Andrew Ladd, a name synonymous with dedication and perseverance in the world of hockey, has had a remarkable journey through the ranks, leaving an indelible mark on every team he's played for. From his early days in junior hockey to lifting the Stanley Cup and achieving the milestone of 1,000 NHL games, Ladd's career is a testament to his skill, resilience, and leadership.
This article delves into the detailed stats and key moments of Andrew Ladd's hockey career, offering a comprehensive overview of his achievements and contributions to the sport.
Early Career and Junior Hockey
Ladd began his junior hockey career with the Coquitlam Express. He then progressed to the major junior Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Calgary Hitmen after being traded from the Vancouver Giants in exchange for Jamison Orr. In his rookie season, he recorded 75 points, which was the highest among first-year players and 15th in WHL scoring.
Notably, his +39 plus/minus led the league, earning him the WHL Plus-Minus Award. These early achievements set the stage for his transition into professional hockey.
Transition to Professional Hockey
Ladd turned professional after two seasons with the Hitmen in 2005-06 with the Lowell Lock Monsters, the Hurricanes' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. In November, he was called up to the Hurricanes, making his NHL debut.
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Unfortunately, a knee injury in December sidelined him until February. Ladd was assigned back to the Lowell Lock Monsters until March when he was recalled to join the Hurricanes for their playoff run.
Stanley Cup Victory with the Carolina Hurricanes
Ladd was drafted in 2004 by the Hurricanes and won the Stanley Cup with them in 2006. He contributed 5 points in 17 post-season games helping the Hurricanes to their first Stanley Cup championship. Ladd is also remembered for injuring Edmonton Oilers goaltender Dwayne Roloson in game one of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The following season, in 2006-07, Ladd solidified a roster spot with the Hurricanes, but suffered an injury for a second straight season, undergoing an emergency appendectomy on December 14, 2006.
Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 2010 Blackhawks Flyers Ladd Goal
Chicago Blackhawks: A Breakout Season
In the midst of his third NHL season, Ladd was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks at the trade deadline on February 26, 2008, in exchange for Tuomo Ruutu. Ladd enjoyed a breakout season with the Blackhawks in the 2008-09 season having finished the season with 15 goals and 34 assists for 49 points in all 82 games as the Blackhawks as a team finished the season as the fourth seed in the Western Conference to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2002.
In a game against the Detroit Red Wings on March 7, 2010, Ladd scored his first NHL hat trick, though Detroit won the game 5-4. Ladd maintained his durability during the 2009-10 season having finished the season playing in all 82 games once more with 17 goals and 21 assists for 38 points recorded as the Blackhawks continued to strive as a team having clinched the second seed in the Western Conference.
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Atlanta Thrashers and Winnipeg Jets: Leadership and Milestones
On July 1, 2010, in a salary-cap move, Ladd was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenceman Ivan Vishnevskiy and Atlanta's second-round choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft (used to select Adam Clendening), joining Dustin Byfuglien, Ben Eager and Brent Sopel, who had been traded from the Blackhawks a week earlier. During the 2010-11 season, on November 18, Ladd was named as the captain of the Thrashers, with Byfuglien and Tobias Enström as alternates.
Ladd was awarded the team MVP award at the completion of the season. On November 21, Ladd recorded his 100th NHL assist on a goal by Dustin Byfuglien in a 2-1 overtime win over the New York Islanders.
On October 26, 2014, Ladd recorded his 200th NHL assist on a goal by Bryan Little in a 2-1 overtime win over the Colorado Avalanche. Ladd ended the season with 24 goals and 38 assists for 62 points in 81 games leading the team in assists and points as the Jets qualified for the playoffs for the first time since relocating from Atlanta as the team finished as the eighth and final seed in the Western Conference.
Return to Chicago and Subsequent Career Moves
In the 2015-16 season, in the final year of his contract and with the Jets out of playoff contention, on February 25, 2016, Ladd was traded back to the Blackhawks (along with Jay Harrison and Matt Fraser) in exchange for Marko Daňo and a 2016 first-round draft pick. As a trade deadline rental for the defending Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks, Ladd appeared in the final 19 games of the season for the Blackhawks, where he recorded eight goals and four assists for 12 points and generally skated with captain Jonathan Toews and Andrew Shaw on the team's first line.
Ladd also played in all seven of the Blackhawks games in the 2016 playoffs in their first round exit in seven games to the St.
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New York Islanders and Arizona Coyotes
On July 1, 2016, Ladd signed as a free agent to a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the New York Islanders. Despite hoping to replace the Islanders' losses of Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen to free agency, Ladd struggled in his first few games with the Islanders, going his first five games without a point and his first 12 games without a goal.
The subpar performance of Ladd and other Islanders players led to the mid-season firing of head coach Jack Capuano on January 17, 2017. At the time of the firing, Ladd had eight goals and four assists in 40 games, but under new head coach Doug Weight, Ladd's performance increased. Ladd scored 15 goals in the next 38 games.
Following the fifth season of his contract with the Islanders, Ladd's tenure with the club ended when he was traded to the Arizona Coyotes on July 17, 2021. The Islanders also sent Arizona second-round selections in 2021 and 2022 and a conditional third-round pick in 2023.
On February 20, 2022, in a 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars, Ladd suffered an undisclosed lower-body injury, causing him to miss the next 18 games. He played his 1,000th NHL game on April 20, against his former team, the Chicago Blackhawks at Gila River Arena. Ladd would miss the final four games of the season due to an undisclosed lower-body injury in a 2-0 loss to the Washington Capitals on April 22. He finished the 2021-22 season playing in 51 games with seven goals and five assists for 12 points.
International Play
During his junior career, Ladd played for Team Canada at the 2005 World Junior Championships in Grand Forks, North Dakota where he was joined by former minor hockey and future Chicago Blackhawks teammates Colin Fraser and Brent Seabrook. The trio helped Canada win their first gold medal of a five-year championship run.
