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The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they have signed forward Ondrej Kase to a 3-year contract.
BREAKING: We've signed Ondrej Kase to a three-year contract!
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) August 15, 2018
➡ https://t.co/VjuvNCrNzU pic.twitter.com/PP3ggZ7dvm
The Athletic’s Eric Stephens followed up the news that the contract will come in at a cap hit of $2.6 million per year, taking the 22-year-old winger to his final year of restricted free agency, where he will gain arbitration rights.
Ducks announce signing of RFA right wing Ondrej Kase to three-year contract. Hearing it's worth $7.8 million total. $2.6M AAV.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) August 15, 2018
2 seasons ago, Ducks forward Rickard Rakell held out until the week before the season began as he negotiated a new contract as an RFA coming off his first 20 goal season. There were concerns that Kase could follow the same path in holding out, but those fears were appeased with the news today.
Kase was one of the most efficient scorers at 5 on 5 last season in the NHL and was one of the Ducks best play driving forwards, essentially putting up 1st line production with 4th line minutes as illustrated by Micah Blake McCurdy’s visualization below.
Ondrej Kase has put up very, very good results in his 119 games so far; the ducks getting him for 3x2.6 is extraordinarily team-friendly. pic.twitter.com/ZjERjYzEkx
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) August 15, 2018
With the signing of Ondrej Kase and Brandon Montour this offseason, the only RFA that remains unsigned for Anaheim is Nick Ritchie.