Facing a frightening summer crunch amid a flat salary cap, the New York Islanders have shed major salary cap commitments for the second time in two days.
On the eve of the Expansion Draft, GM Lou Lamoriello followed up Friday night’s trade of Nick Leddy to the Detroit Red Wings with a much more impressive feat: Finding someone to take Andrew Ladd, who hasn’t been entrusted with a lineup spot the past two seasons.
The deal with the Arizona Coyotes was costly but necessary, burying a hefty debt (Ladd’s $5.5 million cap hit) Lamoriello inherited from the Garth Snow/Doug Weigh era.