The Anaheim Ducks are ready to compete.
The Ducks made a splash (pun intended) during the weaning hours of free agent frenzy on Wednesday evening, agreeing to terms with forward Ryan Strome on a five-year contract worth an average annual value of $5 million.
The details of the deal, which now ties Strome to Anaheim through the 2026-27 season, such as its salary structure and the inclusion of any trade protection have yet to be released.
And just like that, one of the remaining big-name centres is off the market.
The Ducks have clearly made an effort to surround their young stars with offensive depth this summer and so far have accomplished just that, with Strome being the biggest addition of the bunch. The 29-year-old is coming off an impressive season for the New York Rangers in which he racked up 21 goals and 33 assists for 54 points in 74 games while logging over 18 minutes of ice time. Strome also played a key role in the playoffs as well, chipping in nine points in 19 games during the Rangers’ surprise run to the Eastern Conference Final.
A five-year deal for a player about to turn 30 is always a risk. But the Ducks have enough young talent surrounding Strome to seemingly insulate him if he indeed takes a step back in the coming years, while his contributions in the immediate future will certainly launch the team back into relevancy.
It’s been a wild day of signings and Strome is no different. Stay tuned. The moves are far from over.
