Anaheim Ducks 2015 NHL Draft Grades
The dust has settled, and we’ve taken some time to think about it, so let’s do this!
Now that the 2015 NHL Entry Draft has wrapped up, and more importantly, now that we have had some time to sleep on it, we here at Pucks of a Feather are ready to hand out our official an semi-final grades for the picks made by the Anaheim Ducks.
The grades you are about to see are an average of the scores that staff writers Griffin Foster, Chris Bushell and myself came up with. Keep in mind that these grades are based upon our gut instincts, and a lot of scouting reports and reactions written by people we trust – it’s not like any of us are subscribing to live feeds of international hockey.
Also, don’t compare grades – a B+ given to a kid drafted in the fourth round because he could be a diamond in the rough isn’t the same as a B+ handed out in the first our second rounds who appears to be a lock for the NHL. We do have some perspective!
For what they are worth, then, here are the grades for the Anaheim Ducks’ 2015 draft results!
B+. <p>My first reaction upon hearing Larsson’s name announced here was slight disappointment -didn’t the Ducks know they needed depth down the middle, or another scoring threat from the wing, or ANYTHING other than another D-man?</p><p>Chris agreed, stating that “there were other players available at 27 that the Ducks could have looked at.” Having said that, everyone here at PoaF loves Larsson’s potential: he models his game after Arizona’s Oliver Eckman Larsson, and received scores of 4/5 in skating and ability and 5/5 in smarts from TSN’s head scout Craig Button. Given Anaheim’s success with drafting young defenseman, we set aside our initial disappointment and rate this a safe but smart pick.</p>. D. Frolunda. JACOB LARSSON
JULIS NATTINEN. A-. <p>Nattinen could wind up going down as one of the steals of the 2015 NHL Draft. A 6’2″ two-way center out of Finland, Nattinen put up 31 points in 28 games for his country’s U18 team, and earned scores of 3/5 or better in every category that TSN’s Craig Button rates. According to Griffin, Nattinen has “some sleeper potential due to his high motor, smarts and compete level. Great 2nd round find for the Ducks, he could sit in the top 3 of the Ducks prospect depth chart at center.”</p>. C. JYP2
B-. A player with some athletic pedigree – his father played Major League Baseball – Gates is another big-bodied center that the Ducks can stash away for down the road. Gates is committed to the University of Minnesota after pointing up close to a point per game in the USHL Only in his late teens, Gates has plenty of time to continue developing his game, so it will be fun to see how he progresses. . C. Minnesota. BRENT GATES
B+. When you read through the scouting reports of most of the players that the Anaheim Ducks have drafted this year, the word “smart” continues to pop up. Sideroff is another “smart player” with a high hockey IQ. Chris loves his hard work ethic, while Griffin points out his ability to work well with and without the puck. Tough to tell what you’re getting to get with a third-round pick, but Sideroff just finished his first season in the WHL, so if he progresses quickly, the Ducks will look like geniuses for picking him.. RW. Kamloops. DEVEN SIDEROFF
B+. Another center chosen by the Ducks, who clearly were aware that they were looking thin up the middle heading into the draft. Terry put up 44 points in 66 games with USDPT last season, so Chris expects him to continue producing in the NCAA, as he has put up points at every level he has played. Griffin has high hopes that Terry will become one of those late-round sleepers that we will end up reading about in a few years, so let’s cross our fingers.. C. University of Denver. TROY TERRY
C+. Another player headed off to the collegiate ranks, Ruggiero just finished playing with Terry in the USDPT. With more-heralded d-men in the pipeline, Ruggiero certainly won’t be rushed into the system. We’ll have to wait and see what becomes of this kid.. D. Providence. STEVEN RUGGIERO
USHL. GARRETT METCALF. C-. Having traded for goaltender Anton Khudobin earlier on Saturday, there was no need for the Ducks to go after a top-five goalie an early pick. Instead, the Ducks waited until the bitter end to pick up Metcalf from the USHL. The young net minder is headed to UMass Lowell next season – we don’t expect much, but hey – ya never know.. G