We continue our series on Anaheim Ducks Season Grades. Team management and goalies started the series. Today we start on the defensemen and conclude tomorrow.
Part One of Anaheim Ducks defenseman season grades.
The Incompletes
This group of defensemen didn’t play enough games to qualify for a grade.
Korbinian Holzer
Pucks of a Feather doesn’t have a vendetta against the 30-year-old native of Munich, Germany. He is what he is. That would be a stopgap defenseman to be used in a pinch for a game or two here or there. When he’s up with the Ducks, instead of occupying minutes in San Diego, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him in his locker behind a pane of glass that reads “break in case of emergency.”
This year Holzer played 16 games for the Ducks. He didn’t score any points and averaged 11:36 of ice time per game. He is what he is.
Jaycob Megna
The younger of the two hockey-playing Megna brothers, participated in14 games wearing an Anaheim Ducks sweater last season. Megna was a key part of the Ducks team to start the season when Hampus Lindholm and Sami Vatanen were out of action. He averaged 15:43 of ice time per night and chipped in an assist.
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Megna is 6’6” 219 lbs, that’s much bigger than anyone else among the Ducks top six blueliners. He can be the snowplow in front of John Gibson that removes would be goal scorers from the crease. Large defensemen tend to develop a little slower than those of average size. If he continues on his current path, Megna could be a better version of Clayton Stoner.
Andy Welinski
Welinski played only seven games for the Ducks this season. He added two helpers to the cause while averaging 16:10 of ice time per night.
Unfortunately for the Duluth, Minnesota native, his specialty offense, and puck moving is something the Ducks have in abundance. He is already behind Cam Fowler and Brandan Montour in offensive skill. Additionally, Marcus Pettersson or Hampus Lindholm move the puck through the neutral zone very well. Andy Welinski will have to round out his defensive game if he wants to stick around next year.