Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Ducks sign Antoine Vermette to two-year, $3.5M deal

Detroit Red Wings v Arizona Coyotes

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 07: Antoine Vermette #50 of the Arizona Coyotes during the NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Gila River Arena on February 7, 2015 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Getty Images

The Anaheim Ducks are loaded with depth up front and they’ve added another piece to the mix. On Monday, the Ducks signed free agent Antoine Vermette to a two-year, $3.5 million deal.

Vermette, who became a free agent after being bought out by the Coyotes earlier this month, gives the Ducks another solid two-way player with plenty of Stanley Cup playoff experience. He was part of the ‘Hawks team that won the cup back in 2015.

The 34-year-old scored 17 goals and 38 points in 76 games with the ‘Yotes in 2015-16, which makes his $1.75 million cap hit seem like a steal.

It’s an intriguing move for Anaheim. They’re already loaded at center with Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Rickard Rakell. It’s unlikely they’d use Vermette as a fourth liner, so a move to the wing (when everyone is healthy) for he or Rakell is entirely possible.

Also, Rakell still hasn’t signed a new contract and remains a restricted free agent. Bringing Vermette into the fold could give the Ducks a little more leverage in negotiations with Rakell.

Since coming into the league in 2003-04, Vemette has the second-best faceoff percentage among active players at 55.8 percent (minimum 13,000 faceoffs).

The Ducks have $9.27 million in cap space with Rakell and top defenseman Hampus Lindholm both still looking for new contracts.