As teams prepare to set their protected rosters in advance of the Seattle expansion draft, trades are starting to come more frequently.
On Friday evening, the New York Islanders moved a veteran off their blue line. The Isles traded Nick Leddy to the Detroit Red Wings for forward Richard Panik and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft (No. 52 overall — originally owned by Edmonton).
Detroit is retaining 50 percent of Panik’s $2.75 million cap hit.
Leddy and Panik are both former Chicago Blackhawks.
The Islanders acquired Leddy from Chicago in Oct. 2014 in a five-player deal.