Ian Moore played all over the ice for the Ducks last season and he’ll be doing so for two more campaigns after signing a contract extension with a total value of $2.3 million Thursday.
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Moore, 24, skated in 77 of the Ducks’ 94 games last year between the regular season and playoffs. A logjam at right defense that only got more congested after the acquisition of John Carlson made coach Joel Quenneville’s commitment to Moore a creative one. Moore logged time not only on his off side for two stints but frequently moved up front to play right wing as well.
Born in Salt Lake City but trained in Massachusetts, Moore attended Harvard and was a third-round pick of the Ducks in 2020.
His transition from the Ivory Tower to the NHL was a smooth one, with his superior hockey IQ and sound risk management earning the trust of Quenneville quickly. Though he struggled in his second stretch at left defense, including a game where he was on the ice for three goals against in just 4:28, he generally handled his first full NHL campaign with confidence.
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The Ducks will need him to flourish in Year 2, as they currently face the possibility of all three of their veteran right defensemen leaving in free agency. Carlson’s agent confirmed publicly that he will be seeking employment in the Eastern Conference while Jacob Trouba’s negotiations were reportedly going south, which SoCal News Group has since confirmed independently. Captain Radko Gudas is also without a contract less than a week from the opening of free agency.
That could mean expanded roles for Moore, Drew Helleson and prospect Tristan Luneau, a player for whom the Ducks have had high expectations during a tempered development period.
The 6-foot-3-inch Moore notched four goals and eight assists plus a postseason goal in his utility role, which primarily saw him deployed as a third-pairing defenseman and fourth-line winger. He displayed the ability to transport the puck effectively as well as excel supporting the puck, combining his mobility and hockey sense to find the right spots consistently.
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