Andrew Ladd Brings Playoff Experience To New York Islanders
Dennis Wierzbicki, USATSI

Playoff savvy veteran Andrew Ladd should boost a New York Islanders club that will look to build on last season’s success.

It was the first time in a long time that the New York Islanders moved past the first round of the playoffs. Led by their All-Star captain, John Tavares, the Islanders stunned the Florida Panthers in six games with a last minute game tying goal, and overtime victory, finally breaking a perceived playoff curse.

Unfortunately, just one more victory followed. The Islanders went on to take Game 1 of their series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and then lost four straight, a disappointing dismissal to say the least. The Islanders now look to their newly acquired forward, Andrew Ladd, to bring proper playoff expierience.

Ladd was a player blessed with the chance to bring home the Stanley Cup in his first season in the league. Lending a helping hand to captain Rod Brind’Amour and All-Star-to-be Eric Staal, the twenty-year-old rookie scored two goals and notched three assists in seventeen games during the Carolina Hurricanes four round playoff run. Ladd then moved his career to Chicago where he played all eighty-two games in back-to-back seasons, ending that second year with yet another Stanley Cup under his belt.

Ladd was traded to Atlanta, which quickly became Winnipeg. After one season, Ladd was named captain. During Ladd’s time with Winnipeg, they found little success, making the playoffs just once, being swept away by the Ducks in the first round. Towards the end of another lacking season in Winnipeg, Ladd was traded back to Chicago where they were unusually eliminated in the first round by St. Louis.

The veteran forward signed with the Islanders for seven years on July 1st. Hungry for the success he has not achieved in six years; Brooklyn is now his vessel to return to the Stanley Cup. Along with captain John Tavares, Jaroslav Halak, and their plethora of young skill players, Ladd is a key component to bring Lord Stanley’s Cup back to the island.

NEXT: Stephen Gionta Joins Islanders On PTO Deal