Anaheim Ducks Sign Restricted Free Agent Forward Rickard Rakell to a 6-Year Deal, Leaving D Hampus Lindholm and Jets D Jacob Trouba as the Last Two Remaining Players Without a Contract
Announced Friday, the Anaheim Ducks have signed restricted free agent forward Rickard Rakell to a six-year deal worth $22.8 million dollars ($3.8 million dollar cap hit).
That leaves only two RFAs remaining without a contract; Ducks D Hampus Lindholm and Jets D Jacob Trouba.
The news came via twitter through TSN’s Bob McKenzie.
Rickard Rakell agrees to terms with ANA on a six-year deal with an AAV of $3.8M.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) October 14, 2016
Rakell, 23, is currently in Sweden. Reports suggest it could take upwards of two weeks to sort out his visa issue – but you gotta wonder if he’s still feeling ill effects from the injury that kept him out of the World Cup of Hockey.
"via The Score,With the six-year investment, the Ducks get another accurately valued and very reasonable number on their payroll. Rakell will earn just a shade more than Jakob Silfverberg, another young top-six forward locked up long term who contributed just slightly less offensively."
Resume/Career
Selected 30th overall from OHL Plymouth back in 2011, Rakell made his NHL debut appearing in four games at the end of 2012-13 with Anaheim. The next year in 2013-14, Rickard spent the majority of his season with AHL Norfolk racking up 37 points in 46 games. He added four assists in 18 games with Anaheim.
The Swedish center had a breakout season in 2014-15 with an impressive nine goals (31 points) in 71 games. He continued to add to his totals in 2015-16 after scoring 20 goals (43 points) in 72 games.
Reaction/Analysis
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It’s unfortunate that both Rickard Rakell and Hampus Lindholm began the year without a new contract. Following the Ducks disappointing early playoff exit to Nashville, it sure sounded as though we should expect major change. Re-hiring Randy Carlyle, making John Gibson the undisputed starter, and signing a few mediocre free agents is hardly what the hockey world was thinking. In all honesty, all three of those things were fully expected to happen anyways.
You get the feeling that Anaheim tried to make something happen on the trade market, but attempts went unsuccessful. It’s not surprising, rumors were already floating around in 2015-16 that Bob Murray‘s asking price for certain players is outrageous.
The Ducks only have $323,335 dollars in cap space following the Rakell signing, which leaves absolutely nothing to re-sign their no.1 defenseman.
Next: 5 Bold Predictions for the Pacific Division
This is Getting Painful for Cam Fowler
The reason Cam Fowler‘s name consistently comes up in trade rumors is because a deal is inevitable. Between impending expansion, the Ducks cap situation, and budding star Shea Theodore – there’s just no room for Fowler moving forward.
At this point, the only explanation that makes sense is that Anaheim is showcasing their 24-year-old offensive defenseman. If Murray was getting lowballed the way Edmonton was for Nail Yakupov, it’s understandable why he’s hesitant to pull the trigger. Some people call the Yakupov deal a necessary one regardless of the return – that’s a terrible attitude for a team to have. Fowler should be able to bring in a decent NHL quality forward (on a cheap deal), top prospects, or maybe even quality draft picks.