The Anaheim Ducks did not sign any players on July 1st but they did sign two depth players the following day. This wasn’t surprising, as the team was the worst in the NHL playing-wise for long stretches of the season after goaltender John Gibson was no longer able to steal every game for them. It’s safe to say the Ducks are taking this summer to re-evaluate their situations, as they should, and if they are smart they will go into a rebuild. Both of these things made it likely they would not make any major free agent signings, which they did not. Here’s a recap of the moves they made after and a short write-up on each player.
- Andrew Poturalski, F. Poturalski was technically an RFA of the Carolina Hurricanes, but he did not receive a qualifying offer from them, thus making him a UFA. The Ducks signed him to a one-year contract worth $700,000. He did not play any games in the NHL last season, but he produced at nearly a point per game pace in the AHL and finished fifth in scoring in the league. In 72 games for the Hurricanes’ AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, he tallied 23 goals and 47 assists. He also produced at over a point per game pace in the playoffs as the Checkers won the Calder Cup, as he appeared in 18 games and put up 12 goals and 11 assists. Signed by the Hurricanes as an undrafted free agent after completing his sophomore season at the University of New Hampshire, Poturalski has appeared in two career NHL games, both in the 2016-17 season, in which he has produced zero points. In 238 career AHL games, he has recorded 66 goals and 110 assists. The 25-year-old center and right wing is leaving the only organization he has known over his three and a half year professional career in Carolina.
- Blake Pietila, F. Pietila was signed to a one-year contract worth $700,000. He appeared in 19 NHL games for the New Jersey Devils last season, in which he produced zero goals and one assist. However, he was productive for the Devils’ AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Devils, as he recorded 20 goals and 26 assists in 50 games for them. Drafted in the fifth round (129th overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Devils’, Pietila has appeared in 38 career NHL games, in which he has tallied one goal and three assists. The 26-year-old left wing is leaving the only organization he has known over his four-season professional career in New Jersey.
This post will be updated if and when the team makes any more signings.
Hockey Addict 