Ducks, Isac Lundestrom reach 2-year, $3.6 million deal

Isac Lundestrom and the Ducks avoided an arbitration hearing and agreed Monday on a two-year, $3.6-million contract. Lundestrom was the fourth and final restricted free agent to re-sign with the Ducks, after Urho Vaakanainen, Simon Benoit and Olle Eriksson Ek agreed to deals Friday.

The hearing had been scheduled for Wednesday.

Lundestrom’s salary of $1.8 million for each of the next two seasons is more than double what he made during this past season. He set career highs in 2021-22 with 16 goals and 13 assists in 80 games while earning a relatively modest $874,125 on a one-year contract.

He excelled on the penalty kill, tying Corey Perry’s franchise record with four shorthanded goals last season.

In addition, Lundestrom also locked down the role of third-line center for a rebuilding team with a roster in transition. He began the season skating between wingers Derek Grant and Jakob Silfverberg and ended it with Zach Aston-Reese and Hunter Drew, a converted defenseman, as his linemates.

The Ducks didn’t re-sign Aston-Reese, an unrestricted free agent they acquired along with forward Dominik Simon, goalie Calle Clang and a second-round draft pick in the deal that sent right wing Rickard Rakell to the Pittsburgh Penguins last March 21. Simon also wasn’t re-signed.

Clang and Drew are expected to begin next season with the Ducks’ AHL team, the San Diego Gulls.