Nick Leddy was traded to the Detroit Red Wings by the New York Islanders for forward Richard Panik on Friday.
New York also received a second-round pick (No. 52) in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Leddy, a 30-year-old defenseman, scored 31 points (two goals, 29 assists) in 56 regular-season games for the Islanders this season and had six assists in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He has one season remaining on a seven-year, $38.5 million contract (average annual value $5.5 million) he signed with New York on Feb. 24, 2015.
"I think when you get traded, it's a shock either way," Leddy said Sunday. "I think the uncertainty is the worst part for me and I think anyone, honestly, in this situation. But at the end of the day it is business and that's just kind of how it goes."
In seven seasons with the Islanders, Leddy scored 243 points (45 goals, 198 assists) in 518 regular-season games and 23 points (five goals, 18 assists) in 67 playoff games.
Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the first round (No. 16) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Leddy has scored 336 points (65 goals, 271 assists) in 776 regular-season games for the Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks, and 33 points (seven goals, 26 assists) in 121 playoff games. Leddy won the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks in 2013.
Detroit (19-27-10) tied the Columbus Blue Jackets for seventh in the eight-team Discover Central Division and has failed to qualify for the playoffs the past five seasons after making it 25 straight seasons, winning the Stanley Cup four times (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008).
"I've been fortunate enough to be with some winning cultures and I really want to bring that to the Red Wings," Leddy said. "Their history speaks for itself with all the Cups. I think at the end of the day, winning is everything and I'm just excited for the opportunity."
New York was unlikely to protect Leddy from the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft presented by Upper Deck, which will be held July 21 (8 p.m. ET; ESPN2, SN, SN NOW).
Each NHL team can protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, or eight skaters (forwards/defensemen) and one goalie. Any player who has a no-move clause must agree to waive it to be exposed. The list of players protected was released Sunday.
Panik scored 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in 48 games with the Red Wings and Washington Capitals this season. The 30-year-old scored four points (one goal, three assists) in 12 games after he was traded to the Red Wings on April 12.
He has two seasons remaining on a four-year, $11 million contract ($2.75 million average annual value) he signed with the Capitals on July 1, 2019. Detroit will retain 50 percent of Panik's salary.
Selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round (No. 52) of the 2009 draft, Panik has scored 194 points (88 goals, 106 assists) in 517 regular-season games with the Red Wings, Capitals, Arizona Coyotes, Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs and Lightning. He has scored five points (one goal, four assists) in 20 playoff games.
New York (32-17-7) finished fourth in the eight-team MassMutual East Division and lost to Tampa Bay in seven games in the Stanley Cup Semifinals.
The pick the Islanders received was acquired by the Red Wings from the Edmonton Oilers in the trade for forward Andreas Athanasiou on Feb. 24, 2020.
