Ducks sign Popovic

http://www.mightyducks.com/press/release/article.php?dir=200508&id=1004

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim announced today that the club has signed restricted free-agent defenseman Mark Popovic to a one-year contract.

Eeeeexcellent.

it appears he signed his qualifying offer which means it's a two-way deal

Does anyone else out there think Popovic is going to be one hell of a surprise this season?

My bet is defensivly this kid is going to be solid. My call for biggest surprise of the season.

I second it!


we must realise.. prior to recent acquistions of Ryan this year and Smid last year, Mark Popovic has been the main top prospect in the Ducks organisation.

It might be fair to say, we've entered a new prospect era (following the Chistov, Smirnov, Lupul era) and before that the (Balmachynk / Vishnevski) era; the prospects we've drafted have either blossomed (ie. Bryzzy and Lupul fingers crossed) or bombed out...

It remains to seen how many games he'll play. (as opposed to getting scratched, i cant see him being sent down)

If he manages to not look out of place and play a solid defensive game then ill be happy..

his offensive flair in his juniors can come later when he's adjusted to the NHL..


Burke doesn't seem to be too high on Popo (i hope im wrong)...a one year contract is one that doesnt really ooze that much confidence in a youngster..

In Burke's mind i think a one contract is a safe guard in case pop bombs out (touch wood) he'll be released without any buyout.

they've taken their time with him, now it's a matter of seeing if it pays off.

And now we have a salary. From OC REgister:

Defenseman Mark Popovic, who has spent the past three seasons with Cincinnati of the American Hockey League, agreed to a one-year, two-way contract that will pay him $600,000 if he is with the Ducks.

And now we have a salary. From OC REgister:
That's fair. If he's with us, he's going to be playing every day. No reason to keep him on the roster to watch from the bench.

that's larger then we guessed.....uh oh

that's larger then we guessed.....uh oh

No sweat. New calculations came out (assuming Salei/Pahlsson accepts QO):

38,883,290

100k and some change...

Does anyone else out there think Popovic is going to be one hell of a surprise this season?
I have been real high on Popovic ever since I saw Cinci play a couple of games in January. He was to Cinci like Carney has been to Anaheim the past couple of years, or atleast that is what I thought in the 2 games I got to watch. I expect him to be in Anaheim though, that is for sure.