NHL Trades, Signings 2013: Dustin Penner Signs With Anaheim Ducks

Dustin Penner will play for the Anaheim Ducks during the 2013-14 season.

The winger signed a one-year deal on Tuesday to return to the first NHL club he ever played for. The contract is worth $2 million.

"It was one of those things I felt in my gut knowing that it was really tough for me to leave back then," said Penner. "It took me almost two weeks to sign the offer sheet. I talked to a lot of people in my circle -- that's probably the best to do. They always said you can always come back. Now I got my chance."

Penner revealed that Ducks captain Ryan Getzlaff played a major role in bringing him back.

"Getzy called me and said I should come back," Penner said. "I've known him for years. We have the same agents and circle of friends. There was a distinct possibility of me coming back to the Ducks, and having the captain on your side doesn't hurt."

"I'm excited about having a chance to play with those guys again," Penner added. "We'll all big guys that can control the puck down low. Obviously it's been a while, and hopefully there's a chance for us to rekindle that chemistry that we used to have but they got a lot of really good players on the Ducks - [Nick] Bonino, [Matt] Beleskey, [Andrew] Cogliano, [Saku] Koivu, a great defensive corps. They were a tough team last year. I like the situation I'm walking into."

The winger played for the Ducks during the 2005-06 and 2006-07 season. He won the Stanley Cup with the club in the second year before heading to Edmonton for most of three seasons. He was then traded to Los Angeles in 2011 and won the Stanley Cup with the Kings during the 2011-12 season.