| Wys³any: 2022-09-03 12:11:07 Temat postu: Andrew Ladd feeling more comfortable in second sea NEW YORK Andrew Ladd's first season with theIslanders didn't go according to plan.Ladd signed a seven-year dealworth $38.5 million during the 2016 free agency period. It was the longest contract the Islanders had awarded a player since defensemanNick Leddy signed for the same length in2015. The Islanders invested such a large Royce Newman Jersey chunk of theirsalary cap into the two-time Stanley Cup champion to add that experience to the fold, but an injury plagued season resulted in Ladd finishing with just 31 points the lowest since2006-07, his first full season in the NHL.Now as he is starting to feel at home in New York, Ladd's comfort level is beginning to rise. It's been evident through the Islanders' first quarter of the season.MORE:"Any time that youve had a year and a bit, you get used to your surroundings, coaching staff and teammates," Ladd said."You're automatically going to be a lot more comfortable with your surroundings and your role."Ladd mi sed fourgames last seasondue to a back i sue Jonathan Garvin Jersey , but has since shownlittle signs that the once-lingering back injury is weighing him down. The 32-year-old has 15 points with the Islanders this season sixth among New York forwards. He is on pace to easily exceed last year's disappointing point total.ANDREW LADD TUCKS ONE FROM THE SLOT AND THE ISLES LEAD! NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) "My body feels 100 times better than what it was," he said. "I feel a lot better than I did last year."POWER RANKINGS: The Maple Ridge, British Columbia, native has foundsucce s playing alongside Jordan Eberle and rookie sensationMathew Barzal. Ladd wasn't initially paired with the duo, but for Islanders head coach Doug Weight'sdecision to play all three individualson the team's second line ispaying dividends.Theline has beenone of the most productivein the NHL. It helps to be a part Sterling Sharpe Jersey of the NHL's second-highest scoring team.Ladd,Barzal andEberle have combined for 65 points this season. And in playing with the two, Ladd doesn't bearthe same amount of offensive responsibility that he's had in the past.Nobody "makes the job any easier" in Ladd's case.Instead, each player simply took naturally to their role.MORE:"I think you try to complement each other in certain ways," Ladd told Sporting News."For them, theyre both guys that can control the puck really well. Barzy especially can create a lot of space for himself on his own. So for guys like that, you can almost leave them alone. You dont have to support them quite as much."Weve been in synch in terms of being quick. Were quick on the forecheck and quick on pucks. When you do that as a line,you're going to get a lot more pucks back so it seems to have worked well."Ladd's taken a front-row seat to Barzal's impre sive rookie campaign with New York. Barzalis tied with Vancouver's Brock Boeser for the rookie scoring leadwith 28 points. The 20-year-old is positioned well to stay inCalder Trophy contention all season. Being on Barzal's wingleft Ladd in awe in regards to thepotential that Gerhard De Beer Jersey the budding forward po se ses.The 15-year NHL veteranmadestops inCarolina,Winnipeg and Chicago before arriving in New York. Ladd's been around a large part of the "next generation" of stars to enter the league, but a former Stanley Cup champion and league MVPcome to mind when he analyzes Barzal's Dean Lowry Jersey skillset."I was in Chicago with Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane at the end of their first year," Ladd said."They hadthat confidence with the puck and created space for themselves.I think of just a pure confidence with the puck and patience with the puck and what Barzal isable to do individually,"Ladd won two Stanley Cups playing with Toews and Kane, butcould soon add another ashis conformabilityand chemistrywith his teammates continues a forward trend. It was the key to his succe s the entire time. Related Articles John Tavares dilemma and the best of the rest in 2018 NHL free agency |