Five Best Late Round Gems in Anaheim Ducks Draft History

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We continue our countdown to the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Chris Bushell does a 180 from his last story and brings you the Anaheim Ducks five best late round hidden gems. Some of these players were outright steals for where they were selected in the draft.

The Anaheim Ducks, especially as of late, have done a marvelous job of landing quality players following the second round. Today we look at their late round, hidden gem, draft picks.

Honorable Mention

Mike LeClerc – 1995, Third Round (55th overall). LeClerc played eight seasons for the Ducks organization including their first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals. He played 291 games and scored 132 points (54g, 78a) with Anaheim.

Drew Miller – 2003, Sixth Round (186th overall). Although he played only two seasons with Anaheim (including winning the Stanley Cup), who would have thought the former sixth-round pick, would have played 10 years in the league.

CHICAGO, IL – MAY 23: Matt Beleskey #39 of the Anaheim Ducks takes a shot against Corey Crawford #50 of the Chicago Blackhawks in Game Four of the Western Conference Finals. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) /

#5 Matt Beleskey

Drafted: 2006 – 4th Round 19th selection (112th overall selection)

The one bright spot of the Anaheim Ducks 2006 draft came in the form of 4th round selection Matt Beleskey. After four years with OHL team, the Belleville Bulls, Anaheim took a chance on him. As a member of the Bulls, Beleskey improved every season by leaps and bounds. He went from 23 points in his first season to 90 points in his final season.

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Beleskey made his NHL debut during the 2008-09 season, but that stint was only two games long. He cracked the Ducks in the 2009-10 season and compiled a total of 329 games played in his Anaheim career. Over those 300 plus regular season games, Beleskey compiled a stat line of 112 points (57g-55a).

His coming out party, no question, was the 2014-2015 playoffs. Beleskey scored eight goals and added an assist in 16 games. The most memorable was his OT winner in Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals against the Blackhawks.

Not bad for a fourth-round selection. That career postseason also came at a time when Beleskey was finishing off his contract with the Ducks. He used it to his advantage and in the summer of 2015. Beleskey signed a 5 year, $19.8M contract with the Boston Bruins.

The east coast hasn’t brought the same level of success to Belesky. His first year in Boston mirrored his last year in Anaheim but his play and production plummeted following that. Last season he was demoted to the Bruins AHL affiliate in Providence, before being traded to the New York Rangers.

Had he stayed here and remained with a center he clearly had chemistry with Ryan Kesler things could be very different for him.

ANAHEIM, CA – NOVEMBER 22: Sami Vatanen #45 of the Anaheim Ducks looks on during the second period of a game against the Vegas Golden Knights. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

#4 Sami Vatanen

Drafted: 2009 – 4th Round 15th selection (106th overall selection)

The Anaheim Ducks struck gold again in the fourth round with this Finnish born defenseman. Sami Vatanen played three years in SM-liiga (Finnish League). In his final season, he was close to a point per game pace. That is quite an accomplishment for an undersized defenseman.

What Vatanen lacks in vertical stature he makes up for with his speed and blistering slap shot. He showed off his skills in the AHL first during the 2012-2013 season posting 45 points in 62 games.

His performance earned him a selection to the AHL First All-Star Team. Vatanen made his SoCal debut during the 2012-13 season, but it wouldn’t be until the following season that he became a mainstay on the Ducks blue line.

Vats was a huge contributor to the Ducks back end providing steady defense, speed, and the ability to get shots through to the net. He was especially dangerous on the power-play.

Unfortunately, a numbers game at the time, coupled with significant injuries to Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler this season forced the Ducks to trade him in order to stay afloat.

Vatanen was traded to the New Jersey Devils for Adam Henrique, Joe Blandisi, and a future draft pick. Henrique has fit it beautifully in Anaheim but there’s no denying that the Ducks and Duck fan would love to see the “Vat-Man” still patrolling the Duck blueline.

TORONTO, ON- MARCH 24: Anaheim Ducks goalie Frederik Andersen makes a glove save against the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

#3 Frederik Andersen

Drafted: 2012 – Round 3, 26th selection (87th overall selection)

Typically when Frederik Andersen makes an appearance in one of these articles John Gibson isn’t far behind. This isn’t one of those times. For the record, the Anaheim Ducks traded the right goalie. Now with that behind us, there is no denying the Ducks found a fourth-round gem in this Danish goalie.

Andersen was the 11th goalie drafted in 2012 and the Ducks nabbed one of the best. He joined Anaheim during the 2013-14 season and was the reason the team transitioned away from Jonas Hiller.

The Ducks number one netminder for three seasons, Andersen compiled a 77-26-12 record with a .918 SV% and 2.33 GAA. He and fellow goalie John Gibson combined to win the Jennings Trophy (fewest goals allowed) during his final season in Anaheim.

There is an adage in hockey that says if you have two goalies than you have no goalies. The Ducks decided Gibson was the goalie of the present and future. They subsequently dealt Andersen in the summer of 2016 to the Toronto Maple Leafs for two draft picks.

Those picks became highly touted prospects Sam Steel and Maxime Comtois. The Ducks found a gem in the third round with Andersen and that may lead to two future stars of the Anaheim Ducks

#2 Ondrej Kase

Drafted: 2014 – Round 7, 25th selection (205th selection overall)

There is an absolute case to made that Kase should be first on this list. If his 2018-19 season is better or the same as his 2017-18 season, I’ll move him to that spot. Maybe it’s harsh, but I need to know this is the norm we can expect from the speedy Czech and not just a lightning in a bottle.

Kase was one of the last six players selected in the 2014 draft. TTIf the Anaheim Ducks found a 20+ goal scorer per season in the 7th round, props to GM Bob Murray and his scouting staff.

Usually not much can be expected with the 205th overall selection. The Ducks learned that every pick counts They may have found one of the biggest gems almost as late as you can in the draft.

He played at various levels in the Czech Republic before coming stateside in 2015-16. Starting out with the Ducks AHL affiliate in San Diego, Kase played in 25 games compiling 14 points. That performance earned him 53 games in Anaheim the following season. He was streaky but managed 15 points.

His first full season with the big club was 2017-18. He made every second of it count. In 66 games he put up 38 points (20g, 18a). Kase was also clutch. Some of those 20 goals included OT winners and huge momentum-turning goals.

ANAHEIM, CA – APRIL 4: Mark Giordano #5 of the Calgary Flames and Josh Manson #42 of the Anaheim Ducks fight during the third period. (Photo by Debora Robinson/NHLI via Getty Images) ***Local Caption *** /

#1 Josh Manson

Drafted: 2011 – Round 6, 9th selection (160th overall selection)

Josh Manson has become everything and then some for the Ducks. A sixth-round selection in 2011 that gets overlooked. First in the higher offensive talents of Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm then because he was a part of a draft class that also included Rickard Rakell and John Gibson.

Manson has always been touted for his physical play and stay at home style. He was Northeastern University’s captain his final season and won best defensive defenseman in Hockey East. He imposed his will at the collegiate level and brought that same intensity to the pro level.

When he arrived in Anaheim for the 2014-15 season after spending a season plus in the AHL, his stats weren’t eye-popping. Only scoring three points in 28 games. He was brought to be the steadying defensive force on a pair so the more offensive-minded defenseman could put their skills to best use.

He was just that in Anaheim until this past season when his offensive upside rose to the surface. Manson pocketed 30 assists to go along with his 7 goals. He led all NHL defensemen in +/- at a +34. That’ss even more impressive considering Manson is a big part of the Ducks PK unit.

Next: Updates on the Ducks top prospects

Manson has proved to be a defensive force ever since he joined the Ducks, now his offense is following suit. He is going to be a key contributor to the team’s success long term and that should have Ducks fans very excited.

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