The New York Islanders knew they needed to bolster their defensive depth, so general manager Garth Snow went out and did just that Saturday morning, acquiring defensemen Nick Leddy and Johnny Boychuck in separate deals.
Leddy and goaltender Kent Simpson came over from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman TJ Brennan, Ville Pokka and goaltender Andres Nilsson.
Boychuck was pried from the Boston Bruins for 2015 and 2016 second-round picks and a conditional 2015 third-round pick. One of the second round picks was part of the Andrew McDonald trade to the Philadelphia Flyers earlier this year.
The Islanders got a lot stronger on the back end - and in the locker room - with these moves.
"They've both won a Stanley Cup, so in the leadership department, that helps our group," Snow said. "Leddy's ability to move the puck and skate the puck up ice, add offense; Boychuk's ability to be physical, clear the front of the net and a howitzer for a shot; for us, [those are] two solid additions to our club."
Leddy (258 regular season games, 54 playoff games) won the Cup in 2013 and Boychuck (321 regular season games, 79 playoff games) won in 2011. Their experience adds stability to a very young Islanders blueline.
"It was an opportunity to upgrade our defense," Snow said. "We addressed - for the most part - the goaltending and the forward position, so today just happened to be the day we had the ability to add an offensive defenseman and physical defenseman, who also has a great shot. [These are] two key additions to our team."
Snow had reportedly been targeting both players - and their salary cap strapped teams - for weeks prior to the deals actually getting done.
"It's not a situation where it came out of nowhere," he said. "We had been communicating with both teams for a period of time now and it all came to fruition today. It's a good day for our hockey club and obviously an exciting day for our fans. We ended up landing two top-four defensemen."
Perhaps even more importantly, Snow didn't give up any majorly promising prospects in the deals. Both Griffin Reinhart and Ryan Pulock stayed put. Pokka was fairly highly regarded but, according to Snow, "you have to give up something to get something."
