Ducks Sign Derek Grant to 3-Year Contract
The news you’ve all been waiting for has finally broken: Derek Grant is a Duck again. The Athletic and TSN’s Rick Dhaliwal is reporting that the Anaheim Ducks have signed center Derek Grant to a three-year, $1.5 million AAV contract.
This marks the third time General Manager Bob Murray has acquired Grant, first after trading for him from the Nashville Predators in 2017, signing him as a free agent in 2018, and now signing him as a free agent again.
Grant had a breakout offensive season last year with a career-high 15 goals between Anaheim and the Philadelphia Flyers where he was traded to at the deadline. He played on both the power play and penalty kill, showing plenty of trust from head coaches Dallas Eakins and Alain Vigneault playing wherever they needed him.
Despite the goal scoring, Grant’s even strength numbers were lacking, with just a 40.43 shot attempt percentage and a 41.3 expected goals for percentage according to Evolving Hockey. His isolated charts don’t paint a good picture either.
The three year term is perhaps the most puzzling part of this deal. The Ducks have a gluttony of centers either on the roster or close to it, with Ryan Getzlaf, Adam Henrique, Sam Steel, Trevor Zegras, and David Backes. Even assuming Zegras plays the entire year in San Diego, they still don’t have room for another pivot.
However, there is speculation that Henrique could be on the trading block, so further moves could be on the way.