The trip to Long Island at the end of June eased any negative impressions Ladd may have had or heard about the area. The Islanders played their home games at Nassau Coliseum for 43 years before moving to Barclays Center in Brooklyn prior to the start of last season. A quick drive to a few neighborhoods surrounding Northwell Health Ice Center, home of the Islanders' new state-of-the-art practice facility, made the decision easier.
"When we came here (as visiting players), you see the Marriott, you see the Coliseum, and then you're out," Ladd said. "You don't really get a big picture of what Long Island's all about, the different towns that are here and the lifestyle that I live. When we visited, it was pretty easy to see that it's a great spot to be. We're excited to be here, and we're excited to get involved in the community and get our kids immersed in everything that's going on here too.
"As far as the organization, I honestly didn't know a whole lot about it. I guess I leaned a lot on Dougie and the conversations with Garth to put that into perspective, and understand what their thoughts were and their philosophy and where they think this thing's going."
Ladd won the Stanley Cup with Weight in 2006 when they played for the Carolina Hurricanes. He was 20 years old at the time and leaned on the more-experienced Weight to get through the rigors of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Ten years later, Weight helped convince him to sign with the Islanders, who last season won a playoff round for the first time since 1993. New York defeated the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference First Round in six games, then lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning the following round in five.
"I think he saw our organization for what it is," Weight said. "I hope the fact that he trusts me is part of it, but he met everybody. We went out of our way for him and his family and we wanted to tell him what it was all about. He loved the Island, he loved our team makeup and what we're all about. I think he sees us being a contender for as many years as he signed."