Ducks Sign Korbinian Holzer

The Anaheim Ducks have signed Korbinian Holzer to a one-year deal worth $700K, reports TVASports Renaud Lavouie.

The German defenseman scored 0G and 3A in 29 games for Anaheim last year. Holzer was traded to the Ducks from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2015 for Defenseman Eric Brewer and a 2016 fifth round draft pick. The deal represents a slight pay cut from Holzer’s previous contract—down from $750K.

This move is most likely meant to stock the Ducks’ AHL affiliate San Diego Gulls as the NHL team doesn’t seem to have a spot open on defense come training camp—especially if they sign RFA Hampus Lindholm. Holzer could be used as a call-up for injury purposes, and has enough of a gritty game to eat minutes without posing too much of a liability. He averaged over 17 minutes a night with the Maple Leafs before being traded.