The Islanders added a top-level forward in the opening minutes of NHL free agency Friday but saw two of their own longtime veterans leave as the frenzy began quickly.
Andrew Ladd signed a seven-year deal worth $38.5 million with the Islanders, bringing his two Stanley Cup rings and five seasons as Jets captain along with five 20-goal seasons in the past six years. The 30-year-old wing finished last season with the Blackhawks after being dealt from Winnipeg at the trade deadline back to Chicago, where he won a Cup in 2010.
Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen both signed quickly with the Sabres and Red Wings, respectively. Okposo long was rumored to be headed out the door, and his seven-year deal for $42 million was one of the top deals handed out in the opening minutes of free agency.
Nielsen, the longest-tenured Islander with 606 games, made the decision in the past few days to bolt. He took a six-year deal worth $31.5 million from the Wings to replace Pavel Datsyuk as one of the top centers there after turning down similar money over seven years from the Isles.
Matt Martin, the other Isles veteran on the market, had not signed in the first half hour of free agency as the big names peeled off the board.
..... - Newsday