The Ducks took steps this week to terminate the contract of prospect defenseman Rodwin Dionicio, ending the 2023 fifth-round pick’s tenure with the organization before he ever reached the NHL level.
Dionicio, 21, was placed on unconditional waivers for the purpose of contract termination on Tuesday, cleared waivers Wednesday and, upon the termination of his contract, he will all but certainly return to the European professional ranks. He had signed his entry-level deal with the Ducks last May.
Born in Newark but raised in Switzerland (he cut his teeth in the Herisau program), he made himself alluring to the Ducks in his draft year and subsequent season at the junior level in the Ontario Hockey League. After being traded from Windsor to Niagara early in 2022-23, he accumulated 159 penalty minutes and 116 points in 93 games roaming the blue line.
Yet both his offensive prowess and the edge to his game were as much bugs as features during his first pro season last year. He posted nine points in 24 games with the San Diego Gulls, but frequently overextended himself handling the puck and trying to force plays. Additionally, he was twice suspended by the American Hockey League, though after the second suspension he was briefly assigned to the ECHL before returning to Switzerland.
He finished the year on a loan to Biel HC, though the Ducks were intent on bringing him back to North America to resume his development at the ECHL level. Dionicio contributed six points in nine matches for Biel, and the Swiss league would appear to be his most likely destination for the upcoming campaign.
Dionicio had two years remaining on his entry-level contract and it has been rare, though not unheard of, for players to be effectively excommunicated from their organization during their low-cost development phase.
Former Ducks winger Patrick Maroon had it happen in Philadelphia over concerns about how and where he trained as well as his physique. Maroon went on to compliment not only stars Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry brilliantly, but also to win three consecutive Stanley Cups: in 2019 with his hometown St. Louis Blues and then back-to-back titles with the Tampa Bay Lightning.
While the Ducks traded for Maroon’s rights, they also made an even rarer move when they claimed Vegas prospect and Swedish national Lucas Elvenes off waivers in 2022. After a strong finish to the season with the Gulls, Elvenes opted for a return to his homeland to play professionally.
