Ducks sign Kodie Curran
While the NHL suspended play back in March and has yet to return to action since, teams have been busy off the ice improving their rosters and building for when the league can return. On Monday, the Anaheim Ducks’ front office proved they have not just been sitting around when they announced the signing of Swedish Hockey League MVP Kodie Curran.
The Calgary native has been impressive during his time in Sweden with Rogle BK, winning MVP and Defenseman of the Year this past season. The 30-year-old led all defenseman in points and assists, putting up 12 goals and 37 assists in 2019-20.
Curran has a plethora of international experience, having also played in Norway and Denmark winning consecutive championships with Storhamar in 2017-18 and Esbjerg in 2016-17. He also earned Norwegian Player of the Year and playoff MVP honours in 2017-18.
The veteran was never drafted by an NHL club and has never played in the world’s most prestigious hockey league, but he has proven himself at the highest levels in Europe and the Ducks were willing to take a chance on him. He has played professional hockey in North America before, appearing in a combined 63 games between the AHL and ECHL in 2015-16 with the New York Rangers’ organization. He also played five years of college hockey at the University of Calgary.
The Ducks could sure use the help defensively, considering they had allowed an abysmal 226 goals this season prior to the campaign being suspended. Curran provides them with a veteran presence in the locker room at a discount price. It remains to be seen whether he will be able to adapt his game to the smaller ice surface in North America, but it is a risk that Anaheim had to take.
According to reports, the deal with the Ducks is a two-year contract worth $1 million per season. It is a one-way contract, so the Ducks will not have the option to just send him down to the AHL, which may be the reason Curran felt it was the right time to make the move across the pond back to North America. He will have a real chance with the struggling Ducks as he possesses a lot of qualities they are lacking. His skill on the powerplay alone could be a game-changer for Anaheim.
Just last week the NHL announced a return to play plan that would include a 24-team playoff format. While eight more teams would qualify for the postseason under the new format, the Ducks would still miss out. The format allows for the top 12 teams in each Conference to reach the playoffs, but the Ducks find themselves sitting in 13th spot with just 67 points from 71 games.
Not being in the playoffs could be a real break for Curran though, as it allows him the entire summer to prepare for life in California and get back to practicing on the larger ice surface. The defenseman may be 30 years old, but his story is one of real inspiration as he is finally getting a chance at the NHL after years of toiling away across Europe.
