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Anaheim Ducks Sign Two in Free Agency

By Jonathan Maxfield

ROSEMONT, IL - JUNE 08: Charlotte Checkers center Andrew Poturalski (22) celebrates after game five of the AHL Calder Cup Finals against the Chicago Wolves on June 8, 2019, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ROSEMONT, IL - JUNE 08: Charlotte Checkers center Andrew Poturalski (22) celebrates after game five of the AHL Calder Cup Finals against the Chicago Wolves on June 8, 2019, at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Free Agent Frenzy is upon us and with the Anaheim Ducks fairly lackluster trade Sunday all eyes are on Bob Murray to improve the team through free agency.

The Anaheim Ducks have made their first and second free agent signing of the 2019-20 season picking up reigning Jack A. Butterfield Trophy winner Andrew Poturalski and Binghamton’s leading scorer Blake Pietila.

Poturalski went undrafted before signing an ELC with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2016. He went on to play for 4 seasons with the Carolina Hurricane farm team the Charlotte Checkers putting up fairly good numbers posting three seasons with a minimum of 49 points before breaking out with a 70 point season this past year including an impressive 23 points during the 18 game Calder Cup playoff run ending with a win. Poturalski has played in 2 NHL games going scoreless in both, he’s likely to be an AHL signing but given the Ducks injury history it’s possible that the 25-year-old gets a chance in the NHL sooner or later this season.

Overall not a bad pickup for the Ducks, he’s not likely to set the world on fire, but getting a player with success at the AHL level is certainly helpful for a San Diego Gulls team that is going to have a totally different look after losing a good portion of their team due to call-ups or signing elsewhere.

Anaheim Ducks
NEWARK, NJ – MARCH 21: Blake Pietila #56 of the New Jersey Devils checks Brandon Carlo #25 of the Boston Bruins during the third period at the Prudential Center on March 21, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Bruins defeated the Devils 5-1. (Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Pietila was a 5th round draft pick for the New Jersey Devils in the 2011 NHL Entry draft, a 5’11 winger with a well-rounded game that has led to him being successful in the AHL over the past 4 seasons. Pietila has played 38 games at the NHL level including 19 with the Devils during last season, he hasn’t made his mark at the NHL level, however, only managing 4 points over those 38 games. He’s likely to be part of reinforcements for the Gulls and I don’t predict he’ll get much time in the NHL this season.

Fun fact about Pietila is he’s won the Gold Medal at the U17, U18 World Juniors and World Junior Championships, including the 2013 World Junior Championships where he was a teammate of Ducks starting goaltender, and MVP of the tournament John Gibson.

Overall a fairly minor set of signings for the Anaheim Ducks but what do you think? Could they be diamonds in the rough?

Next. Ducks Hire Darryl Sutter as Coaching Staff Advisor. dark

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