Ducks re-sign Miller, Grant, and Holzer

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they have signed goaltender Ryan Miller, forward Derek Grant, and defenseman Korbinian Holzer to one year deals.

CapFriendly.com reports that Miller will make $1.125 million, Holzer $850,000, and Grant $700,000.

Perhaps the most significant of these three is the signing of Ryan Miller. The 38-year-old netminder was unsure if he would retire or continue his playing career at the end of the 2018-2019 season, but it’s clear that he feels enough left in the tank for another year as John Gibson’s backup.

After missing significant time last season with a wrist injury, Miller played 20 games putting up a .912 SV% with a 3.9 GSAA in all situations. He has provided stable and capable goaltending behind Gibson for the past two seasons, and now the Ducks can feel secure in knowing that this will not be an area of concern for another year.

After letting Derek Grant walk and sign with the Pittsburgh Penguins after the 2017-2018 season, Bob Murray reacquired the 29-year-old center on January 17th in the midst of a franchise-record 12 game losing streak. Grant became a good depth forward with 9 points (2G, 7A) in 31 games as a member of the Ducks bottom-six to help stabilize at least one part of a team in turmoil. Don’t worry, Ducks fans, your #Elite1C memes are alive for another year.

Korbinan Holzer serves as a depth right-handed defenseman, an area that the Ducks are lacking in right now. He is comfortable being the Ducks 7th defenseman as well as making the trip up and down the 5 freeway between Anaheim and San Diego. Head coach Dallas Eakins is very familiar with Holzer and the two have a good working relationship given the German’s 143 games between the Toronto Marlies and San Diego Gulls under the Ducks new head coach.