The New York Islanders seem to be getting their money's worth after all.
Eyebrows across the league were raised after general manager Garth Snow signed veteran winger Andrew Ladd to a seven-year, $38.5-million contract last summer after allowing both Kyle Okposo and Frans Nielsen to jet as unrestricted free agents.
The questions only grew louder as Ladd proceeded to score three goals through October and November.
But in scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Rangers on Wednesday, Ladd reached 20 for the sixth time in his career, while more importantly, helping the Islanders move within two points of the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
"Obviously it was a very tough start for me, but I found a way to get a couple to go and found the confidence to start to play the right way," he said on the NHL Network following the win.
Ladd only has eight assists to go with the 20 goals, and that contract continues to sit heavy against the salary cap. But for the time being, however, he's making good on it by finding the back of the net and giving the Islanders a fighting chance, neither of which seemed likely a few months ago.
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