THE TELETYPE:
According to Sportsnet.ca's NHL Signing Tracker, Anaheim has signed defenseman Danny Syvret. The site provides no details for the contract, and no official announcement has been made by the club or a news outlet that is not citing Sportsnet. UPDATE: The Philadelphia Daily News reports the contract is a two-way deal for one year and that his salary will be 600K at the NHL level, and 105K at the AHL level. The paper also notes that Syvret fielded offers from Montreal, Pittsburgh, Nashville and San Jose, making it likely that he will be given a chance to make the NHL squad, and perhaps chose the Ducks because they are thinner on the blueline than the other teams.
After an impressive junior career culminating in an 81st overall selection in the 2005 Draft by the Edmonton Oilers, Syvret has had trouble cracking an NHL lineup. He played 21 of his 49 total NHL games (logged over three seasons) last year with the Flyers. Known primarily for his offense, Syvret's 0.95 Pts/60 rating was second only to Pronger in his quarter-season sample. However, defensively, Syvret had the lowest Quality of Competition rating amongst Philadelphia blueliners and the fourth worst GAON/60, contributing to the third worst Corsi Relative to Quality of Competition rating on the team (behind Ryan Parent and Ole-Kristian Tollefsen).
With 272 AHL games, Syvret would be a strong pickup for Anaheim's Syrcause squad as the team works to build an American League roster after spending last season without an affiliate. However, if the Ducks' NHL club continues to maintain the current holes they have on defense, Syvret could contend for a roster spot alongside fellow struggling 2005 draft pick Brendan Mikkelson.