The Islanders have answered their need for defensive help by acquiring defenseman Johnny Boychuk from Boston for a pair of second round picks and a 2016 conditional pick and Nick Leddy from the Blackhawks for defenseman TJ Brennan, goalie Anders Nilsson and defensive prospect Ville Pokka.

Boychuk is a UFA at the end of this season and makes complete sense for the Islanders, who are looking for stability on the blueline and to win now, as they do not have their top two picks in the 2015 Draft.

The Leddy trade makes sense for both sides. Chicago badly needed to shed salary and add a young Finnish prospect in Pokka along with Brennan, who could get a chance to replace Leddy as a bottom pairing defenseman after being named the AHL's top defenseman last season.

GM Garth Snow took advantage of having plenty of room under the salary cap, adding two salaries totalling over $6 Million, but succeeded in dramatically upgrading their blueline.

More to come

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