The Islanders added two veteran forwards in the opening hour 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.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to play with a team that has such great potential," Ladd said in a statement released through the team. "The Islanders have high-end, young talent and state-of-the art facilities on Long Island and in Brooklyn, which made this the best choice for me. After visiting the area and meeting with coaches and management, it became clear to me and my family that this franchise was the perfect fit for the next seven years."
Soon after signing Ladd, the Islanders signed 37-year-old winger Jason Chimera to a two-year, $4.5 million deal. Chimera had 20 goals for the Caps last season, his 13th in the NHL.
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.
