New York Islanders Shopping Veteran Defenseman for Trade

The New York Islanders are looking to get ahead of the Seattle Kraken expansion draft and are currently shopping veteran defenseman Nick Leddy on the trade market. This according to The Athletic's Arthur Staple. 

General manager Lou Lamoriello is not interested in losing the player for nothing to the Kraken and is hoping to at least get back a draft pick in return. Last season in 56 games, Leddy scored twice and added 29 assists. He's mobile, and can play in all situations as he averaged 21:35 minutes of ice-time in 2020-21. 

Leddy's production dropped off considerable in the Stanley Cup Playoffs and he's certainly not an analytical heart throb. 

Nick Leddy, reportedly on the trade block, has not been a strong playdriver at all in recent years despite strong offensive zone playmaking and prolific zone entries. #Isles pic.twitter.com/XjWJmSLqso

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) July 13, 2021

Lamoriello has a ton of big decisions to make this offseason and is doing whatever he can to get rid of the $5.5 million cap hit coming from Leddy next season in the final year of his contract. There's a number of teams looking for defenseman so it shouldn't be long before a deal is completed. He's just hoping it can be before July 21 when the Kraken select their players.

Photo credit:  Dennis Schneidler-USA TODAY Sports