Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy have formed an impressive defensive tandem for the New York Islanders this season.
The top unit pairing, brought to the organization via a pair of matching trades pulled off by Isles GM Garth Snow just prior to the season, has helped New York finally reach the summit of elite NHL teams.
So, with the Islanders sitting pretty in first place in the Metro and tied for the second-best record in the Eastern Conference, Snow did the smart thing and locked up the 23-year-old Leddy for the next seven seasons.
"Nick has proven to be an elite defenseman in this league at a young age," Snow said in a statement released by the team. "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."
Arthur Staple of Newsday reports that the deal is worth $38.5 million and carries an AAV of $5.5 million. It's an especially good deal for the Isles as, according to ESPN's Craig Custance, it doesn't carry a no-trade clause - often a sticking point in negotiations for players and teams.
The focus now shifts to Boychuk. Will he be next in line for a deal?
The veteran blueliner is already 31, but comes with a proven track record of NHL success - just look at how the Bruins have disintegrated on the back end without his physical, steadying presence in the lineup.
Boychuk is a pending UFA and as Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports notes, locking up Boychuk as well as Leddy would give the Islanders a "great foundation on which to build."
ESPN's John Buccigross believes that Boychuk will look to the deal signed by Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik this offseason - five-years, $27.5 million - as a starting point in negotiations with the Islanders.
Leddy brings a much higher offensive upside than Boychuk, despite the fact that the elder rearguard actually has more points than him thus far this season, but Boychuk provides a strong, veteran personality - in the locker room and on the ice - which can't be overstated.
While he's older than Leddy, it's probably fair to say that Leddy most likely benefits from Boychuk's presence more so than Boychuk benefits from Leddy's.
The deal Leddy signed, which carries increasing cap figures, clearly points to the Isles belief in him as an ascending player, but it's an often dicey proposition to project a younger player currently thriving alongside a more established guy to do the same without that built in safety net.