Ducks Sign Matt McCue to Three-Year Entry-Level Contract

[VodkaFish]

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed left wing Matt McCue to a three-year entry-level contract. McCue is scheduled to report to the Iowa Chops, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL).

McCue, 20 (7/5/88), appeared in 34 games between the Brandon Wheat Kings and Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL) this season. He scored 5-12=17 points with a +10 rating and 101 PIM between the two teams, setting career highs in assists and points while matching a personal best in goals. Acquired by Medicine Hat on Oct. 16, McCue led the Tigers in plus/minus (+16) and PIM (66).

A native of Cochrane, Alberta, McCue played the 2007-08 campaign with Brandon and Chilliwack (WHL), posting 0-11=11 points with 195 PIM in 70 games. McCue, who was acquired by the Wheat Kings at the 2007-08 WHL Trade deadline, finished seventh among WHL leaders in penalty minutes. He appeared in all six of Brandon’s playoff games in 2008, scoring the overtime winner in Game 5 of the WHL Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Lethbridge.

The 6-5, 218-pound McCue played six WHL seasons as a defenseman with Spokane (2003-07), Chilliwack (2006-08), Brandon (2007-09) and Medicine Hat (2008-09). In 220 career WHL games, McCue scored 14-41=55 points with 531 PIM.

[blackngold]

VF, his player page has him listed as a defenseman.

[HordiBrusk29]

I posted this a few days ago. Link.

And for the record, yes he is a defenseman.

[caps05]

Does this mean he has to immediately report to Iowa/Bakersfield?

[HordiBrusk29]

Yes he's heading to Iowa.

[blackngold]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

I posted this a few days ago. Link.

And for the record, yes he is a defenseman.

Well that would make sense then.

[chilly666]

more toughness just what iowa needed

[McDonald19]

Eventual replacement for Parros

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by McDonald19

Eventual replacement for Parros

I wouldn't count on that. I like McCue but to be honest, I'm a little surprised he was even signed. He certainly has a lot of flaws in his game that need to be corrected. That being said he's very willing and the more willing guys around the better.

[caps05]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

I wouldn't count on that. I like McCue but to be honest, I'm a little surprised he was even signed. He certainly has a lot of flaws in his game that need to be corrected. That being said he's very willing and the more willing guys around the better.

In your opinion, do you think he'll spend more time in Iowa or Bakersfield the rest of the year?

[HordiBrusk29]

I really don't know. Skill wise I really don't see him being much more than an ECHL player right now. That being said, it seems like the Ducks plan on keeping him in Iowa. I guess only time will tell.

[Dr.Jekyll540]

He is staying in medicine hat because he couldn't get his papers right away and because they think he will have more ice time which he will and has for him having flaws he doesn't he is actually a very good skater with a very hard shot and no body in the whl ****s with him because he is so tough and if you don't believe that ask Wright on the lethbridge hurricanes

[HordiBrusk29]

McCue is not a good skater. If anything that's his biggest flaw. He does have a hard shot (although he misses the net a lot) and he is one of the tougher guys in the league. But again that doesn't say a whole lot as the WHL in general isn't nearly as tough as it once was.