The Winnipeg Jets got some good news regarding the health of injured captain Andrew Ladd on Friday, announcing that he underwent successful sports hernia surgery and would be ready for training camp this fall.
Ladd, 29, had a banner campaign for the Jets this year, scoring a career-high 62 points while helping the team make the playoffs for the first time since moving from Atlanta in 2011. But it was clear the sports hernia injury took its toll down the stretch; Ladd failed to score a goal over the final 15 games of the season (11 regular season, four playoff) and had just one point in Winnipeg’s opening-round sweep at the hands of Anaheim.
Looking ahead, this could be an interesting offseason for Ladd -- and not just in terms of injury rehab. He’s heading into the last of a five-year, $22 million deal that carries an average annual cap hit of $4.4 million. He’s eligible to sign an extension this summer, something he expressed an interest in doing at Winnipeg’s locker clean-out in April.
“I like what’s going on here and the process that’s gone on and the steps that have been made,” Ladd said, per the Winnipeg Free Press. “I’m excited to be a part of it and want to be a part of it and I’m excited for the years to come here. I think we can do some good things.”