Ducks Finally Sign Kilger for Three Years at $2.5 Million

First-round draft pick Chad Kilger signed a three-year, $2.55-million contract with the Mighty Ducks Thursday night after his standout preseason made the deal almost a foregone conclusion.

The No. 4 pick overall, Kilger came to camp without a contract but proved himself by becoming the Ducks’ second-leading scorer during the exhibition season while playing on a line with left wing Paul Kariya. He had four goals and 10 points in eight games.

“A lot of guys like to sit out. I felt coming in was only in my best interest,” said Kilger, 18. “I was excited about it and it worked out well. I had confidence when they gave me the opportunity to play that I could show what I could do and we would get a deal done before the deadline.”

Still, the Ducks didn’t get Kilger’s signature until about 7:30 Thursday night, only 4 1/2 hours before the deadline for him to play in the NHL this season.

Though the Ducks had offered the maximum guaranteed money of $850,000 a year under the new rookie salary cap, the final snag was performance bonuses, a point the Ducks won. Kilger will make an additional $200,000 if he wins the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s rookie of the year, and an extra $15,000 if he scores 20 goals or 60 points, with larger bonuses for each increment of five goals.

“If I reach those goals, that’s great,” Kilger said. “If not, it’s not a big deal.”