Anaheim Ducks Sign Mitch Hults

Lake Superior State junior forward Mitch Hults has signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks, forgoing his final year of eligibility with the Lakers.

Hults was the leading scorer for the Lakers, scoring 11 goals and 23 assists for 34 points in 36 games this season. We listed Hults as one of the top free agents available in college hockey this year, and the 67th-best NHL prospect in the NCAA this season.

Here’s what we wrote about him:

Late in his recruitment, Hults passed on the opportunity to play as a near-walk-on at Minnesota in order to take a bigger scholarship offer at Lake Superior State. That move has really paid off because Hults receives a ton of ice time—top line center, point on the top power play unit, top PK unit—and has ample opportunity to show off his skills. Hults is listed at 6-2 205 lbs., which gives him the size to use long reach and protect the puck effectively, but what separates him and makes him an NHL prospect is that he has extremely light feet and is a very fast skater.

Discipline is the biggest concern with Hults, but he has all the physical traits to be an effective winger at the NHL level.

Hults is the second player to leave Lake Superior State this spring, joining Kris Bindulis, who signed with Washington shortly after the season ended.

Hults will finish the season with Anaheim’s AHL affiliate in San Diego before his contract begins next season.