Holdout Nick Ritchie inks deal with Ducks

Former Peterborough Petes power forward Nick Ritchie, a restricted free agent, rejoined the Anaheim Ducks on a three-year deal announced Wednesday night before the opening faceoff of their home game against the New York Islanders.

The former first-round pick skated with the team earlier in the day, and then signed his contract (worth $4.6 million, according to a source) in general manager Bob Murray’s office about a half-hour before puck drop.

The deal will pay him $1.2 million this season, $1.4 million the following season and $2 million in the last year, according to a source.

Ritchie was a fixture of the squad’s third line last season, but he was unable to reach terms on a deal during the off-season. A first-round pick of the Ducks in 2014 (10th overall), Ritchie hasn’t realized the vast expectations Murray and Co. had for him, but he’s still just 22.

A Canadian resident, Ritchie now must obtain a P-1 work visa, Murray said.

Ritchie missed the entire preseason and six regular-season games while holding out for a better deal as a restricted free agent. His absence constrained the Ducks, who still started 4-1-1 despite missing several key forwards due to injury.

Ritchie had 10 goals and 17 assists in 76 games last season in his second full NHL campaign. The former first-round pick has 26 goals, 33 assists and 171 penalty minutes in 186 career games. Toronto’s William Nylander is the final unsigned restricted free agent in the NHL.