Last week, the Anaheim Ducks signed 30-year-old Canadian defenseman, Kodie Curran, out of the Swedish Hockey League, and his journey to the NHL has been unique.
The Anaheim Ducks are one of seven teams that will not be participating in this year’s 24 team playoffs later this summer. With that being the case there will be very minimal news regarding the team until the 2020 Draft Lottery… whenever that is going to be.
The Ducks did make news recently though, minor news but something to raise an eyebrow nonetheless. It was announced last week that the Anaheim Ducks signed defenseman Kodie Curran from the Swedish Hockey League to a 2 year, $2M, contract, according to CapFriendly. For anybody who is thinking to themselves, “Bob Murray is once again showing his love for the Swedes”, Curran is actually Canadian and his story is very unique.
A Long Strange Trip
After spending four years in Alberta Junior Hockey League, Curran played five years at the University of Calgary. Players get drafted all the time from Colleges and Universities located in the United States with regularity, the same can not be said about its Canadian counterpart.
However, after completing his time in Calgary in 2015, Curran got on with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL. After a two-game debut in the AHL, he returned to suit up for 18 games in the 2015-16 season, as well as appear in 45 games in the ECHL for the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, putting up 25 points as a defenseman.
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After spending a season in Denmark, Curran joined the Rogle BK of the Swedish Hockey League where he put up a line of 12-25-37 in 49 games in 2018-19 and 12-37-49 in 48 games in 2019-20 and was named league MVP.
What can the Anaheim Ducks expect?
Kodie Curran is a 6’2 200 plus pound defenseman who uses his body to make smart plays as well as has a knack for contributing offensively. He has had a unique and long road to the NHL, as mentioned, not many players that make it can say they have played Canadian University Hockey. Anaheim Ducks great Steve Rucchin being one of very few.
Could this late bloomer potentially be a diamond in the rough find from Ducks GM Bob Murray and the scouting staff? Only time will tell what kind of player Kodie Curran will be like and if he is ready to play in the NHL.
With the Anaheim Ducks shifting their focus on letting their younger players stay in the lineup, the team has continued to show patience while the team’s production lacks most nights. Bringing in a 30-year-old rookie who can contribute in many ways from the blueline could be exactly what this team needs.
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