Troy Terry, Max Jones Recalled As Anaheim Makes Several Roster Moves
The Anaheim Ducks are sick of losing, and they won’t be going into battle with the same group again. The team has made several roster moves today, including bringing up a little youth to inject into the lineup. Troy Terry, Max Jones and Andrej Sustr have all been recalled from the San Diego Gulls, while Jake Dotchin and Kiefer Sherwood have been assigned to the AHL. Patrick Eaves will be joining them in San Diego on a conditioning stint.
Terry, 21, has been destroying the AHL in his first year of professional hockey, recording 37 points in 32 games for the Gulls. Signed out of the University of Denver last spring, the versatile forward is still waiting for his first NHL point as he has been held off the scoresheet in eight outings. That’s not something he’s used to at any level, and the Ducks are hoping he can break through in the second half of this season.
Jones, 20, comes with a much higher draft pedigree than Terry but is still a step behind him at the AHL level. The big OHL winger has 24 points in his first season of professional hockey, and offers a much different skill set with his willingness to engage physically when necessary. Both players are part of an impressive group of forward prospects that could turn the Ducks’ fortunes around down the line, but will have their work cut out for them this season.
Troy Terry Signs Entry-Level Deal With Anaheim Ducks
6:50pm: The Ducks have made it official, signing Terry to a three-year entry-level contract. He’ll join the Ducks this season, and could play for them in the playoffs.
2:21pm: The run on top NCAA producers is on after the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, and the Anaheim Ducks aren’t ones to be left behind. Darren Dreger or TSN reports that the Ducks are expected to sign University of Denver standout Troy Terry either today or tomorrow. Denver was eliminated by Ohio State yesterday, but it wasn’t certain that Terry would forego his senior season to turn pro. That decision has apparently been made, meaning the Ducks will be able to add the talented forward without worrying about him possibly testing free agency next summer.
Terry, 20, was a fifth-round pick of the Ducks back in 2015 but has developed into an NHL-ready forward over the past few seasons. After scoring the gold medal-winning goal in the World Juniors, recording 45 points for Denver and taking home the National Championship, Terry returned to DU for his junior year and was selected to the 2018 US Olympic squad as one of their few college-aged players. Though Team USA didn’t bring home a medal, Terry recorded five points and looked like one of the more dangerous players in the tournament.
The Ducks have a few high-end forward prospects, but lucking out on one like Terry in the fifth round gives their system a huge boost. The young center might still have some work to do to become an impact player in the NHL, but the fact that he could potentially skip the AHL entirely and be a full-time player on their squad in 2018-19 is an impressive feat. If he does sign today and join the club, look for him to get into some action down the stretch and even give them an extra boost for the playoffs.
Pacific Notes: Puljujarvi, Versteeg, Terry
Edmonton’s team needs are well known and chief among them is a winger that can play with Connor McDavid. The Oilers were hoping that 2016 fourth-overall selection Jesse Puljujarvi would fit into that role but he has yet to establish himself in his first two seasons in North America. Accordingly, some wondered if the team might have been willing to part with him before the trade deadline in an effort to get someone who is a better fit (or fits another area of need). However, TSN’s Darren Dreger noted in an appearance on TSN 1260 (audio link) that the team is far from ready to give up on him and made him unavailable for the deadline but wonders if they may have to re-evaluate that thought in the summer. The Finnish winger has 18 points (11-7-18) in 50 games this season and will be eligible to sign a contract extension on July 1st.
More from the Pacific:
- The Flames are likely to get a boost to their forward unit in the coming days. Head coach Glen Gulutzan told reporters, including Sportsnet 960’s Pat Steinberg (Twitter link) that winger Kris Versteeg should be able to return to the lineup this coming week after he gets a few practices under his belt. The veteran has been out with a hip issue since late November and may be able to give Calgary’s power play a lift as five of his eight points on the season (in 22 games) have come with the man advantage.
- The Ducks are likely to aggressively try to convince prospect Troy Terry to sign following his college season and forego his senior year, notes Eric Stephens of the Orange County Register. Neither the team nor Terry’s advisor Kurt Overhardt would comment on the status of any potential negotiations. A fifth-round pick of Anaheim in 2015, the 20-year-old center is in his third year at the University of Denver and has put up 37 points in 32 games this season.