s take: Any impact won’t be immediate, which isn’t a stunner considering Chicago’s cap predicament.
Brennan and Pokka to Rockford, Nilsson stays in the KHL. #Blackhawks
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) October 4, 2014
Pokka: The early Twitter reactions are that he’s the “gem” of this deal. The 34th pick of the 2012 NHL Draft generated 27 points in 54 games for Karpat in the Finnish Elite League.
Pokka (POH-kuh) one of the Isles' top D prospects, strong showing as 19 year old in Finland last season. 27 points in 54 games...
— Chicago Blackhawks (@NHLBlackhawks) October 4, 2014
Brennan: Brennan, 25, has 40 games of NHL experience under his belt but spent the 2013-14 season with the Toronto Marlies.
Nilsson: Nilsson suffered through 19 mostly miserable games with the Islanders last season and didn’t put up very good numbers in the AHL, either. He’s currently playing for Kazan Ak-Bars in the KHL.
Here’s a quick rundown Garth Snow’s Personal Trade Deadline™:
Islanders takeaway: Leddy and Boychuk. Leddy, 23, is an RFA next summer. Boychuk, 30, is a UFA after 2014-15. They combine for about $6.37 million in added salary cap expenses. When you throw out a ton of wasted roster spots, the Islanders still easily have $4 million in cap space.
This also inspired quite the “Wayne’s World” reference:
Best day for a guy named Garth since that run-in with Kim Basinger
— Matt Kalman (@MattKalman) October 4, 2014
Islanders give up: Nilsson, Pokka, Brennan, two second-round picks and a conditional third-rounder.
The Canadian Press’ Stephen Whyno reports those conditions as such:
Re: Boychuk deal, conditional third-round pick only goes from #Isles to #Bruins if NY trades D-man during '14-15 season to Eastern team.
— Stephen Whyno (@SWhyno) October 4, 2014