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HockeysFuture.com’s Spring Ranking of Top Ducks Prospects Lists Etem as #1

By Sean

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May 8, 2013; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks right wing Emerson Etem (65) blocks a shot against the Detroit Red Wings during the first period in game five of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

HockeysFuture.com has updated their list of top Anaheim Ducks prospects. This is the 2013 Spring edition. Here are the Ducks’ top 20 prospects according to HF:

  1. RW – Emerson Etem (2) – Drafted 1st Round (29) 2010 NHL Entry Draft
  2. G – John Gibson (9) – Drafted 2nd Round (39) 2011 NHL Entry Draft
  3. RW – Rickard Rakell (4) – Drafted 1st Round (30) 2011 NHL Entry Draft
  4. C – Peter Holland (5) – Drafted 1st Round (15) 2009 NHL Entry Draft
  5. D – Hampus Lindholm (7) – Drafted 1st Round (6) 2012 NHL Entry Draft
  6. D – Sami Vatanen (3) – Drafted 4th Round (106) 2009 NHL Entry Draft
  7. C – Nicolas Kerdiles (10) – Drafted 2nd Round (36) 2012 NHL Entry Draft
  8. C – William Karlsson (8) – Drafted 2nd Round (53) 2011 NHL Entry Draft
  9. LW – Devante Smith-Pelly (6) – Drafted 2nd Round (42) 2010 NHL Entry Draft
  10. C – Antoine Laganiere (NR) – Signed as a Free Agent 2013
  11. C – Steven Whitney (NR) – Signed as a Free Agent 2013
  12. LW – Max Friberg (11) – Drafted 5th Round (143) 2011 NHL Entry Draft
  13. D – Andy Welinski (12) – Drafted 3rd Round (83) 2011 NHL Entry Draft
  14. C – Kevin Roy (18) – Drafted 4th Round (97) 2012 NHL Entry Draft
  15. G – Frederik Andersen (19) – Drafted 3rd Round (87) 2012 NHL Entry Draft
  16. C – Joseph Cramarossa (17) – Drafted 3rd Round (65) 2011 NHL Entry Draft
  17. C – Charles Sarault (NR) – Signed as a Free Agent 2013
  18. RW – Chris Wagner (NR) – Drafted 5th Round (122) 2010 NHL Entry Draft
  19. G – Igor Bobkov (13) – Drafted 3rd Round (76) 2009 NHL Entry Draft
  20. D – Andrew O’Brien (20) – Drafted 4th Round (108) NHL Entry Draft
  • The numbers in the parentheses are each players’ rankings from their fall rankings.
  • Prospect on the Rise: John Gibson
  • Prospect Dropping: Igor Bobkov
  • Newcomer to Watch: Antoine Laganiere

With the graduation of Kyle Palmieri, youngster Emerson Etem has taken the spot as the Ducks top prospect on this list. This should not come as a surprise as his growth this year and success in the postseason has shown the true potential of the California native. I highlighted a few prospects who made some dramatic moves in their list. It is also not a surprise that Gibson rose as high as he did. His play this season, most specifically with Team USA in the World Junior Championships and World Championships, has made him a household name in USA Hockey and throughout the hockey world. Gibson’s fellow goaltender Igor Bobkov had the highest drop out of all Ducks prospects within the Top 20. He entered the year as the #1 in Norfolk, but lost his job to rookie Frederik Andersen. In the starts he did have, he was inconsistent. He was especially bad late in the season when he went through a six-game losing streak. It seems his chance of making it with the Ducks is pretty much finished. Both Gibson and Andersen have risen to the occasion and he has not. Another guy who has dropped a bit is Devante Smith-Pelly who had a sophomore slump this season. He spent most of the season with Norfolk and just seemed to lose the play that was so promising last season. However, I’m not giving up on him just yet. He still is developing and last year he suffered through some growing pains. The newcomer to watch for me is college free agent Antoine Laganiere. The big guy put up some impressive numbers with surprising NCAA Division I Champion Yale Bulldogs. He is a physical big man who has good offensive skill. It will be interesting to see his swap to professional hockey next season.

I plan on doing a small piece on all of these guys. Especially with a lack of news recently and probably for the foreseeable future.

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