The Anaheim Ducks have locked up some forward depth for the next couple of years as they announced they have inked Nicolas Deslauriers to a two-year contract extension that will keep the winger under contract until 2022. The Athletic’s Eric Stephens adds that the deal is worth $2MM total with a $1MM AAV.
The 28-year-old has been an NHL regular since the 2014-15 season as a bottom-six option, who provides size and the ability to provide a much-needed physical presence on a young team that is trying to rebuild. With that rebuilding route likely to take another year or two, it makes sense to lock up Deslauriers to protect some of that young talent that continues to filter into the team’s system.
While he doesn’t provide much offense, the 6-foot-3 forward already has 109 hits and 80 penalty minutes and 12 fights in 45 games. He averages just 9:32, but the team believes that his presence on the team’s fourth line could provide that much-needed energy boost. After four years in Buffalo and two years with Montreal, Deslauriers struggled to establish himeself in Dallas Eakins’ lineup, but has now played 33 straight games with the Ducks. Anaheim acquired Deslauriers this summer from the Canadiens for a 2020 fourth-round pick.
Not sure if I like this deal. In one sense, he’s only getting 7-9 minutes of playing time per night, so he’s no necessarily taking away much. However, Sprong, Comtois, and Lundestrom need to be in the lineup so actually see what we got. And guys like Max Jones, maybe Comtois should be in the 4th line role, but is being occupied by Deslauriers, Rowney, etc. too many forwards on this team, and Zegras coming up next year. I hope we start trading guys like Devin Shore, Rowney, etc and let the kids play
Your going to see every team do signings like this in the coming months. It’s for the expansion draft making sure they have eligible players under contract. And really what’s so wrong for a rebuilding team to have a veteran 4th liner making 200k over league min
I agree this is for the expansion draft, however when you can get players to sign for 1 mil cap hit and they have a very defined role that they do average or better it’s a solid move, every team needs maybe not an enforcer anymore but still a physical guy in the bottom 6
Ducks have to keep Deslauriers in lineup so the young guys like Jones, Terry , and others so to keep players like Evander Kane and Kassian, Tkachuk in Western Conference from banging around or handing out punishment to non physical players as Deslauriers is known for being an enforcer.
Great extension, IMO. Can be completely buried if his game goes downhill and is a great protector out there. One of the better enforcers we’ve had over the years.