Ducks Sign Damian Clara To Entry-Level Deal

2:31 p.m.: Clara’s deal carries a cap hit of $878K, PuckPedia reports. In the first two years of the deal, he’ll earn a base salary of $775K, a signing bonus of $95K, and a games played bonus of $80K. In the third year, his base salary increases to $800K while his games played bonus decreases to $55K. His minor-league salary is unknown.

The Ducks have signed netminder Damian Clara to a three-year, entry-level contract, as announced by the team Monday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The 6’6″ 19-year-old joined the Ducks organization after being selected late in the second round of the 2023 draft (60th overall). The pick they used to select him was one of three draft choices acquired from the Bruins in exchange for defenseman Hampus Lindholm at the 2022 trade deadline.

Clara, the first Italian goalie taken in the NHL draft in league history, impressed in the professional ranks this season after spending the prior two seasons in the top-level Czech and Swedish junior leagues. This year, he was loaned to Brynäs IF of the Swedish second-tier HockeyAllsvenskan and proved he was worth his draft position.

He quickly unseated NHL veteran Anders Lindbäck for the starting role in Brynäs, finishing the regular season with a .913 SV%, 2.23 GAA, 25-8-0 record and four shutouts. He added a sparkling .931 SV% in 11 postseason games to guide Brynäs to the league championship and promotion back to the top-level Swedish Hockey League after being demoted last year for the first time since 1960.

Clara had already signed a contract with the SHL’s Färjestad BK next season. Since he wasn’t a first-round pick, the NHL’s transfer agreement with Swedish leagues dictates he must first be offered back to Färjestad when Anaheim cuts him from their training camp roster. This stipulation for day-two picks is in place until they’re 24 years old.

[RELATED: Examining A Key Change In The NHL’s Transfer Agreement With Sweden]

As such, he’ll likely spend the 2024-25 campaign on loan to Färjestad, where he’s expected to work in tandem with former Bruins, Golden Knights and Penguins netminder Maxime Lagace. He’s only signed through next season, though, so Clara will likely opt not to sign another overseas contract if all goes well. He could then report to the Ducks’ AHL affiliate in San Diego as soon as 2025-26 if he’s not yet ready for NHL action.

Since Clara’s 20th birthday falls next January, his ELC can slide for one season. If he plays fewer than 10 NHL games in 2024-25 as expected, the contract will instead take effect with the 2025-26 campaign, keeping him signed until the summer of 2028. He’ll be a restricted free agent upon expiry.