Islanders acquire defencemen Boychuk, Leddy

Boston Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk, left. Elise Amendola/AP

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — The New York Islanders strengthened arguably their biggest weakness by acquiring defencemen Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuk in separate trades Saturday.

The Islanders got Leddy from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for ex-Toronto Marlies defenceman T.J. Brennan, defensive prospect Ville Pokka and the rights to goaltender Anders Nilsson, who’s a restricted free agent.

New York got Boychuk from the Boston Bruins for a second-round pick in each of the next two drafts and a conditional third-rounder that only goes if the Islanders trade him to an Eastern Conference team this season.

Leddy, 23, was sent out of Chicago so that the Blackhawks could free up some salary-cap space. Chicago signed winger Dan Carcillo to a league-minimum deal early Saturday.

Boychuk, 30, was similarly a victim of the cap in Boston. He’s set to be an unrestricted free agent next summer.

More NHL on Sportsnet:
Subscribe: Rogers GameCentre Live
 Rogers Hometown Hockey | Broadcast Schedule

When submitting content, please abide by our submission guidelines, and avoid posting profanity, personal attacks or harassment. Should you violate our submissions guidelines, we reserve the right to remove your comments and block your account. Sportsnet reserves the right to close a story’s comment section at any time.