After acquiring him in a trade a month ago, the Anaheim Ducks signed forward Carl Hagelin to a four-year deal. Terms weren’t released, but Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register reported the deal to be around $16 million.
The Ducks get a forward that possesses top-six qualities to boost their offense. Last season with the New York Rangers, he scored 17 goals and 35 points in 82 games. He tied his career-high in goals and fell two points of his career high, with both coming in 2013-14.
The University of Michigan product was a 6th round pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He spent four seasons with the Rangers, becoming one of their most effective forwards who provided speed on the left wing.
The restricted free-agent was traded to Anaheim from the Rangers in June prior to the Draft with the 59th (Julius Nattinen) and 179th (Garrett Metcalf) overall picks. In exchange the Rangers received Emerson Etem and the 41st overall pick (Ryan Gropp).
Anaheim GM Bob Murray said that Hagelin is the type of player his club needed after evaluating him in the playoffs and how they were defeated by the Blackhawks in the playoffs. “You see who’s in the finals and you see how we got beat — the speed element of the game is getting bigger and bigger and bigger. So we have to move along with the times, and we got a guy that can really skate,” he said.
Hagelin is expected to play on the second line with Ryan Kesler and is excited for the increased role with the team. “It’s an exciting time (for the Ducks),” Hagelin said in a phone interview from Sweden. “You look at the roster we have, there’s so many good players. There’s a great opportunity to do big things with this team. I’m extremely motivated. I’m ready to head over there right now. I just want to leave right now.”
