NHL Rumors: Anaheim Ducks sign Rickard Rakell to six-year deal

The Anaheim Ducks have reportedly signed center Rickard Rakell to a six-year extension worth $22.8 million.

Entering the 2016-17 NHL season, the Anaheim Ducks still had two restricted free agents to sign. They can check one of them off their list, as they have reportedly agreed to terms with Rickard Rakell. His deal is reportedly for six years and is worth $22.8 million overall. Rakell’s annual cap hit will be $3.8 million.

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This is a great deal for the Ducks. They didn’t budge from their asking price and got Rakell to sign what could be a value deal. To have a young talent like Rakell locked up for under $4 million per season is impressive. Rakell is still recovering from having his appendix removed, so he likely won’t play for a little bit.

For Rakell, this deal gives him security. Some players prefer the security of a long-term deal over the uncertainty of a short-term deal. If Rakell wanted to stay with the Ducks, he got what he wants, which is what matters. Rakell had 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points last season for the Ducks. The Ducks gave him much more responsibility, as Rakell saw his time increase by roughly 25 percent. He rewarded them by setting career highs in goals, assists, and points. Even though the Ducks also have Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler, Rakell is important because he gives them three very solid centers.

Now the Ducks must turn their attention to signing defenseman Hampus Lindholm. He is without question their best defenseman. Signing Rakell to a cheap long-term deal likely gives them a bit of leeway for signing Lindholm. Since the Ducks are a budget team, if they sign Lindholm, they will most likely ship out one of their defensemen. That defensemen could be Cam Fowler. He would net them a nice return and they wouldn’t have to worry about losing him in the upcoming expansion draft.