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Anaheim Ducks Sign Andrej Sustr To One-Year Deal

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The Anaheim Ducks have signed another depth defenseman, inking Andrej Sustr to a one-year contract. Sustr joins Luke Schenn as options to help replace the outgoing Kevin Bieksa and Francois Beauchemin on the Ducks blue line. Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports that the one-way deal is worth $1.3MM.

Sustr, 27, was limited to just 44 games for the Tampa Bay Lightning last season and essentially pushed off of their depth chart thanks to the acquisitions of Ryan McDonagh, Mikhail Sergachev and Dan Girardi. The Lightning allowed Sustr to reach unrestricted free agency, but he’s entering another crowded situation in Anaheim. The Ducks are losing Bieksa and Beauchemin and have already passed Korbinian Holzer through waivers, but still have plenty of talent on the blue line. Cam Fowler, Josh Manson, Hampus Lindholm and Brandon Montour are the core of the group, but Jacob Larsson, Marcus Pettersson, Andy Welinski and now Schenn will all be competing for roles. Sustr will have to prove his worth quickly, though his cap hit does suggest that he’s in their full-time plans.

The towering 6’7″ defenseman is a useful piece when he’s playing his best, and shouldn’t be asked for more than about 15 minutes a game in Anaheim when everyone is healthy. The fact that he is right-handed only adds to his value, and should provide the Ducks with some excellent depth as they try to contend for a Stanley Cup once again.

Morning Notes: Boll, Olczyk, Cohen

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It’s the end of a career for Jared Boll, who Aaron Portzline of The Athletic reports has hung up his skates for the last time. Boll retires after a career as one of the league’s most prolific fighters, dropping the mitts 171 times in the NHL over a 579 game career. Boll put up 226 penalty minutes as a rookie in 2007-08, after being selected in the fourth round of the 2005 draft by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Ending his career with the Anaheim Ducks, Boll will retire with 66 NHL points, 1,298 penalty minutes and more than a few bruises. As the league moves further and further away from fighting, and reduces the number of true enforcers playing in the NHL, there just wasn’t a place for the 32-year old any longer. It’s safe to say the fans in Columbus will look back fondly on his tenure, even if the game has moved on.

  • Rick Olczyk has moved on from the Carolina Hurricanes according to Aaron Ward, who reports the long-time executive will be joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in some capacity. Olczyk has been the Hurricanes’ assistant GM for several years, but with the firing of Ron Francis and takeover by Don Waddell, there may have been a mutual parting. It’s not clear what role the former Edmonton Oilers executive would take on in Toronto, as the team already has two assistant general managers in Brandon Pridham and Laurence Gilman. There had been plenty of rumors around a potential fit for Francis in Toronto due to his Sault Ste. Marie connections with GM Kyle Dubas, and perhaps he recommended Olczyk for certain responsibilities.
  • The Arizona Coyotes have promoted Ahron Cohen to President and CEO according to Craig Morgan of AZ Sports, replacing Steve Patterson who had been named CEO just last year. Cohen at that time was named COO after serving as general counsel, but will now take over the business operations of the team. Cohen was clear that he’ll do everything he can to turn around the Coyotes franchise and bring sustained success to the city when he told Morgan “I’m married to this job. This is my passion. I love this team and I love the opportunity we have to build something special in Arizona.”

Anaheim Ducks Sign Carter Rowney, Brian Gibbons, Ben Street, Luke Schenn

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The Anaheim Ducks have announced the signings of four players to fill out their roster as they signed forwards Carter Rowney, Brian Gibbons and Ben Street, while also adding defenseman Luke Schenn. Rowney inked the longest term of the group, signing a three-year deal worth $3.4MM. Gibbons inked a one-year, one-way deal worth $1MM. Street and Schenn both signed one-year deals.

For the Ducks, adding four solid NHL talents should increase the team’s depth which was sorely lacking last year when they were decimated by injuries throughout the season. Re-loading with third and fourth-line forwards as well as adding Schenn to their defense should boost the team.

“We needed to get faster, so the primary goal was to add some speed up front with some depth signings,” said Anaheim general manager Bob Murray. “We also wanted a veteran defenseman with NHL experience and strong leadership traits.”

Rowney has done a nice job working his way up the NHL ladder after originally signing an AHL tryout and now has achieved a three-year deal years later. An energizing center, the 29-year-old has struggled to put up solid numbers with the Pittsburgh Penguins the past two years and has served as a depth centerman. He appeared in 44 games with the Penguins this season, posting two goals and three assists and even appeared in three playoff games for Pittsburgh this season.

Gibbons finally earned his first one-way deal as the energetic, hard-working forward was finally able to break into the New Jersey Devils lineup last season. In 59 games, he posted solid numbers, putting up 12 goals and 14 assists. He had spent the previous two seasons bouncing around the AHL.

Street adds depth and could be a big addition to the team’s AHL franchise the San Diego Gulls. The 31-year-old center played a full season for the Detroit Red Wings affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins, posting great numbers. He scored 21 goals and 65 points there and added another eight points in five playoff games.

Schenn adds much depth to the blueline. While the team had a very deep defensive core more than a year ago, the team traded away both Shea Theodore and Sami Vatanen last season, leaving them somewhat limited. While their top four features Hampus Lindholm, Cam Fowler, Josh Manson and Brandon Montour, they lacked depth for the last two spots. Schenn should figure into that mix nicely. He played the last two years with the Arizona Coyotes, posting seven points in 64 games and already has 708 games of NHL experience under his belt.

TVA’s Renaud Lavoie was the first to break Gibbons deal. TSN’s Brennan Klak reported the signed of Street.

Anaheim Ducks Sign Swedish Forward Anton Rodin

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The Ducks are importing some scoring help for the coming season. Sportsnet reports that Anaheim has signed Anton Rodin, a former Swedish Hockey League MVP and brief member of the Vancouver Canucks. Rodin finished the 2017-18 season with HC Davos of the Swiss NLA, but will now return to North America to join the Ducks. Contract terms are not yet available.

Rodin, a second-round pick back in 2009, has had trouble making his mark in the NHL. He came over to the U.S. for the 2011-12 season, but found himself playing in the AHL for next two seasons without a callup, prompting the Swede to return to the SHL, the next season, which is where he stayed for another three years. He returned to Vancouver and got into three NHL games, but spent most of his time with the Utica Comets before asking for his release in November of this season.

J.T. Brown Signs With Minnesota Wild

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Enforcer J.T. Brown is heading home to Minnesota, as the veteran forward has signed with the Wild. The Athletic’s Michael Russo reports that it is a two-year deal and adds that he will make $675K this year and $700K next year for an AAV of $687.5K.

Brown spent 2017-18 playing for two teams as he began the year with the Tampa Bay Lightning, where he had played for the previous five years of his NHL career. This year, with the Lightning overflowing with depth and his role declining, Tampa Bay placed him on waivers, hoping he could be sent to the AHL, but was claimed by the Anaheim Ducks. He played 23 games for an injury-ravaged Anaheim team, producing three points.

With Minnesota, the 27-year-old should provide more depth for the team’s bottom line, which Minnesota is re-designing. The team already locked up bottom-line center Eric Fehr, signed veteran Matt Hendricks and allowed veteran Matt Cullen to move on to Pittsburgh.

Winnipeg Jets, Anaheim Ducks Swap AHL Forwards

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The Winnipeg Jets and Anaheim Ducks swapped a pair of minor-league forwards as the Jets traded Chase De Leo to the Ducks for Nicolas Kerdiles, according to the Ducks. The even swap should give both forwards a fresh start for next season as both are restricted free agents and each were given qualifying offers earlier this week.

For Anaheim, the acquisition of De Leo, is another sign of bringing in a hometown player to the franchise. Born in La Mirada, Calif., the 22-year-old fourth-round pick in 2014 has struggled to improve in the last three years. After posting solid junior numbers, he scored 19 goals as a rookie with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL in the 2015-16 season which included a two-game promotion to the Jets. However, De Leo then wasn’t able to improve on that. His goal output then decreased from 14 the following year and then to 12 this year. Lost in the shuffle of all the young talent in Winnipeg, a move to Anaheim might be exactly what the forward needs. De Leo just finished out his entry-level deal where he made $875K last year.

Kerdiles will provide Winnipeg with a bigger player for their AHL team next year. The 6-foot-2 Kerdiles posted 15 goals last season and had a career-high 34 points last season, but seems to but hasn’t made major improvements in the last few years and he also has a history of being injury-prone as he’s never played a full season of professional hockey. However, after four years in the AHL and just two games in the NHL, a new home might be the answer. The 24-year-old made $650K on a one-year deal last season.

Korbinian Holzer Clears Waivers

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Tuesday: Holzer has cleared waivers.

Monday: The Anaheim Ducks have placed Korbinian Holzer on waivers according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, but not for the purpose of a buyout or contract termination. Instead, the Ducks are likely hoping another team will claim him and take the $900K off their books, or at least gain some leverage on Holzer in any extension negotiations. This transaction is often seen right before an arbitration hearing with a restricted free agent, but Holzer is still under contract for one season and will be an unrestricted free agent in the summer of 2019.

Anaheim has plenty of options on the blue line for next season, and could likely go without Holzer all year if another team was willing to claim him. He played in only 16 games for them last season, and hasn’t ever really been a full-time NHL player. He does offer some right-handed depth, but isn’t dynamic enough to warrant a roster spot. If the Ducks can’t find a taker, he may be destined for the San Diego Gulls next season.

The Ducks do have some work to do this summer to shore up their defense, as Brandon Montour is a restricted free agent and will be looking for a substantial raise. The team already has Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm and Josh Manson locked into their top-four, while several young players like Jacob Larsson, Marcus Pettersson and Josh Mahura should be challenging for playing time. In what has become a defenseman factory, the Ducks don’t need Holzer any longer for a depth option with the big club.

2018 Draft Results By Team

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The 2018 NHL Entry Draft is now complete. Check out how each team did with accruing talent and filling needs with each of their selections this weekend:

Anaheim Ducks

1-23.  F Isac Lundestrom, Lulea (SHL)
2-54. F Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
3-79. F Blake McLaughlin, Chicago Steel (USHL)
3-84. G Lukas Dostal, HC Kometa Brno (Czech Republic-Jr.)
4-116. F Jack Perbix, Elk River HS (USHS)
5-147. G Roman Durny, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
6-178. D Hunter Drew, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

Arizona Coyotes

1-5. F Barrett Hayton, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)
2-55. D Kevin Bahl, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
3-65. F Jan Jenik, HC Benatky nad Jizerou (Czech Republic-2)
3-73. D Ty Emberson, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
4-114. G Ivan Prosvetov, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
5-142. D Mitchell Callahan, Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL)
5-145. D Dennis Busby, Flint Firebirds (OHL)
6-158. G David Tendeck, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
7-189. F Liam Kirk, Sheffield Steelers (England)

Boston Bruins

2-57. D Axel Andersson, Djurgardens IF (SuperElit)
3-77.  F Jakub Lauko, Pirati Chomutov (Czech Republic)
4-119. F Curtis Hall, Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
6-181.  D Dustyn McFaul, Pickering Panthers (OJHL)
7-212. F Pavel Shen, Mamonty Yugry (MHL)

Buffalo Sabres

1-1. D Rasmus Dahlin, Frolunda HC (SHL)
2-32. D Mattias Samuelsson, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
4-94. F Matej Pekar, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
4-117. D Linus Lindstrand Kronholm, Malmo Redhawks (SuperElit)
5-125. D Miska Kuukonen, Ilves (Jr.-Liiga)
7-187. D William Worge Kreu, Linkoping (SuperElit)

Calgary Flames

3-105. F Martin Pospisil, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
3-108. F Demetrios Koumontzis, Edina HS (USHS)
4-122. F Milos Roman, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
6-167. F Mathias Emilio Pettersen, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
7-198. F Dmitri Zavgorodny, Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)

Carolina Hurricanes

1-2. F Andrei Svechnikov, Barrie Colts (OHL)
2-42. F Jack Drury, Waterloo Blackhawks (USHL)
4-96. F Luke Henman, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)
4-104. F Lenni Killinen, Espoo Blues (Jr.-Liiga)
6-166. D Jesper Sellgren, MODO (Allsveskan)
7-197. G Jake Kucharski, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)

Chicago Blackhawks

1-8. D Adam Boqvist, Brynas IF Gavle (SHL)
1-27. D Nicolas Beaudin, Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
3-69. F Jake Wise, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
3-74. F Niklas Nordgren, HIFK Helsinki (Jr.-Liiga)
4-120. F Philipp Kurashev, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)
5-139. F Mikael Hakkarainen, Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
6-162. G Alexis Gravel, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
7-193. F Josiah Slavin, Lincoln Stars (USHL)

Colorado Avalanche

1-16. F Martin Kaut, Dynamo Pardubice (Czech Republic)
3-64. G Justus Annunen, Karpat (Jr.-Liiga)
3-78. F Sampo Ranta, Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
4-109. F Tyler Weiss, U.S. National Development Program (USHL)
5-140. F Brandon Saigeon, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL)
5-146. D Danila Zhuravlyov, Irbis Kazan (MHL)
6-171. F Nikolai Kovalenko, Lokomotiv Yaroslavl (MHL)
7-202. G Shamil Shmakov, Sibirskie Snaipery Novosibirsk (MHL)Read more

Simon Despres Wants A Second Chance At NHL

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Simon Despres was once an up-and-coming defenseman in the NHL. A first-round pick by Pittsburgh in 2009, Despres played a key depth role for the Penguins from 2011 to 2015. Although Despres was limited offensively, even in the AHL, he proved himself to be a very dependable presence in his own end. Annually a positive player with strong possession numbers, Despres eventually worked himself into a full-time role with the Penguins in 2014-15. In that season, he also showed off an improved physical game and a superior puck-moving ability. However, it was also in that season that Despres was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, a deadline deal that sent veteran Ben Lovejoy to Pittsburgh. Despres continued to play well for the Ducks down the stretch and was perhaps at the peak of his NHL career in the postseason that year with a dominant stretch. Yet, the rest of Despres’ tenure in Anaheim would not go as well.

In 2015-16, just four games into the regular season, Despres took a hard check to the head from the Colorado Avalanche’s Tyson Barrie. Despres would miss the next 42 games of the regular season and never truly returned to form in the campaign. Despres suited up for Anaheim for the opening game of the 2016-17 season, but concussion symptoms limited him to just that one appearance for the year. Despres was bought out by the Ducks at the end of the season and, at age 25, was considering retirement. Instead, Despres decided to continue his career overseas. Able to finally leave his concussions in the past, Despres had a strong season with HC Slovan Bratislava of the KHL this year. Now, he wants back in the NHL.

Speaking with Jean-Francois Tremblay of La Presse in his native Quebec, Despres states that money is not an issue and that he will do what it takes to get back into the league. He says that he will visit with teams this summer or attend camp on a tryout basis if that is what it takes. He even says he would be open to an AHL contract as a first step, specifically noting that he would not hesitate to accept an offer from the Laval Rocket, the Montreal Canadiens affiliate in his hometown that did not exist when he was in the NHL. Despres goes on to describe how he has changed his diet and lifestyle to get healthier and has even trained in martial arts in an effort to learn how to avoid bad hits and further concussions. He also describes how his time in the KHL has improved his skating and puck possession. It seems Despres has done all he can to work his way back from a potentially career-ending injury and now feels ready for a return. Now all he can do is wait for a team to give him a second chance.

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