Blackhawks, Bruins, Islanders solve problems with Johnny Boychuk, Nick Leddy deals
The Boston Bruins and Chicago Blackhawks needed to ease their salary cap crunch with the season kicking off in less than a week. The New York Islanders wanted to beef up their blueline after a summer where they improved up front and in goal. So, it was fate the three would eventually become trade partners.
According to Newsday's Arthur Staple, the Islanders addressed a major need by grabbing a pair defensemen from the two cap-strapped teams.
Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuk heads to the Islanders in exchange for second round picks in 2015 and 2016, as well as a conditional third rounder in 2015. Nick Leddy (and goalie Kent Simpson) will join him in Uniondale after the Blackhawks dealt him for defensemen Ville Pokka and T.J. Brennan, and the rights to goaltender Anders Nilsson, who's with Ak Bars of the KHL right now.
(The condition on that third rounder is Boston would acquire the pick if Boychuk is traded this season to an Eastern Conference team.)
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With the way GM Garth Snow operated this summer, the Islanders were never interested in getting involved in the Connor McDavid sweepstakes. Currently, the team is without a pick in the first two rounds of the 2015 draft.
Boychuk played 75 games for the Bruins last season, scoring five goals and recording 23 points. He's scheduled to become a UFA this summer and carries a $3.37 million cap hit. He can be a top-four blueliner in New York coming off a season with positive possession numbers on a great possession team in Boston.
Leddy scored seven times and chipped in 31 points while playing in all 82 games for Chicago last season. He comes with a $2.7 million cap hit and will be an RFA next summer. The 23-year old was a driver of possession, with a heavy percentage of offensive zone starts.
There was definitely a thought entering this season that the Islanders could make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Solidifying an area of need that they didn't do over the summer less than a week before opening night will certainly sway many opinions now. The moves will also allow prospects Ryan Pulock and Griffin Reinhart extra time to season in the AHL.
Players talked after last week's preseason game in Brooklyn about giving Nassau Coliseum a rousing send-off in its final year. Since May, Snow has made all the moves to make that a reality.
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Sean Leahy is the associate editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Sean_Leahy
