The New York Islanders have signed defenceman Nick Leddy to a seven-year contract extension, the club announced on Tuesday.

The deal is worth a total of $38.5 million with an annual cap hit of $5.5 million.

“Nick has proven to be an elite defenceman in this league at a young age,” Islanders general manager Garth Snow said in a release. “He’s the type of player on the ice, in the locker room and in the community that we’re thrilled to add as a cornerstone of our defensive core.”  

A native of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Leddy is in his first year with the Islanders after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in October.

In 61 games this year, the 23-year-old has eight goals and 17 assists in just over 20 minutes of ice time a night.

“We have something special in this locker room and I’m excited to be a part of it for seven more years,” Leddy said in a statement. “From the start of my time here, the Islanders have been a first-class organization. I’m honored by their commitment to me and look forward to challenging for the Stanley Cup for years to come.”

Leddy was originally drafted 16th-overall by the Minnesota Wild in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He won the 2013 Stanley Cup as a member of the Blackhawks.