The Anaheim Ducks are getting some work done today on a few restricted free agents as the team announced a two-year contract for defenseman Jackson LaCombe and a one-year, two-way contract for forward Nikita Nesterenko. PuckPedia reports that LaCombe will earn $925K each year of his contract while Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports Nesterenko will earn $874K at the NHL level and $70K in the AHL.
LaCombe’s agreement is identical to the one he signed with the Ducks organization in 2023 after finishing his senior season with the University of Minnesota. LaCombe was originally selected with the 39th overall pick by Anaheim in the 2019 NHL Draft after an impressive season with Shattuck St. Mary. During his time with the Gophers, LaCombe demonstrated his ability to be an effective puck-mover from the blue line as 80 of his 99 points in the NCAA came from assists.
The young defenseman struggled in his rookie campaign with the Ducks where he registered two goals and 17 points in 71 games while posting a -24 rating. LaCombe’s possession and defensive metrics do not paint a positive picture either as Anaheim played him for an average of 19:23 per game. He did get some mild usage on the team’s powerplay and penalty kill for the 2023-24 season but the Ducks may be better served by taking away some responsibility from LaCombe to keep his confidence up.
In a similar fashion to LaCombe; Nesterenko spent three years with Boston College of the NCAA after being selected with the 172nd overall pick of the Minnesota Wild in the 2019 NHL Draft. Anaheim acquired Nesterenko’s signing rights as a part of the return for defenseman John Klingberg during the 2022-23 trade deadline and Nesterenko signed his entry-level contract with the Ducks only a few days later.
The native of Brooklyn, NY has collected 12 games at the NHL level up to this point but spent most of his rookie campaign with the San Diego Gulls of the AHL. Nesterenko suited up in 70 games for the Gulls last season and scored 16 goals and 37 points. With the ability to play well on the defensive side of the puck, Nesterenko may have a spot in the middle-six of Anaheim’s forward core in the future.