Per TSN’s Darren Dreger, via Chris Nichols, the Winnipeg Jets offered Andrew Ladd a six-year deal worth $36MM before the start of the 2015-16 season. Ladd apparently pushed for $6.5MM a season, eventually breaking off talks. Dreger also thinks that the Jets wouldn’t come close to that amount now in either dollars or years. Ladd is an unrestricted free agent as of July 1st.
After being dealt to the Chicago Blackhawks mid-season, the 30-year old Ladd is headed out to free agency as a five-time twenty goal scorer well known for his leadership on and off the ice. The Thrashers/Jets captain from 2010-11, Ladd has two Stanley Cups under his belt, in 2006 with Carolina and 2010 with Chicago. He came back to the Blackhawks to pursue another championship, after it seemed clear he and the Jets weren’t going to come to terms. Winnipeg instead sunk their money into Dustin Byfuglien, betting on the big defenceman to stay elite for a few more seasons.
Ladd will have plenty of suitors this offseason, even if $6.5MM is a little out of reach. His size and scoring ability fits nicely as a complimentary player on the wing, able to play any kind of role in the top three lines.