According to Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet, via Elliotte Friedman, the New York Islanders have signed free agent forward Andrew Ladd to a seven-year contract. Aaron Ward adds that the deal is worth a total of $38.5MM.
Ladd gives the Islanders a top six replacement for Frans Nielsen, who signed with Detroit earlier today. Last season, he picked up 25 goals and 21 assists in 78 games between Winnipeg and Chicago, while adding a goal and an assist in seven postseason contests with the Hawks.
The seven year term comes as a bit of a surprise as the deal will take him through his age 38 season. However, it’s likely that the Islanders got a bit of a cheaper cap hit in exchange for the longer term as it was believed he was seeking a $6MM or higher AAV.
In his career, Ladd has played in 769 games with the Hurricanes, Blackhawks, Thrashers, and Jets, scoring 210 goals and 256 assists.