The New York Islanders locked up defenceman Nick Leddy Tuesday, inking the defenceman to a seven-year contract extension worth $38.5 million.
Leddy’s current contract, which pays him an average of $2.7 million annually, was set to expire on July 1, at which point he would’ve become a restricted free agent.
“Nick has proven to be an elite defenceman in this league at a young age,” Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a release. “He’s the type of player on the ice, in the locker room and in the community that we’re thrilled to add as a cornerstone of our defensive core.”
The new deal carries a salary cap hit of $5.5 million, according to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, and runs through the 2021-22 season.
The 23-year-old defenceman, acquired prior to puck drop from the Chicago Blackhawks, has 25 points (eight goals, 17 assists) with a plus-12 rating in 61 games with the Islanders this season.
The Eden Prairie, Minnesota, native leads all Islanders blueliners in goals, ranks second in points and plus-minus rating and has appeared in every Islanders game to date.
The Islanders acquired Leddy, along with goaltender Kent Simpson, from Chicago on Oct. 4 in exchange for defencemen T.J. Brennan, Ville Pokka and goaltender Anders Nilsson.
“We have something special in this locker room and I’m excited to be a part of it for seven more years,” Leddy said in the press release. “From the start of my time here, the Islanders have been a first-class organization. I’m honoured by their commitment to me and look forward to challenging for the Stanley Cup for years to come.”
The Islanders, who reportedly plan to stand pat as the NHL trade deadline approaches, must now focus their attention on re-signing Leddy’s partner, Johnny Boychuk.
Boychuk, an impending free agent, should command $6 million per year or more on his next deal, according to the New York Post.
