The Anaheim Ducks continue to lock up some of their depth. Just days after the team inked Christian Djoos and Jani Hakanpaa, the team signed two more players to new contracts. CapFriendly reports the Ducks signed defenseman Brendan Guhle to a two-year, contract worth $800K, while forward Sam Carrick signed a one-year, $700K deal. Both deals are one-way contracts.
Guhle was a promising prospect in the Buffalo Sabres' system back when they took him in the second round in 2015, but he struggled to break into their ’ lineup. Buffalo finally packaged Guhle and a 2019 first-rounder to the Ducks for Brandon Montour. The 22-year-old got some playing time with Anaheim last season, playing 30 games with four goals and eight points, but he was sent down at different points to the AHL to work on his skills. He ended up playing 27 games for the San Diego Gulls with the hope that he might be in line for a full-time role with the Ducks in 2020-21.
Carrick has had to work harder over the years to earn his way into the NHL lineup. The 28-year-old has only appeared in 34 NHL games and only nine last season, but he has been a solid mainstay on the Gulls, where he has scored 55 goals over the past two years there. He did score a goal and an assist in his nine games with Anaheim, and while he could offer some scoring depth for the team, he is more likely a top-liner and leader for the AHL squad.
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