Anaheim 31 for 31

 

The Anaheim Ducks came into this year’s draft with seven picks, selecting four forwards, two goalies, and one defenseman.

 

Here is the scoop on their selections.

 

Isac Lundestrom – Center: 1^st round, 23^rd overall

 

Another Swede in the cupboard for Bob Murray and co, Lundestrom doesn’t wow with offensive potential, but rather his overall 200-foot game. He centered Sweden’s top line at this year’s World Juniors, but he can also play wing. He has a high IQ, can play in all situations, and isn’t afraid to battle for the puck. He is a pass first player, but when he decides to shoot, he does so with strength and accuracy. Given the depth that Anaheim has accumulated at forward through the last few drafts, they will let Isac develop properly; so don’t expect him in the show until at least 2020.

 

Benoit-Olivier Groulx – Center: 2^nd round, 54^th overall

 

A former first overall selection of the Mooseheads in the QMJHL, Groulx plays a big game, but needs to add some meat to his bones (100 PIM last season, 6’1”, 190 pounds) He is a feisty center, responsible in all three zones, and has a tremendous work ethic. He doesn’t have the offensive explosiveness of a top line center, but with his hockey sense, skating ability, and skill, he has the ability to be a middle six center one day in the show. The Ducks will give him time to develop so he’ll be on the NHL radar in 2020.

 

Blake McLaughlin – Left Wing: 3^rd round, 79^th overall

 

McLaughlin is a dynamic winger with great offensive instincts. He possesses a heavy shot and can get it off in a pinch. He can also pass the puck as well as he can shoot it, with extraordinary vision. His skating is one of the top aspects of his game. When the puck is coming the other way, he is the first guy in on the forecheck and doesn’t stop skating on the backcheck, which causes turnovers and him taking the puck the other way. He needs to hit the weight room as he is listed at 6’0” and only 162 pounds. He is committed to the University of Minnesota, which will be good for his development, physically and mentally. Expect him to spend a couple of season in college before getting a shot in the pros.

 

Lukas Dostal – Goalie: 3^rd round, 85^th overall

 

With their second third round selection, the Ducks selected the first of two goalies for the night, Lukas Dostal. A smaller goalie, Dostal moves quick laterally and comes out far on shooters to look big. He tends to leave the top parts of the net open, but that is where his fast glove and blocker come into play. He’ll stay at home in the Czech Republic to develop and look to secure a spot on the World Junior squad this Winter.

 

Jackson Perbix – Right Wing: 4^th round, 116^th overall

 

Jackson scored 61 points for Elk River High and then played in 17 games for the Gamblers in the USHL putting up a goal and four points. It took some time for him to get used to the speed of the USHL vs high school, but you could still see his vision and IQ on the ice. He is committed to playing college hockey at Notre Dame, which should help develop his skills and ability to put on some more weight with the lighter schedule. He will spend a couple of years in school before looking to turn pro.

 

Roman Durny – Goalie: 5^th round, 147^th overall

 

The second goalie selected by Anaheim’s scouting team, Roman played for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL and did as much as he could for them to win. He had a sparkling .920 save percentage and a 2.38 GAA, but fell victim of no offense as his record was below .500. He also recorded the high save percentage at the U20 WJC this past year, posting a .929. He is definitely a goalie to keep tabs on this coming season as his confidence is sky high and he was an overage draftee looking to jump to the pros.

 

Hunter Drew – Defense: 6^th round, 178^th overall

 

After making the Q on a tryout with the Charlottetown Islanders, Hunter Drew is a rough, in your face player. He accumulated the most PIMs in the QMJHL last season (159) and also lit the lamp eight times with a total of 39 points. He made the team on a tryout two seasons ago and worked his way into the lineup for steady minutes. With how hard he worked to get to this point in his career, keep an eye on what he does next season in the Q as he could be another late round gem discovered by Bob Murray and co.

 

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It’s hard to say Sam Steel got better this season after an incredible 2016-17, but he did. Statistically, the numbers were down, but his overall game got better. He was a 200-foot player and a leader out there. Both him and Max Jones will turn pro this season and with Anaheim needing a few forward spots to fill, they could potentially make the team. However, I would expect them to start the year in San Diego to get acclimated to the big boys and receive cups of coffee throughout the season when someone gets hurt.

 

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Troy Terry made his season debut at the end of last season and played three games. He brings so much finesse and skill to the line up that will compliment Getzlaf or Henrique, but he is another prospect that I see starting with the Gulls to log big ice time instead of mingling on the 4^th line. Barring any trades, Anaheim’s top nine is pretty set so look for Terry to be one of the first wingers called up throughout the season.

 

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The Ducks Development Camp runs June 28^th – July 1^st. Here is the camp roster.

 

Player	Position	How Acquired
Badini, Jack	C/LW	ANA 3rd rd., 91st in 2017
Benoit, Simon	D	Junior Invite
Berger, Carter	D	College Invite
Comtois, Max	LW	ANA 2nd rd., 50th in 2017
Dostal, Lukas	G	ANA 3rd rd., 85th in 2018
Drew, Hunter	D	ANA 6th rd., 178th in 2018
Durcharme, Justin	RW	Junior Invite
Durny, Roman	G	ANA 5th rd., 147th in 2018
Eriksson Ek, Olle	G	ANA 5th rd., 153rd in 2017
Fiore, Giovanni	LW	Signed as Free Agent
Forney, Chris	D	College Invite
Gates Jr., Brent	C	ANA 3rd rd., 80th in 2015
Graber, William	C	College Invite
Groulx, Benoit-Olivier	C	ANA 2nd rd., 54th in 2018
Jones, Max	LW	ANA 1st rd., 24th in 2016
Kopacka, Jack	LW	ANA 4th rd., 93rd in 2016
Knoepke, Nate	D	College Invite
Larsson, Jacob	D	ANA 1st rd., 27th in 2015
Larocque, Sasha	D	College Invite
Lundestrom, Isac	C	ANA 1st. rd., 23rd in 2018
Mahura, Josh	D	ANA 3rd rd., 85th in 2016
McLaughlin, Blake	LW	ANA 3rd rd., 79th in 2018
Moldenhauer, Scott	D	College Invite
Morand, Antoine	C	ANA 2nd rd., 60th in 2017
Olson, Kyle*	RW	ANA 4th rd., 122nd in 2017
Perbix, Jackson	RW	ANA 4th rd., 116th in 2018
Redmond, Angus	G	Signed as Free Agent
Ruggiero, Steven	D	ANA 6th rd., 178th in 2015
Schultheis, Ben	D	College Invite
Sherwood, Kiefer	C	Signed as Free Agent
Sideroff, Deven	RW	ANA 3rd rd., 84th in 2015
Steel, Sam	C	ANA 1st rd., 30th in 2016
Terry, Troy	C	ANA 5th rd., 148th in 2015
Walker, Nolan	C	College Invite

 

UPDATED 07/10/18

 

After attending the prospect scrimmage, here are my thoughts on a few of the guys.

 

I’ll start with some disappointing news. Josh Mahura did not play. No reason was given, but I am assuming it was a minor injury. Max Jones went to the locker room during the game and did not return. Nonetheless, it was a prospect scrimmage, so it is better for them not to play and rest up for training camp in September.

 

First round selection Isac Lundestrom was very solid out there. He had a couple of plays showing off some silky mitts, but he shined with his smart play and reads on the ice. He was a force on the backcheck and will develop into a good two-way NHL center.

 

Sam Steel and Troy Terry were definitely a class above everyone out there. If they don’t make the team out of camp, they will be sipping cups of it throughout the season. Steel was winning puck battles in all three zones and created offense for his teammates throughout the game. He ended with one assist, but he could have had three or four. Terry finished the scrimmage with two points (a goal and an assist), banking a shot off the goalie along the goal line and with a beautiful pass that lead to a tap in goal.

 

Maxime Comtois’ confidence from this season carried over into the skate. Playing wing for Steel, Comtois was able to use his size to be effective in all three zones. When Steel fed him the puck, Comtois was able to get shots through and you could tell he has a nice, hard shot with a quick release.

 

I had a feeling Blake McLaughlin was going to be a guy to watch, but boy did he ever impress. He scored a goal off a one timer and created chances the whole game. He has a very accurate and quick shot. Keep tabs on him as he has top six goal scoring potential oozing out of him.

 

Be sure to follow me on Twitter @LAM1926 for more updates on the Ducks and come back on August 1^st to read my take on the Ducks free agent signings, trades, etc.