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The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun and Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman are reporting that the Ducks have signed former Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Jake Dotchin to a one-year, one-way contract worth $800,000.
ANA has signed Jake Dotchin to a one-year contract. If he clears waivers tomorrow at noon ET, he can officially join them. @PierreVLeBrun caught what I missed in the waiver wire
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 17, 2018
The 24-year-old 6th round draft pick (161st overall) in 2012 had his contract terminated in September for a “material breach of contract”. Bolts management was allegedly extremely unhappy with his conditioning upon arrival to training camp.
Dotchin apparently is required to pass through waivers before signing with Anaheim officially, which could indicate that General Manager Bob Murray plans to assign him to the San Diego Gulls.
The young defenseman has shown flashes of skill and responsible defensive play in parts of two seasons in Tampa Bay with 22 points in 83 games and a very respectable 52.8 CF%. He’s had his share of discipline and attitude problems, however, with 73 penalty minutes in his career and reports of a hot head.
With Andrej Sustr and Luke Schenn rotating games on the right side 3rd pairing so far this season, it’s possible the signing of Dotchin puts pressure on the two veterans to improve their play in order to stay with the team.