Ducks sign Konnor Smith to entry-level contract

The Anaheim Ducks announced Tuesday that the club has signed defenseman Konnor Smith to a three-year, entry-level contract set to begin in the 2025-26 season. As part of the agreement, Smith will join the AHL affiliated San Diego Gulls for the balance of the current campaign on an amateur tryout basis.

Smith was originally chosen by the Ducks in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft.

Through 40 appearances this season split between the OHL’s Owen Sound Attack and Brampton Steelheads, Smith collected 10 goals and 16 assists for 26 points coupled with 34 penalty minutes and a plus-14 rating. Smith then added another three points counting one goal and two assists through six postseason appearances. In all, through four seasons in the junior circuit counting stops with the Peterborough Petes, Attack, and Steelheads, Smith notched 26 goals and 44 assists for 70 points through 219 career contests.

As part of the Petes in 2022-23, the 20-year-old native of Windsor, Ont., put up three goals and 12 assists for 15 points through 65 regular-season appearances before adding another two points in 23 playoff outings to help Peterborough capture the J. Ross Robertson Cup. That spring, Smith then joined the Petes at the end-of-year Memorial Cup tournament where he secured one assist in five outings.

In joining the Gulls on an amateur tryout basis, it marks Smith’s second showing with the minor-league club following a six-game run last season where on his initial tryout he scored with his first professional goal while posting 10 penalty minutes and a minus-six rating.

Smith is the fourth player to sign his entry-level contract with the Ducks in the past six days following Erie Otters forward Carey Terrance, Harvard Crimson defenseman Ian Moore, as well as Western Michigan Broncos forward Tim Washe.

On the season, the Ducks sit sixth place in the Pacific Division with a 35-37-8 record and 78 points.