Staple had a good write up on the isles current f.a. today
- Upstate_isles

Yes I read that. Interesting take, Lee 6 years at 7 per and Nelson 6 at 6.75 per.

I wouldn't give him away. He has a lot of value but if the right deal came along then he is the best chip to trade.

1) He is an offensive defenseman
2) He is still young
3) His cap hit isn't that high
4) He has won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks.

On a team that isn't that offensively gifted, keeping Leddy makes sense. Until it doesn't. Why? The Isles need offense and under Trotz defensemen are responsible for playing defense (unless it is the power play) There is a high probability the Isles will not sign at least 1 of the 3 UFA forwards (Lee, Nelson, Eberle) and possibly 2 which further diminishes their offense. Carolina shut down the Isles offense. Lee, Eberle, Barzal, Bailey, Beauvillier, Cizikas did nothing. They need a sniper. Now it is nice to imagine Panarin on the wing sniping or Duchene coming here but that isn't happening. So how do you get more offense? You have to trade chips that other teams want. Leddy is that guy (as is Beauvillier).

I would try to trade Leddy for RNH of Edmonton. If Edmonton needs more then throw in a pick. The reality is Leddy was bumped to 2nd PP unit and the PP wasn't good. He is not a top 2 defenseman anymore and his regular playing partner (Boychuk) is now playing 3rd line minutes. Plus the Isles just brought up Toews who played really well and is as good of a puck moving defenseman as Leddy so they have the ability to make this move. Plus the Isles pipe for defensemen is very deep. Aho, Wotherspoon, Vande Sompel, Wilde and probably the best one of all Noah Dobson. The Isles on the otherhand are not deep at forward. Assume Dal Colle makes the team next year. It appears Josh Ho-Sang won't be given a chance and it will be either or none with Bellows/Wahlstrom. Either way though that is a lot of youth being infused up front and the Isles bottom 6 isn't going anywhere with contracts of length already assigned to Cizikas, Clutterbuck, Komarov and Ladd. Add in Beauvillier who has been streaky to say the least. The Isles need a sure thing and if they can't lure one of the top forwards here via free agency a trade has to be the way.

And lets not forget, the Seattle expansion draft will be coming soon. The Isles will need to expose someone and you don't want to lose Leddy for nothing. He would be a prime target at his age and contract whereas Boychuk would only be selected to get to the cap floor.

Leddy and Boychuk have been paired since 2015, so do you break up the pair?

Watching the po's and the remaining teams all play a style which more fits Leddy's offensive style, so question is does Trotz modify the team style a bit next year and build on what they did this year?

Leddy is still a valuable vet and you need offense on all of your d pairs.

Leddy and Boychuk have been paired since 2015, so do you break up the pair?

Watching the po's and the remaining teams all play a style which more fits Leddy's offensive style, so question is does Trotz modify the team style a bit next year and build on what they did this year?

Leddy is still a valuable vet and you need offense on all of your d pairs.

I wouldn't give him away. He has a lot of value but if the right deal came along then he is the best chip to trade.

1) He is an offensive defenseman
2) He is still young
3) His cap hit isn't that high
4) He has won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks.

On a team that isn't that offensively gifted, keeping Leddy makes sense. Until it doesn't. Why? The Isles need offense and under Trotz defensemen are responsible for playing defense (unless it is the power play) There is a high probability the Isles will not sign at least 1 of the 3 UFA forwards (Lee, Nelson, Eberle) and possibly 2 which further diminishes their offense. Carolina shut down the Isles offense. Lee, Eberle, Barzal, Bailey, Beauvillier, Cizikas did nothing. They need a sniper. Now it is nice to imagine Panarin on the wing sniping or Duchene coming here but that isn't happening. So how do you get more offense? You have to trade chips that other teams want. Leddy is that guy (as is Beauvillier).

I would try to trade Leddy for RNH of Edmonton. If Edmonton needs more then throw in a pick. The reality is Leddy was bumped to 2nd PP unit and the PP wasn't good. He is not a top 2 defenseman anymore and his regular playing partner (Boychuk) is now playing 3rd line minutes. Plus the Isles just brought up Toews who played really well and is as good of a puck moving defenseman as Leddy so they have the ability to make this move. Plus the Isles pipe for defensemen is very deep. Aho, Wotherspoon, Vande Sompel, Wilde and probably the best one of all Noah Dobson. The Isles on the otherhand are not deep at forward. Assume Dal Colle makes the team next year. It appears Josh Ho-Sang won't be given a chance and it will be either or none with Bellows/Wahlstrom. Either way though that is a lot of youth being infused up front and the Isles bottom 6 isn't going anywhere with contracts of length already assigned to Cizikas, Clutterbuck, Komarov and Ladd. Add in Beauvillier who has been streaky to say the least. The Isles need a sure thing and if they can't lure one of the top forwards here via free agency a trade has to be the way.

And lets not forget, the Seattle expansion draft will be coming soon. The Isles will need to expose someone and you don't want to lose Leddy for nothing. He would be a prime target at his age and contract whereas Boychuk would only be selected to get to the cap floor.
- islesfan1

1) He is an offensive defenseman - Devon Toews is a better offensive defenseman
2) He is still young - Devon Toews is younger
3) His cap hit isn't that high - Devon Toews cap hit is lower
4) He has won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks. - Different Toews won a Cup with the Blackhawks, but Leddy's Cup was in 2013 and that's really not a reason to keep him

Nobody is suggesting we dump Leddy, he's a very good player and top-4 D aren't easy to come by. But we all know the team lacks scoring and Leddy can help us land a piece that will increase that. They should absolutely maximize his value while it's high. He doesn't have a NTC, his cap hit is very good for what you get, and he's not old. Now is the time to move him, not when there's one year left on his deal and he's 30 and there is a younger/cheaper/better defenseman that is on the roster for good.

1) He is an offensive defenseman - Devon Toews is a better offensive defenseman
2) He is still young - Devon Toews is younger
3) His cap hit isn't that high - Devon Toews cap hit is lower
4) He has won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks. - Different Toews won a Cup with the Blackhawks, but Leddy's Cup was in 2013 and that's really not a reason to keep him

Nobody is suggesting we dump Leddy, he's a very good player and top-4 D aren't easy to come by. But we all know the team lacks scoring and Leddy can help us land a piece that will increase that. They should absolutely maximize his value while it's high. He doesn't have a NTC, his cap hit is very good for what you get, and he's not old. Now is the time to move him, not when there's one year left on his deal and he's 30 and there is a younger/cheaper/better defenseman that is on the roster for good.
- eichiefs9

I agree move a strength for a weakness and while his value is still high

Leddy and Ladd for Kessel and Johnson. Do it.

Leddy and Ladd for Kessel and Johnson. Do it.
- MacPatty

That's actually not unreasonable

That's actually not unreasonable
- eichiefs9

What does Staple think?

I agree move a strength for a weakness and while his value is still high
- Upstate_isles

Not for Leddy, but VGK is up against it too. I wonder if they'll be able to sign W. Karlsson or not. He'd be a great add, defensive stud that scores at a decent clip. Probably never going to repeat his 76pt season, but if he can be a 60pt center that takes top defensive matchups then that would be a big add.

Vegas can LTIR David Clarkson and trade Eakin for some breathing room to sign him but then they have a decision to make with Gusev.

1) He is an offensive defenseman - Devon Toews is a better offensive defenseman
2) He is still young - Devon Toews is younger
3) His cap hit isn't that high - Devon Toews cap hit is lower
4) He has won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks. - Different Toews won a Cup with the Blackhawks, but Leddy's Cup was in 2013 and that's really not a reason to keep him

Nobody is suggesting we dump Leddy, he's a very good player and top-4 D aren't easy to come by. But we all know the team lacks scoring and Leddy can help us land a piece that will increase that. They should absolutely maximize his value while it's high. He doesn't have a NTC, his cap hit is very good for what you get, and he's not old. Now is the time to move him, not when there's one year left on his deal and he's 30 and there is a younger/cheaper/better defenseman that is on the roster for good.
- eichiefs9

Agree with this, but I would just say something in Leddy's favor: No one on the team, not another d-man nor any of the forwards, skates the puck north-south better than Leddy. Does he occasionally get caught for a giveaway? Sure, but so does everyone else on the team, and with him it's uncommon. Also, his speed helps break up odd man rushes against the Isles, and again there's no one faster on the Isles than Leddy.

Agree with this, but I would just say something in Leddy's favor: No one on the team, not another d-man nor any of the forwards, skates the puck north-south better than Leddy. Does he occasionally get caught for a giveaway? Sure, but so does everyone else on the team, and with him it's uncommon. Also, his speed helps break up odd man rushes against the Isles, and again there's no one faster on the Isles than Leddy.
- JohnScammo

100% on the north-south movement. I'm not dumping on Leddy, but Toews is every bit as good as him (probably better, all-around) and only a half-step slower. Not saying you're implying this, but Leddy isn't Erik Karlsson and losing his 28pts of offense isn't going to be a major loss, especially when Toews scores at a better PPG pace.

Leddy is a good player and that's exactly why we should trade him. There's a younger, cheaper, and equal-or-better on the roster already that has a similar skill set and we need scoring in the worst way. Leddy is our best chip to get that. Otherwise, we have to dip into the prospect pool.

That's actually not unreasonable
- eichiefs9

Thinking of Barzal and Kessel on the same line is giving me a boner.

100% on the north-south movement. I'm not dumping on Leddy, but Toews is every bit as good as him (probably better, all-around) and only a half-step slower. Not saying you're implying this, but Leddy isn't Erik Karlsson and losing his 28pts of offense isn't going to be a major loss, especially when Toews scores at a better PPG pace.

Leddy is a good player and that's exactly why we should trade him. There's a younger, cheaper, and equal-or-better on the roster already that has a similar skill set and we need scoring in the worst way. Leddy is our best chip to get that. Otherwise, we have to dip into the prospect pool.
- eichiefs9

Yup, as I said, I agree with your conclusion that he's tradeable for a top 6 forward. I was just kind of emphasizing his positive attributes, and that I wouldn't trade him for any old forward.

Yup, as I said, I agree with your conclusion that he's tradeable for a top 6 forward. I was just kind of emphasizing his positive attributes, and that I wouldn't trade him for any old forward.
- JohnScammo

Yeah there's a lot to love about Leddy and I think that teams will be calling on him for sure.

I could see Buffalo having interest, but I see that more as a picks/prospects kind of trade...there's nobody realistic on their roster that they'd trade and we'd want.

Montreal has a big need on the left side of their D and Isles would be smart to add Danault, if MTL was willing to part with him.

Penguins, although extremely unlikely trade partners, need defense badly.

The Leafs could use some defenseman but I can't imagine they'd want to add that much salary.

Maybe Detroit for Athanasiou? Not really a Trotz-type of player, but his speed and skill is solid

The Oilers in a deal to get Nuge

Isles could go the shorter-term route and trade him for Hoffman or Dadonov from Florida who are both heading into the final year of their deals. That would create space when it's time to sign 13/6/25

Wild for Zucker

Back to the Hawks for Saad

Canucks could be a good spot for him, but I don't think they're trading anyone we'd want. Probably would be another picks/prospects deal if it happened

These are all just quick thought, some may not be viable options but who knows. Plenty of teams will have interest in him.

edit: and before some angry fan of one of these teams pops in and floods their Huggies...I'm not suggesting any of these deals would necessarily be 1-for-1

Thinking of Barzal and Kessel on the same line is giving me a boner.
- Cptmjl

Thinking of Barzal and Kessel on the same line is giving me a boner.
- Cptmjl

Kessel has some sort of a modified NTC-NMC whereby he submits an 8-team trade list. https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/penguins That should soften you up a bit....

Kessel has some sort of a modified NTC-NMC whereby he submits an 8-team trade list. https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/penguins That should soften you up a bit....


- JohnScammo

One of the Athletic articles that mentioned trading him said he may be amenable to playing in Arizona. Now I don't know if that's because he's got his Cups and he just wants to ride out his career playing in a beautiful area or because he's going to help out the Pens and accept a trade wherever works for them. But it's interesting.

1) He is an offensive defenseman - Devon Toews is a better offensive defenseman
2) He is still young - Devon Toews is younger
3) His cap hit isn't that high - Devon Toews cap hit is lower
4) He has won a Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks. - Different Toews won a Cup with the Blackhawks, but Leddy's Cup was in 2013 and that's really not a reason to keep him

Nobody is suggesting we dump Leddy, he's a very good player and top-4 D aren't easy to come by. But we all know the team lacks scoring and Leddy can help us land a piece that will increase that. They should absolutely maximize his value while it's high. He doesn't have a NTC, his cap hit is very good for what you get, and he's not old. Now is the time to move him, not when there's one year left on his deal and he's 30 and there is a younger/cheaper/better defenseman that is on the roster for good.
- eichiefs9

After reading this I would trade Devon Toews

After reading this I would trade Devon Toews
- nyisles7

For McJesus

One of the Athletic articles that mentioned trading him said he may be amenable to playing in Arizona. Now I don't know if that's because he's got his Cups and he just wants to ride out his career playing in a beautiful area or because he's going to help out the Pens and accept a trade wherever works for them. But it's interesting.
- eichiefs9

It is indeed..........plus it gives cpt a woody.

It is indeed..........plus it gives cpt a woody.
- JohnScammo

You have to post the article before he gets wood, well because its $3.99/month.

Ben, good job.

I wouldn’t trade Leddy until I’m confident the youngsters can step up and play in the NHL.

Once that’s established in the next season, maybe season and a half I think it might make sense to trade him for a piece that moves us closer to the ultimate goal.
- nyisles7

Thank you!

Fair enough, I don't think Aho is far off but I get where you're coming from for sure.

Nice job Ben and it's an interesting question. Isles have to seriously consider trading Leddy and especially if they miss on big UFA's.
- ses111

Thank you!

Makes sense, the UFA class is pretty deep though, especially when it comes to forwards so I would think they'd be able to sign someone, just a matter of who.

This is by far one of the better blogs I’ve read on here lately. Well done
- WSCTeton17

Thanks for the kind words!