Two-time Stanley Cup winner announces retirement

Ladd didn’t fairly stay as much as the promise of his choice in Carolina, however shortly modified that narrative after arriving in Chicago.

With the Blackhawks, Ladd broke out as a top-six ahead by scoring 49 factors in 2008-09.

But whereas he had his breakout in Chicago and received a Stanley Cup there, it was Ladd’s commerce to the then-Atlanta Thrashers that actually led to his ascent to NHL stardom.

Ladd was instantly named captain of the Thrashers and immediately reached new offensive heights. He scored 29 targets and 59 factors, starting a run of seven consecutive seasons the place he scored 20 targets or at a 20-plus aim tempo.

It was in Winnipeg the place Ladd made his largest mark, main the newly relocated franchise as its first captain. He led the Jets to the playoffs for the primary time since their relocation, and in his final full season in Winnipeg he had a career-high 62 factors. Ladd dabbled in worldwide play throughout his time captaining the Jets, representing Canada at three IIHF Men’s World Championships.

Ladd returned to the Blackhawks for his or her 2016 Stanley Cup push, although the crew in the end fell quick and Ladd hit unrestricted free company. That was undoubtedly the turning level of his profession, as Ladd signed an ill-fated $5.5M AAV contract with the New York Islanders that stretched via the 2022-23 season. Ladd did handle 23 targets in his first season on Long Island, however solely added eight assists.

That can be the best yr in his time in New York. His aim whole dropped to 12 the next yr, and in 2018-19 Ladd solely managed to play 26 video games. His years of intense bodily play, the factor that made him such a useful energy ahead in his prime, had taken its toll bodily. The put on and tear he’d sustained through the years turned harder to disregard, and Ladd may solely handle sporadic availability.

By 2019-20, he was exterior the Islanders’ NHL plans and taking part in increasingly more within the AHL with the Islanders’ affiliate in Bridgeport. He was dealt in a cap-clearing commerce to the Arizona Coyotes for 2021-22, the place he managed to play in 51 video games and at last crossed the 1,000 sport plateau. Last season, Ladd failed his bodily and was unable to swimsuit up for the Coyotes, successfully ending his profession one yr earlier than his contract was set to run out.

Now Ladd has formally retired, and he leaves behind a extremely respectable NHL profession. While the difficulties he confronted with accidents and inconsistency, in addition to his diminished bodily instruments in his last few years, could have clouded folks’s impressions of him, he was undoubtedly a useful energy ahead in his prime.