Andrew Ladd to Islanders: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Forward Andrew Ladd landed a big free-agent contractFriday, signing a seven-year deal with the New York Islanders.Andy Strickland of Fox Sports Midwest reported Ladd's seven-year deal includes a $5.5 million cap hit.SportsCentre noted Ladd's deal with the Islanders pays him $5.5 million per season.The 30-year-old winger split the 2015-16 season between the Winnipeg Jets and Chicago Blackhawks, posting 25 goals and 46 points in 78 games. He also registered two points in seven playoff games for the 'Hawks.Ladd spent parts of six seasons with the Jets after stints with the Carolina Hurricanes and the Blackhawks. He has scored at least 23 goals in each of the past six campaigns with the exception of the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season.He possesses ideal size at 6'3" and 200 pounds and also boasts the intangibles that teams often look for on the free-agent market.In addition to being a two-time Stanley Cup winner, Ladd served as the Jets' captain for parts of five seasons, which reflects on his leadership abilities.Ladd was viewed primarily as a rental when Chicago acquired him prior to the Feb. 29 trade deadline this past season, but after the St. Louis Blues eliminated the Blackhawks from the playoffs, he praised the organization and expressed his desire to play for a winner, according to Tracey Myers of CSNChicago.com:I think I'm at the point in my career where I can make decisions based on being in a good situation. At the end of the day it's not all about money for me. It's about being in a good place for my family and being on a team that's going to contend every year. You'd be crazy not to want to be a part of this group and this organization. We'll see what happens.While Ladd expressed interest in returning to Chicago, the Blackhawks had some difficult decisions to make.They are always up against the salary cap because of the amount of money committed to Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook.Because Chicago was in such a tight spot, it had to let Ladd go, which ended up working to the advantage of theIslanders.Ladd must be confident in theIslanders'ability to win games and contend for the Stanley Cup based on his comments, and he could be a key contributor toward making his expectations a reality.The Islanders had a solid offense last season, finishing 10th in goals scored, but they struggled in the playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning with 11 goals in five games. They need a more consistent offensive attack if they want to keep building on their success of the past two seasons.The 2004 No. 4 overall draft pick has been an excellent complementary piece over the course of his career, and if he continues to score at a clip similar to what he has posted over the past several seasons, he could be among the best additions of the offseason.Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.
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