Goalie prospect Clang signs entry-level deal
The Ducks’ goaltending prospect pool got a little deeper when they signed Calle Clang to a three-year, entry-level contract Thursday.
The Ducks acquired him, Zach Aston-Resse, Dominik Simon and a second-round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Rickard Rakell on March 21.
Clang’s contract will begin with the 2022-23 season. He was 10-5-0 with a 2.28 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and one shutout in 17 games with Rogle of the Swedish Hockey League this past season. He also played with Sweden in the past two World Junior Championships.
The Ducks’ goalie prospect pool features Lukas Dostal, the starter for their AHL team in San Diego, plus Gulls backups Olle Eriksson Ek and Roman Durny.
Dostal is signed through next season and Eriksson Ek and Durny are eligible to become restricted free agents July 13. Clang, 19, was the Penguins’ thirdround pick (77th overall) in 2020.
Zellweger’s AHL debut
Olen Zellweger, the Ducks’ second-round pick (34th overall) last year, made his AHL debut with the Gulls in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series against the Ontario Reign and recorded an assist in a 7-4 loss Wednesday.
He was assigned to the Gulls after a stellar junior season.
Zellweger, an 18-yearold defenseman, had 14 goals and 64 assists this past season for the Everett (Washington) Silvertips of the Western Hockey
League.
He led all Canadian junior hockey defensemen in assists, points (78) and points per game (1.42) in 55 games in 2021-22.
The Gulls faced elimination in the best-of-3 series with the Reign in Game 2 late Thursday night in Ontario.
Lettieri to Worlds
Ducks right wing Vinni Lettieri was selected to play for the United States in the World Championships, which begin May 13 in Finland.
Adam Henrique jumpstarted his 2021-22 bounce-back season by captaining Canada to the gold medal in last year’s World Championships.
Canada hasn’t announced its roster yet, but it could include Ducks defenseman Jamie Drysdale, who had four goals and 28 assists in 81 games as a rookie this past season.