Anaheim Ducks 2015 Draft: Should the Ducks Trade Their First-Round Pick?
Plenty of talent falls through the cracks in the NHL Draft, and plenty of players never pan out, so should the Anaheim Ducks hold onto their pick or try and win, now?
The Anaheim Ducks hold the 27th pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, and make no mistake about it: for a team that has a reputation of being a great regular season team, but an under-achiever in the playoffs, the Ducks really need to hope that they can land a sleeper with this pick.
Or do they?
There’s no chance that the Ducks are going to trade up into the top three, so please don’t assume that I have lost my mind. What we’re discussing here is whether Anaheim can improve its lot in life just enough to sneak into the top twenty, or even parlay it’s first-round pick into a trade for an impact player who will instantly improve the team in 2015-2016.
Let’s assume the Ducks really need a winger, which is the position that 40% of you voted the Ducks need to address first in our poll last week. If the Ducks wait until the 27th pick to draft a winger, you’re looking at talent that is going to need time to cook. Brock Boeser, Daniel Sprong, even Paul Bittner if he drops as far as 27th – these are some talented young forwards who could definitely become solid 3rd or maybe even 2nd line wingers for the Anaheim Ducks . . . eventually.
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But eventually won’t help a team that came within one of going to the Stanley Cup Finals this year make it to the promised land next season. And even if you don’t agree that the Ducks should get a winger, there’s not a player to be found at the 27th spot in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft who will be an impact player in 2015-2016.
The Ducks could always try to trade up into the top twenty, possibly to grab someone like the 6’2″ Evgeny Svechnikov, who appears to be a little more NHL-ready. Of course, “more NHL-ready” could mean he only needs one more year in the minors to hone his game; better, but still nothing that will effect next year’s campaign, which makes you wonder if it’s worth it.
Of course, there is another option: using the pick in order to trade for one final piece to the puzzle. While the Ducks have only a few free agents to worry about this summer, the same cannot be said for the summer of 2016. Anaheim is looking down the barrel of a gun when it comes to keeping this team together, so what’s one draft pick and a young player or two if it means picking up a player who can put the Ducks over the top next season?
Hoisting the Cup sooner, or later? Vote, Ducks fans!