It didn’t take Nick Leddy long to make an impression with the Islanders.
Leddy, who was acquired from the Blackhawks less than a week before the season started, signed a seven-year deal, $38.5 million deal with the Islanders on Tuesday. The Post’s Brett Cyrgalis reported that the contract will carry a cap hit of $5.5 million each season.
The 23-year-old Leddy was brought to Long Island along with fellow defenseman Johnny Boychuck from the Bruins to shore up the Isles’ defense, and the pair has been a key reason the team is at the top of the Metropolitan Division after Tuesday’s 5-1 win over the Coyotes at the Nassau Coliseum.
“Nick has proven to be an elite defenseman in this league at a young age,” general manager Garth Snow said in a statement. “He’s the type of player on the ice, in the locker room and in the community that we’re thrilled to add as a cornerstone of our defensive core.”
Snow surrendered the rights to restricted free agent goalie Anders Nilsson along with prospects T.J. Brennan and Ville Pokka in exchange for Leddy in October as the Blackhawks looked to get under the salary cap. He since has emerged as a top young defenseman and was due to become a restricted free agent following the season. Boychuck will hit the open market this summer if Snow doesn’t sign him to a new deal, as well.
“Everything just came together,” said Leddy, who has 25 points and a career-high eight goals already this season. “It’s always in the back of your mind when you’re in a contract year.”
Boychuk, who has been paired with Leddy since they arrived, was pleased with the news.
“He deserves it,” Boychuk said. “He’s a great young defenseman.”
One of Leddy’s next tasks will be trying to convince Boychuk, due to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, to stick around.
“I love playing with him, so I’ll be pushing his buttons a little more,” Leddy said.
Leddy’s time on the ice has increased since the trade. After averaging 16:22 minutes
per game with Chicago a year ago, he has played 20:12 for head coach Jack Capuano.