San Diego announced the signing of six players to one year AHL deals today, they are as follows.

Brent Gates Jr. (C) – The 2015 third round pick for Anaheim made his pro-debut at the tail end of last season, bringing some great hustle and a willingness to crash the net. He tallied two points in six games but was edged out of the line-up as previous recalls came down after the Ducks season ended. I am excited to see what he can do with a full year and this one year deal is a good opportunity for him to showcase himself.

Hunter Drew (D) – As much as I had already assumed that the 2018 sixth round pick would be a fixture with the Gulls this season, it was a nice surprise to see him get inked to a deal before the season is due to start. He finished his Junior tenure with a nice 50 points in 61 games statline and looks to slot into the Gulls defense likely on the third pairing. He was the last drafted defender to emerge from the previously much-vaunted pipeline but thanks to the drafting of Lacombe and Thrun this past summer, the pressure is off Drew but hopes still remain that he could be another Simon Benoit in the making.

Steven Ruggiero (D) – Has had a rough start to his post-draft career. Having suffered several setbacks in development with knee and hip issues. Once the defensive presence alongside the likes of Charlie McAvoy for the USNDP, his progression through College followed bad luck injury after bad luck setback. Here is hoping he emerges as the feel good story of this upcoming season as he battles back to realise the potential that he was originally drafted for. As of right now I see him as the extra defensemen but he is very likely to see gametime this season, particularly if the inevitable injury bug hits the Ducks and forces a recall of one of the regular top six.

Roman Durny (G) – Of all of these one year deals announced this one makes possibly the least roster sense. The Ducks org is already set with third to fifth tier goaltender options behind the Gibson/Miller tandem in Anaheim. Kevin Boyle, Anthony Stolarz, Olle Eriksson Ek, Lukas Dostal and Angus Redmond are all under contract. Dostal is already confirmed to be playing in Finland this upcoming year but giving Durny an AHL deal means he will need to be given a home in the ECHL somewhere (reminder – the Ducks do not have an ECHL affiliate in place) which is how Angus Redmond found himself bounced around three different clubs in the E last season. At this point he probably jumps Redmond in the depth chart and gets the call should Boyle or Stolarz go down with injury. I was never a fan of his drafting and I am equally befuddled by this AHL deal.

Alex Broadhurst (C) – Is another great veteran signing that I am vocally applauding. The former Chicago seventh-round pick helped lead the Lake Erie Monsters to a Calder Cup title in 2015-2016, he had 12 points in 17 games during the run. He had 30 points in 51 games for the Monsters last season and made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets the season before, playing in two games but going scoreless. He provides much needed veteran presence behind Sam Carrick if the likes of Corey Tropp is not brought back.

Luke Gazdic (LW) – Is back for another tour of duty. We already knew he had signed on when the bashful winger announced it on Instagram last month but his presence is a great boost to team morale and a deterrent to would-be pests looking to target any of the Gulls smaller skill players.

Competition for forward spots will be tight and as of right now the Gulls Roster is looking something akin to:

Proposed 2019-2020 San Diego Gulls Line-Up

Kopacka – Lundestrom – Sherwood

Comtois* – Carrick – Poutarlski / Morand

Pietila/Broadhurst – Kloos – De Leo

Martinsen – Dostie/Gates Jr. – Sideroff

^Gazdic, Dostie

Mahura – Holzer

Benoit – Sieloff

Drew – Wideman

^Ruggiero

Boyle

Stolarz

^Durny, Redmond

*Assuming he doesnt make the Ducks out of camp. It will be a battle between he and Jones.