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Islanders sign former top prospect Leblanc after Ducks don’t qualify him

Louis Leblanc, Joey Hishon, Calvin Pickard

Louis Leblanc, Joey Hishon, Calvin Pickard

AP

Louis Leblanc was taken by the Montreal Canadiens with the 18th overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, but little has gone right for him since. He’ll get another shot though after signing a one-year, two-way deal with the New York Islanders, per the team’s website.

Prior to being drafted, the Quebec-native had 26 goals, 58 points, and 100 penalty minutes in 51 contests with the QMJHL’s Montreal Juniors.

He had five goals and 10 points in 50 career NHL games with Montreal over the course of his three-year, entry-level contract, but 42 of those contests were played during 2011-12. When his opening deal with the Canadiens expired they decided to trade him to the Anaheim Ducks for nothing more than a conditional pick. Montreal would have received a 2015 fifth round selection if Leblanc had participated in at least 15 games with Anaheim, but the 24-year-old forward spent the full campaign in the minors where he recorded 14 goals and 11 assists in 71 contests with AHL Norfolk.

The Ducks decided not to present him with a qualifying offer after that, which is what allowed him to become an unrestricted free agent.

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