Andrew Ladd tears ACL and puts Islanders future in jeopardy

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The future of Andrew Ladd playing again for the Islanders is now in jeopardy.

The 33-year-old forward tore his left ACL on a strange hit late in Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Coyotes, and he is expected to be out four-to-five months. Earlier this season, he had surgery for a torn ACL in his right knee, and that was after missing training camp with a back issue.

Ladd played just 26 games this season, and he was playing marginally better in the previous few. Team president Lou Lamoriello said he expects him ready for training camp next season.

“It’s not good news,” Lamoriello said, “but it’s part of the game.”

Ladd has four more years left on his bloated seven-year, $38.5 million deal, carrying an annual salary-cap hit of $5.5 million. The buyout number would be difficult to swallow in dead-cap space, which would be $4.833 million over the next four years, followed by $333,333 over the next four, through 2026-27. It could be minimized if Ladd cleared waivers and played for AHL Bridgeport — but that is assuming he can come back and play at all.

As of now, that was what the Islanders were planning on. But it’s uncertain if it can happen.

“This is just part of the game and you move on,” Lamoriello said. “Another player will get an opportunity.”

For Tuesday night’s game here against the Blue Jackets, it seems like that player will be Michael Dal Colle, the 22-year-old winger who sat out the past eight in a row despite having played well in his 23 NHL games this season.

With the team having one more available call-up before the start of the postseason, Lamoriello said no move was imminent.

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