The Anaheim Ducks signed Mikael Granlund to a three-year contract with an average annual value of $7 million. Granlund, a 33-year-old versatile forward, has experience playing both wings and center. He recorded over 60 points for the fourth and fifth times in his career during the previous two seasons. General manager Pat Verbeek praised Granlund's work ethic and hockey intelligence. The Ducks addressed their need for a center to improve their faceoff percentage, but analytics highlight concerns about Granlund's defensive metrics, raising questions about his role within the team.
"He's what I consider a hard worker. He goes to the hard areas, something that we needed more of. He's not afraid to be a net front presence guy."
"The analytics community has been critical of the signing since it was announced, stating his defensive metrics reflect one of the poorer profiles among all NHL forwards."
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