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Islanders deal Leddy to Wings

*Photo from Eyes on Isles*
   With an eye on clearing cap space, the New York Islanders traded a longtime piece of the defense. The Islanders have traded D Nick Leddy to the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for RW Richard Panik and a second round draft pick, first broken by Jon Morosi of MLB and NHL Network. The Red Wings are retaining half of Panik's salary. The trade has been confirmed by both teams. 

   Leddy suited up for all 56 games this season for the Islanders, contributing 2 goals and 29 assists, with an average TOI of 21:35 and a -3 plus/minus rating. In his 11 NHL seasons, Leddy has 65 goals and 271 assists, with an average TOI of 20:33 in 776 games played, split between the Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks. 

   The Red Wings are taking on the $5.5 million Leddy is due this season, and he is also under contract for next season as well, before becoming a UFA. Leddy is a former first round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild in 2009, and is a Stanley cup champion with the Blackhawks in 2013. He has played in all 82 games of the regular season 3 times in his career, and played in all 56 this season.

   Panik spent the 2021 season between the Washington Capitals and the Red Wings, after being traded at the trade deadline. Between both teams, Panik scored 4 goals and 9 assists, averaging 12:22 TOI, and had a -9 plus/minus in 48 games played last season. In his 9 seasons, Panik has 88 goals and 106 assists, with a career +10 plus/minus in 517 games, split between 6 different teams.

   As said before, the Red Wings are retaining half of the $2.75 million Panik is due this season, while the Islanders take the other half. Panik is signed through the 2022-2023 season, as he signed a 4 year deal with the Capitals prior to the 2019-2020 season. Panik has played for the Capitals, Red Wings, Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Arizona Coyotes.

   With the cap savings, the Islanders have more money available to pay the big name RFA's they have, such as Adam Pelech and Ilya Sorokin. The Red Wings get a good two way defenseman who they can protect in the expansion draft, where the Islanders probably couldn't have protected Leddy. 

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