It looks like Andrew Ladd's recent five-game conditioning stint in the AHL did nothing to increase New York Islanders GM Lou Lamoriello's faith in him. After being cleared for play in the NHL this week, the 33-year-old has been placed on waivers, and will be sent back to the AHL if no one picks him up.
Lamoriello believes he'll clear waivers, and he's mostly like right. Ladd has three-and-a-half years left on a contract that pays him $5.5 million per season, and no team is likely to take on that salary. In his five games in the AHL, he managed just one goal, his only point.
Lamoriello would not speculate when asked if there was concern Ladd would not be able to play in NHL again because of injuries. He would say Ladd wants to play in order to get himself back into NHL shape, and he's much more likely to get the games he needs in the AHL.
Ladd played just 26 games of last season due to a torn ACL, and has yet to make his 2019-20 debut with the Islanders. He was, however, struggling considerably before that. Since signing a seven-year, $38.5 million contract with the New York Islanders in 2016, Ladd managed 45 points in 78 games in 2016-17, and just 24 in 73 games in 2017-18.
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