Anaheim Ducks Goalie Prospect Signs In Sweden

He simply hadn't established himself at any level in North America, so even the Anaheim Ducks weren't going to find a place for their former 5th-round pick, Olle Eriksson Ek. 

The 23-year-old goaltender has signed on with Sweden's MoDo Hockey club, who have just been promoted to the SHL. 

The team's news release suggests that the netminder wasn't treated well in North America: 

"He has an incredibly high potential but has unfortunately ended up in the 'North American', what can happen over there in that you get sluiced here and there. One day you can be a backup in the NHL and the next day a backup in the AHL. Often they coach according to what future belief there is in one and he has been a bit affected by that."

They go on to call Eriksson Ek "an incredibly skilled and competitive goalkeeper."

Indeed, at the age of 23, it's far too early to write off any goaltending prospect. But it's understandable that the Ducks weren't too high on him, after he posted a 4.81 goals against average with an .852 save percentage with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls this season. He won just two of the 20 games he started. 

In his lone NHL appearance this season, he allowed five goals on 39 shots. 

Eriksson Ek's deal with MoDo is for two years. Whether or not the Ducks will submit a qualifying offer to retain his rights for 2025 remains to be seen. 

Photo: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports