Ducks Sign A.J. Greer to Four-Year Deal

Greer has transformed himself from a fringe NHLer to a physical presence on the bottom six. Drafted 39th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in the 2015 NHL Draft , he’s had stops with the Avalanche, New Jersey Devils, Boston Bruins, Calgary Flames, and Panthers.

Until 2022-23, Greer was more of an American Hockey League presence than an NHL presence. In 2022-23, his first year with the Boston Bruins, he established himself as a fourth-liner who is willing to show brawn. He played a valuable role for the 2024-25 Florida Panthers, who won the Stanley Cup.

Greer Is A Grinder Who Had A Great Season

The 2025-26 season was a disaster for the Florida Panthers, yet it was a way for Greer to get the spotlight. With the Panthers suffering long-term injuries to Matthew Tkachuk and Brad Marchand, Greer got elevated playing time.

The result was a 17-goal, 15-assist season through 78 games. He also had a plus-14 plus/minus. However, there were some underlying red flags, such as a 16.1% shooting percentage, which went way above his career 10.1%.

Still, Greer has always been a bruising forward. He’s had 100+ penalty-induced minutes in three of the last four seasons. He’s been a good forechecking forward who’s solid in his own zone due to his great defensive puck touches. He elevated his play with meaningful playing time, and he earns his due in Anaheim.

The Ducks Are Banking On 2025-26 Greer

The Anaheim Ducks are getting a fourth-line grinder at the very least. Their fourth line was effective in the playoffs, and hopefully, with Greer, who scored two goal and notched an assist in the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run.

The Ducks still have over $40.3 million in cap space, but they have a lot of contracts to figure out. They need to agree to terms with restricted free agents Cutter Gauthier and Leo Carlsson on presumably long-term contracts.

Defenseman Pavel Mintyukov is also an RFA, and they traded away Mason McTavish to the St. Louis Blues on the day of the 2026 NHL Draft. Their defense has a few weak spots due to free agency as well, with John Carlson and Gudas already departing and Jacob Trouba becoming a UFA as well.

At the very least, they get an upgrade over Jeffrey Viel and Ross Johnston, who are departing to free agency as well. If Greer can sustain his production from Florida, it will be worthwhile for Anaheim.