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Welcome to the September edition of the DobberProspects 32-in-32 Series. This month, we explore each organization in depth, examining its recent graduates, risers, fallers, and top-20 fantasy prospects. 

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By: Markus Roach

It’s been five years since the Ducks rebuild started, and while it’s been a dark time for the team, the light at the end of the tunnel is shining brighter than ever. Pat Verbeek’s vision for the team is slowly coming together as we see the new core being assembled. Be it picking Leo Carlsson over Adam Fantilli, or Mason McTavish over many notable prospects in 2021, and now the Beckett Sennecke pick surprising everyone (including himself). Verbeek is making it clear he intends to build a team with size, smarts, and versatility.

The Pacific division has a blend of teams who are in, or just starting their windows (Vancouver and Edmonton), teams that are maintaining their status quo as wildcard contenders but not much more (Los Angeles and Seattle), a declining Vegas team who might have some gas left but can’t keep at it for much longer, and rebuilders. Calgary looks like they have a long road ahead of them and while I don’t think they will be as bad as some pundits predict I fear they will be stuck in mediocrity for some time now. The Sharks still have another year or two in the rebuild before emerging as a real threat. That leaves Anaheim to navigate the changing dynamics and with their young talent, it should only be up from here.

Offseason Moves:

It has been a very quiet offseason for a team boasting over 20 million in free cap. While rumors suggest that Verbeek was trying to sway any of Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, or Brandon Montour to sign with Anaheim, his efforts have failed. There have only been two trades all off-season.

Brian Dumoulin trade:

The Ducks acquired the former second round pick in the last year of his three million AAV deal. The Ducks have a lot of rookies on their blue line with more coming up soon. A veteran presence who can shoulder tougher assignments, Dumoulin will likely play a third-pairing role with a youngster as his partner. Depending on the Duck’s situation near the deadline, Dumoulin may be dealt for some picks.

Robby Fabbri Trade:

Early in rookie camp goalie prospect Gage Alexander was traded to the Detroit Red Wings for Robby Fabbri and a fourth round pick. The Ducks have an overflow of goalie prospects so someone had to go and Alexander has not shown much reason for the Ducks to value him over other prospects. In return, the Ducks get Fabbri, a very capable middle-six player who has been struggling with injuries most of his career. Fabbri looks set to start on the 3rd line and can move up to fill injuries should the need arise

*****
Projected Opening Night Lineup:
Gauthier – Carlsson – Killorn
Zegras – McTavish – Terry
Fabbri – Strome – Vatrano
Leason – Lundeström – Colangelo
Johnston
Fowler – Zellweger
Mintyukov – Gudas
Dumoulin – LaCombe
Vaakanainen

Dostal
Dansk

Gibson is recovering from an emergency appendectomy but once he’s back mid November he will split starts with Dostal. Cutter Gauthier has only played a single NHL game yet it looks very likely he will start on the top line along with Calrsson and Alex Killorn. Trevor Zegras once played center, but it looks like those days are over, he has repeatedly been deployed as a left-wing last season and this pre-season. There is an overflow of left-shot defensemen on the roster. After trading Jamie Drysdale, Radko Gudas is left as the only right-shot. Olen Zellweger was deployed with Cam Fowler last season and by the looks of it, it will remain so. Pavel Mintyukov and Jackson LaCombe saw some time together before Mintyukov’s injury and they looked very good. If Head Coach Greg Cronin is comfortable deploying both youngsters together then a veteran shutdown line of Dumoulin and Gudas will be created.

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Graduates:

OHL/WHL/QMJHL to AHL

Noah Warren:

A trade to the Victoriaville Tigres in Warren’s fourth year didn’t spark the development hoped. He signed his entry-level contract and will suit up for the San Diego Gulls this year in the AHL. The outlook for Warren isn’t great. He has never been able to recreate his draft-year production, instead continuing to decline year by year. In pre-season games, Warren looks flat-footed and struggling. Can a year in the AHL help him take the steps needed? I doubt it but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Rodwin Dionicio:

Dionicio has continued to progress both on and off the ice. When he was drafted, the likelihood of making it to the NHL looked very slim, now Dionicio is in a serious conversation to make it. Skating is still the limiting factor but it has come a long way compared to when he was drafted. He has lost over 25 pounds of fat and has gained more muscle mass. Dionicio is supremely skilled and creative with the puck, his 73 points in the OHL put him third in scoring among defensemen and his 17 points in the playoffs lead all defensemen. Dionicio’s play during the rookie showcase and pre-season shows a capable defenseman, who still lacks the skating and defensive consistency to play in the NHL. A true wildcard, check back next offseason cause Dionico may surprise many.

Tristan Luneau:

Luneau has already played seven games in the NHL and six in the AHL. In these brief viewings, he has not looked out of place. A Staph infection in his knee near Christmas sidelined him from the entire season. Now back on the ice, Luneau has consistently been one of the best players on the ice, both in the rookie showcase and pre-season. With Drysdale traded, Luneau is the only right-handed prospect the Ducks have who might have the potential to fill the top pairing. Luneau will almost certainly start the season with the Gulls where he can get top minutes and deployment. By the deadline, someone may be traded to free up room for Luneau. If not, he will be a mainstay with the ducks starting 2025-26.

Yegor Sidorov:

Sidorov was a pure boom-or-bust pick when selected in his second eligible year at pick 85. So far Ducks are happy to see that Sidorov is trending toward booming. With very smooth hands and a lethal shot, Sidorov can score goals, lots of them. His 50 goals in the WHL this season rank him fourth. In the playoffs, Sidorov took another step, carrying the Saskatoon Blades with his 23 points in 16 games landing him 3rd in points per game only behind known prospects in Jagger Firkus and Denton Mateychuk. Sidorov has only been able to suit up for the rookie showcase and pre-season but in these limited samples, he has been able to stand out as one of the better players in the Ducks lineups. Ready for a full AHL season with the Gulls, Sidorov is very much the forward version of Dionicio. Players with massive skill, who have detrimental flaws which could keep them from ever suiting up for an NHL squad. Much like Dionicio, Sidorov is trending the right way and could be worth keeping an eye on.

Coulson Pitre:

Pitre has continued to grow his overall game year after year. Pitre’s greater than the sum of his parts. He has the occasional flash but his all-around positioning, playstyle, and motor truly let him be consistent on the ice shift after shift. He’s a battering ram, running into anything that moves while going full speed. He maintains the awareness to poke pucks free and make quick passes for escapes while still embracing such a physical style. Pitre can singlehandedly shut down a team’s breakout with his anticipation, stick, and contact skills. Set to play the season with the Gulls, Pitre will continue to work on his overall game and likely see NHL action in two to three years as a bottom-six center.

Nico Myatovic:

Myatovic was limited to just 34 WHL games due to an injury sustained in a dogpile from scoring the OT winner (yes, I am serious). He’s a very north-south player who dumps the puck deep and goes darting after them. His ability to play the puck quickly after winning it makes him a real playmaking threat. Skilled in off-puck movement and has a hard shot, Myatovic can net himself some goals from his shot along and isn’t afraid to go hunting his rebound. Myatovic will spend the season with the Gulls. It’s not yet certain that his style will work against men and if it doesn’t it seems unlikely Myatovic has much shot at cracking the roster. If he does, it is in a bottom-six wing role.

NCAA to NHL

Cutter Gauthier:

Lastly, nobody is forgetting Gauthier. He can shoot. No, seriously he can and loves to shoot. 38 goals in 41 NCAA games can attest to that. If that isn’t enough, in his first pre-season game he shot over 33% of the Duck’s total shots at the net, 11 on net in total with many more attempts. Of all the Ducks graduates, Gauthier is the one ready to have the biggest impact for the Ducks and on any fantasy team. Set to start on the top line with Leo Carlsson, getting Gauthier the puck won’t be an issue. In the power play, he was positioned on the wing as the shooting threat with the first unit. 30 goals for Gauthier isn’t impossible, and he will be given every chance to do so. I would absolutely recommend paying attention to Gauthier, he will likely be undervalued still by many fantasy GMs.

Sam Colangelo:

Colangelo after having a good campaign for Western Michigan in the NCAA signed his entry-level deal and saw time with the Gulls in the AHL. If that wasn’t enough, he was so impressive in the few AHL games he played that the Ducks decided to try him in the NHL. He didn’t disappoint, netting his first NHL point and seeing time with the second power play unit. He isn’t afraid to use his body and plays a power-forward style of game, but also possesses a heavy shot and good enough playmaking to get by. With the lack of right-shot wings on the roster, Colangelo has the skill and the opportunity to make the NHL roster out of camp.

*****

Risers

Yegor Sidorov: Read in the section above
Rodwin Dionicio: Read in the section above
Sam Colangelo: Read in the section above

Damian Clara:

Clara didn’t just improve, he’s taking leaps that should not be possible. The 18-year-old netminder secured the backup spot with Brynäs in the Swedish second division. His play during the season was so good that he stole the starter gig quite early and never looked back. Clara helped Brynäs gain promotion back to the SHL and won the second division’s Rookie of the Year award. Clara’s rights in the SHL are held by Färjestad who like what they’ve seen, making the now 19-year-old their starter. It is very rare to see goalies that are this young starting in the SHL, his career trajectory is looking very good. Once Gibson’s contract is up in Anaheim, expect Clara to be called over to backup Lukas Dostal.

Fallers

Noah Warren:

Warren has continued struggling to recreate his draft year. While scoring and playmaking were never his roles, his issues in defense are very concerning. The big right-shot defenseman has good skating and isn’t afraid to use his body to stop any oncoming attackers. His role in the NHL is rather clearly defined, a 3rd pairing shutdown guy. Warren will play for the San Diego Gulls in the AHL and he has to make progress in his defensive reading. He has continued to fall in the Duck’s depth charts and if he can’t turn it around very soon the chance that he gets a role in the NHL looks fleeting.

Pavol Regenda:

Regenda has come a long way since signing as an undrafted free agent. He will flash skills that could land him a real role with an NHL team yet they are too few and far between. Regenda is a classic case of a very good AHL player who isn’t quite good enough to play in the NHL. As time marches on the window of opportunity for Regenda to push for a role with the Ducks looks practically closed.

*****

Organizational Depth Chart:

LW
Cutter Gauthier
Trevor Zegras
Frank Vatrano
Robby Fabbri
Yegor Sidorov
Sasha Pastujov
Nico Myatovic
Artyom Galimov
Alexander Blais
Ross Johnstone
Brock McGinn
Pavol Regenda

C
Leo Carlsson
Mason McTavish
Isac Lundeström
Lucas Pettersson
Nathan Gaucher
Carey Terrance
Coulson Pitre
Nikita Nesterenko
Ethan Procyszyn
Jan Mysak
Jansen Harkins
Josh Lopina
Kyle Kukkonen

RW
Troy Terry
Alex Killorn
Ryan Strome
Brett Leason
Sam Colangelo
Beckett Sennecke
Maxim Masse
Austin Burnevik
Judd Caulfield
Carson Meyer
Jaxsen Wiebe
Michael Callow

LD
Pavel Mintyukov
Olen Zellweger
Cam Fowler
Stian Solberg
Jackson LaCombe
Urho Vaakanainen
Rodwin Dionicio
Tarin Smith
Tyson Hinds
Brian Dumoulin
Konnor Smith
Darles Uljanskis
Vojtech Port

RD
Tristan Luneau
Ian Moore
Radko Gudas
Drew Helleson
Noah Warren
William Francis

G
Lukas Dostal
John Gibson
Damian Clara
Calle Clang
Tomas Suchanek
Vyacheslav Buteyets
Oscar Dansk

Top-20 Fantasy Prospects:
Leo Carlsson
Cutter Gauthier
Olen Zellweger
Beckett Sennecke
Pavel Mintyukov
Tristan Luneau
Stian Solberg
Yegor Sidorov
Lucas Pettersson
Rodwin Dionicio
Jackson LaCombe
Sam Colangelo
Sasha Pastujov
Tarin Smith
Damian Clara
Carey Terrance
Maxim Masse
Nico Myatovic
Coulson Pitre
Ian Moore

Thanks for reading, follow me at @roach_markus on twitter for more Ducks and hockey stuff.