Eaves (illness) has been ruled out for the entirety of the 2019-20 season.
Eaves has played just nine games over the last two seasons due to an illness. "Whatever you want to call what he had keeps resurfacing,” GM Bob Murray said. :He's tried a couple times to come back, but he and his wife have decided that's enough for now, and I totally agree with that at this point in time." Eaves will sit out the entire 2020 season and his career is in jeopardy at this point.
Ducks' Ryan Kesler has been ruled out of the 2019-20 due to recovery from offseason hip surgery.
The Ducks confirmed what was already believed about Kesler’s status for the 2020 season. Kesler underwent right hip refacing surgery in early-May and will not play this season but the door is still open for him to resume his NHL career following a lengthy recovery.
The Ducks have signed Michael Del Zotto to a one-year contract.
Del Zotto bounced from Vancouver to Anaheim to St. Louis, where he eventually won a Stanley Cup but signs back with Anaheim, where he had three assists in 12 games. Overall, Del Zotto had 10 points (1G / 9A) in 42 games a season ago, but should have a chance to play more regularly in 2020.
Signing
The Ducks have re-signed Justin Kloos to a one-year contract.
Kloos was in his second year in the Wild’s AHL farm system before being acquired for Pontus Aberg in January and spending 25 games with San Diego (AHL). Kloos has just two career NHL games under his belt and spent last year posting 18 goals and 27 assists (45 points) in 59 combined NHL games. Look for him to start 2020 with San Diego but could be one of the first call-ups for a thin Ducks team.
Signing
The Ducks have re-signed Chase De Leo to a one-year contract.
De Leo was originally a fourth-round pick of the Jets but 2018-19 was his first season with the Ducks organization. The 23-year-old was second on the Gulls with 55 points (20G / 35A) in 66 games and will likely be among their top players to start 2020.
The Ducks have signed Chris Wideman to a one-year contract.
Wideman went from a regular NHLer in 2016 and 2017 to a fringe/AHL player after a leg injury in 2018. The 29-year-old has posted solid offensive numbers at lower-levels, including 15 points (3G / 12A) in 19 AHL games last year and could push for the sixth defenseman spot with Anaheim in 2020.
The Ducks signed Blake Pietila to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Ducks signed Andrew Poturalski to a one-year, two-way contract.
The Ducks have signed Andreas Martinsen for one-year worth $750K.
The Ducks signed Jani Hakanpaa to a one-year contract worth $850K.
The Ducks signed Anthony Stolarz to a two-year, $1.5M contract ($750K).
The Ducks have acquired Nicolas Deslauriers from the Canadiens for a 2020 fourth-round pick.
Deslauriers had two goals and three assists (five points) in 48 games with the Canadiens last season. Deslauriers is a rugged left winger who will likely play the entire 2020 season on the Ducks fourth-line. He has a career-high of just 15 points (in 2015).
Signing
The Ducks have signed Sam Carrick to a one-year contract extension.
Carrick spent most of the 2018-19 season with San Diego (AHL), where he led the team in goals (32) and points (61) in 61 games. The 27-year-old played in six games with the Ducks, picking up just one assist—giving him three points (1G / 2A) in 25 career NHL games.
Signing
The Ducks have signed Derek Grant to a one-year deal worth $700K.
Grant was re-acquired from Pittsburgh during the 2018-19 season and finished the year with 14 points (4G / 10A) in 56 games between the Penguins and Ducks (2G / 7A in 31 games). Grant will likely serve as the Ducks fourth line centre in 2019-20.
The Ducks have signed Korbinian Holzer to a one-year deal worth $850K.
Holzer split the 2018-19 season between the AHL and NHL, collecting just one goal and three assists (four points) in 22 games with Anaheim. Holzer has been with the Ducks since 2015-16 and has averaged 25 games, one goal and three assists per season as their seventh defenseman.
Signing
The Ducks have signed Ryan Miller to a one-year deal worth $1.125M.
Miller appeared in 20 games in his second season with the Ducks, going 8-7-2 with a 2.76 GAA and .912 SV%. He wasn’t as good as he was in 2017-18 but is a steady backup option for John Gibson, especially considering Gibson’s health issues in recent years.
Signing
The Ducks have signed Lukas Dostal to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Dostal, 18, was a third-round pick (No.85 overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft and finished his season with Ilves Tampere in the Finnish Elite League at 4-4-2 with a 1.80 GAA and .920 SV% in 10 games.
Kesler underwent right hip resurfacing surgery on Thursday.
Hip resurfacing is a bone-preserving hip replacement that can provide pain relief and increase function in normal activities of daily living. The surgery does leave open the possibility that Kesler could resume his NHL career following a lengthy recovery. "As we all know, Ryan has been fiercely battling his condition for quite some time," said Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. "I've been extremely impressed by his determination to play despite being significantly injured. At this point, Ryan needs to think about his life and family. The pain he felt was significant and we agree with his decision to have this surgery. While it's unlikely he will play in 2019-20, we will support any decision he makes about his future playing career.”
Goalie Start
Gibson will start Friday vs. the Kings.
Gibson stopped 30 of 31 shots in the Ducks win in Edmonton last Saturday. Gibson started the year strong and is finishing strong, winning three in a row and seven of his last eight while posting a 2.50 GAA and .925 SV%. The Ducks did him no justice this season but Gibson has won at least 25 games in three straight seasons now and should be a top goalie target heading into 2019-20.
Goalie Start
Stolarz will start Thursday vs. the Sharks.
Stolarz allowed one goal on 17 shots after coming in in relief in the Oilers 5-1 loss to the Ducks on March 30th. Since joining the Oilers, Stolarz has gone 0-1-0 with a 4.00 GAA and .898 SV% in one start and four relief appearances. The Sharks have lost nine of their last 10 (1-8-1) but remain a very difficult test for Stolarz this evening.