Fantasy Impact – Anaheim has re-signed center Saku Koivu to a two-year deal worth $5 million total.

The Ducks get: A gritty 50-point second line center. Koivu played very well for Anaheim last season, finishing with 19 goals and 52 points, good for third on the team. Anaheim is extremely thin up front and things appear to be getting dicey with regards to Bobby Ryan’s contractual status. Koivu provides instant stability to whatever second line Randy Carlyle decides to throw together.

Fantasy Players impacted:

Koivu fits in nicely behind Ryan Getzlaf up front. He boosts the value of Anaheim’s depth wingers, as he is a legitimate offensive player and a much better option to play with than anything else currently in the organization. This includes the likes of Dan Sexton, Matt Beleskey, and Joffrey Lupul. Koivu will be at least a 50-point player for the next two years – he fits really well into Anaheim’s system.

No word on whether or not his buddy Teemu Selanne will return for another season. Anaheim needs to add another top six forward (and potentially two if Ryan decides to hold out). Pierre LeBrun believes that Koivu signing is very indicitave of a potential Selanne return.

Anaheim has no young centers ready to take on a top six spot, so Koivu isn't stealing the position from anyone internally.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Koivu

2. Selanne

3. Lupul

4. Jason Blake

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

None

Comments (3)

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angus said:

	... The first line of the article - "re-signed"
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July 01, 2010
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Steven Wadzinski said:

	... yeah... what charlie said....
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July 01, 2010
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Charlie said:

	... Didn't Koivu play with the Ducks last year? I don't understand this story, and the impact. Isn't this what you call status quo? Shouldn't the headline read, 'Koivu re-signs in Anaheim' and not 'Koviu to Ducks'? I actually had to look up his profile to see where he played last year. lol
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July 01, 2010
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