{re-signing} Sami Vatanen

[Axeman33]

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=726828

The Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday re-signed defenseman Sami Vatanen to a two-year contract.

No financial terms were disclosed, but Lisa Dillman of the Los Angeles Times reports the deal will pay Vatanen $1,250,000 in 2014-15 and $1,275,000 in '15-16.

Vatanen, 23, had six goals, 21 points, 22 penalty minutes and was plus-9 in 48 games with the Ducks last season. He was tied for fifth in goals among rookie defensemen and was sixth in plus/minus rating. Vatanen also had one assist in five Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Vatanen, Anaheim's fourth-round pick (No. 106) in the 2009 NHL Draft, has eight goals, 23 points, 22 penalty minutes and a plus-12 rating in 56 games.

The native of Jyvaskyla, Finland, also earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, when he led all defensemen and ranked second among all players in assists with five.

[lucifer316]

Mike Brehm ‏@ByMikeBrehm 1h Ducks' Sami Vatanen: 2 years, $2.525M: $1.25M and $1.275M

[Savvy1982]

Getting a Top-4, offensive defenceman for less than 1.3M per year for two years is pretty sweet.

[Pengwin7]

I'll buy that from the hockey dollar-menu.

[Zorro]

I'll buy that from the hockey dollar-menu.

Can I get a Mcdouble with that??

[Savvy1982]

Can I get a Mcdouble with that??

All these McDonalds posts are making me hungry...

[mounD]

I'll buy that from the hockey dollar-menu.

Someone is waiver eligible!!!!

[Big Ev]

Getting a Top-4, offensive defenceman for less than 1.3M per year for two years is pretty sweet.

not a Top 4 just yet

[SeaDawg]

point projections for next year?

Fowler, Vatanen, Lindholm...gotta split the points somehow

- - - Updated - - -

not a Top 4 just yet

I agree...can't get too excited by the playoffs. Look what Voynov did in the playoffs two years ago, and then last season was a write-off in terms of his development

[agentzero]

Only one to sniff 40 si Fowler. Vatanen 31, with 9-12 goals. Lindholm 27 (back to a defensive role, more offensive minutes for Vatanen. That's my shot in the dark.

Cheap deal!

[VincentVega]

Ducks have 9 d-men signed for next year. Not sure Vatanen will have a full-time spot. Fowler, Lindholm, Beauchemin, Lovejoy, Allen, Stoner, Fistric, Souray are in the picture as well. A trade is probably going to happen but I would not bank on Vatanen to play all 82 games.

[fungchen3]

What a bargain for the Ducks. Vatanen could emerge into the most potent, offensive weapon on their blue line by January.

[MarmotKing]

Great deal for the Ducks. He might not be top 4, but I can see him making the team with PP2 to start with.

[agentzero]

Ducks have 9 d-men signed for next year. Not sure Vatanen will have a full-time spot. Fowler, Lindholm, Beauchemin, Lovejoy, Allen, Stoner, Fistric, Souray are in the picture as well. A trade is probably going to happen but I would not bank on Vatanen to play all 82 games.

Call me pessimistic, but the realist in me tells me Souray may have well played his last NHL game already. Even if not, he will not be a roadblock on that blueline...

Lindholm and Fowler look like the only PP threats. I could see Vatanen playing PP2 as MarmotKing said, as the Ducks could go with 4 forwards and Fowler.. But Vatanen has offensive smarts to create opportunities and has a bullet for a shot. Last season, he just looked like he needed a bit more confidence..

[Happy Hour]

Locking up a guy with his skill for that kind of money is a steal for the Ducks. Future PP QB for somebody, just maybe not this year.