5 Options for the Anaheim Ducks to draft with 23rd overall pick

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We are less than a month from the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Chris Bushell ranks his top five prospects that may be available when the Anaheim Ducks make the 23rd overall selection.

The 2018 NHL Entry Draft is just a few weeks away. We can start to look at potential players the Anaheim Ducks could select. They own four picks in the first three rounds including #23 overall. These are my 5 potential prospects the Ducks should target with their first-round pick, in ascending order.

PLYMOUTH, MI – FEBRUARY 16: K’Andre Miller #19 of the USA Nationals controls the puck during the 2018 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

# 5 K’Andre Miller (D, U18 NTDP)

K’Andre Miller is the SportingNews.com pick for the Ducks to take at #23 citing the following; “You know your team is hurting for help on defense when they ice blueline dinosaurs like Kevin Bieksa and Francois Beauchemin for a playoff series.

Miller is a good piece to help the eventual transition toward quickness. He is a converted forward who has the size and wheels to shut down opposing rushes in the neutral zone. He maintains a tight gap and finishes his checks with authority.”

While they are right, the Anaheim Ducks D-core was depleted with the injury to Cam Fowler and the trade of Sami Vatanen, I don’t believe Miller is the best option here. A defenseman isn’t a bad strategy as the Ducks look poised to have one of the youngest D-cores in the league next season. They need to restock the shelves a bit.

Miller doesn’t impress me much especially as a 1st round pick. Only 18 years old, he is a big kid standing at 6’4″ 205lbs. A converted forward now on the blueline, scouts like his skating and puck moving ability.

He’s been playing with the USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program (NTDP) the past two years. His rookie season with the National team was a difficult transition to make from Minnesota high school hockey. He posted 7 points in 34 games but was a minus 29.

This year, Miller posted 16 points in 22 games and was a +13, which was a significant improvement. One year of positive hockey at that level doesn’t have me clamoring for him. If selected by Anaheim, the Ducks will be able to watch him mature at the University of Wisconsin next season. I believe there are better choices for the Ducks.

#4 Dominik Bokk (RW, Vaxjo Jr. Sweden)

Dominik Bokk is an interesting prospect. The German-born winger, playing in Sweden for the Vaxjo Lakers, had a breakout season with their U-20 team. He scored 41 points in 35 games. Those stats earned him a call-up to the main Vaxjo squad in the SHL.

He saw 15 games of action with the big club, picking up a goal and an assist. For a recently turned 18-year-old, that’s not bad for his first trip playing on the highest level in Europe. NBC Sports – Boston commends Bokk for his passing and playmaking ability. He has good size at 6’1″, 180 lbs. Bokk has received praise from other draft experts as well.

“Agile, quick hands, elusive in the offensive zone and makes a habit of landing on the scoresheet. Destroyed the J20 circuit and received a cup of coffee in the SHL. If you like skill, you’ll love Bokk.” – Cam Robinson – DobberProspects

He’ll get a little more seasoning as he is expected to remain with Vaxjo on the SHL level again. Its always a gamble trying to lure European talent stateside when they are drafted so early on but Bokk could be a risk worth taking for the Ducks in the late stages of round 1.

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, PA – SEPTEMBER 30: Bode Wilde #15 of Team USA skates with the puck against the Omaha Lancers in the third period during the game on Day 3 of the USHL Fall Classic. (Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images) /

#3 Bode Wilde (D, U18 NTDP)

Bode Wilde is as far up as #17 on NBC Sports Mock draft as well as in the Sporting News. It wouldn’t be the first time the Ducks have benefited from a defenseman falling a few spots. Wilde had an incredible season with the NTDP posting a line of 12-29-41 in 61 games. And scouts seem to love everything about this kid.

“There are few prospects in this draft who can provide GMs with a skill set as tantalizing as Wilde’s. The big, mobile defender was a minute muncher for a deep NTDP blue line and his explosive first step is drool-inducing. You don’t find many 6-2 defensemen with dynamic speed and a blistering shot” – Steve Kournianos – SportingNews

Now that is the kind of prospect I want in the Anaheim Ducks pipeline. He is the type of player they need as they transition towards a faster team. A defenseman that can get his shot through, carry the puck up ice and lock it down in his own end is a hot commodity.

Wilde will get time to mature as well, he’s headed to Ann Arbor to play for Michigan next season and should be a great addition for them. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility for the Ducks to snag Wilde should he fall a few draft places. If he does, Anaheim may have them themselves one of the new breed defensemen in the organization.

KELOWNA, BC – MARCH 03: Ty Smith #24 of the Spokane Chiefs skates with the puck against the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place on March 3, 2018, in Kelowna, Canada. (Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images) /

#2 Ty Smith (D, Spokane WHL)

Admittedly this may be a bit of a reach, Ty Smith is projected at #12 by NBC Sports and #8 by Sporting News. The Final Central Scouting rankings, however, list him as only the 14th best North American Skater. Smith is an undersized defenseman at only 5’10” but put together an incredible season for the Spokane Chiefs in the Western Hockey League.

This past season was his third with Spokane (second full). In the 69 regular season games he played in, his line read 73 points (14g, 59a) with a whopping +44. That’s incredible numbers for a defenseman and shows he has just as much upside on the defensive end as he does on the offensive.

He picked up another seven points in seven games and was +5 in the postseason. It’s clear he doesn’t let his smaller stature stop him from making an impact as his instincts in his own zone and his ability to distribute the puck are unbelievably apparent. Barring a deadline deal or some luck on the Ducks side Smith may be a long shot but if they can find a way, this kid seems to be the total package.

MISSISSAUGA, ON – OCTOBER 29: Akil Thomas #44 of the Niagara IceDogs turns up ice against the Mississauga Steelheads during game action on October 29, 2017. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images) /

#1 Akil Thomas (C, Niagra OHL)

The alternate captain of the Niagara Ice Dogs is my number 1 choice for the Ducks to select in the 1st round. The six-foot center just completed his second season for the Ice Dogs.

While his first Junior season was nothing to scoff at, 48 points in 61 game, this season he played eight more games and racked up 33 additional points. All totaled, Thomas finished with 81 points (22g, 59a) on the season.

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The International Scouting Service report on him said: “Good skating center, plays all situations & point on the PP, slick puck skill & great vision.” Who does this sound an awful lot like?

How about this glowing report from Mark Sheig of The Hockey Writers:

“So what do we get in Thomas? We have one of the best overall playmakers in the draft. He uses his combination of skating and soft hands to make the right play. He’s willing to shoot from anywhere on the ice. He’s more willing to dish the puck to teammates and isn’t afraid to drive the net when the opportunity is there.

What stands out about Thomas is his leadership and work ethic. He is a tireless worker who is always striving to get better at both ends of the ice. In live viewings of him, he was out in all situations, including the power play, penalty kill, and end of game.”

Next: Ducks free agent rumors: Joe Thornton

I would love to see Ryan Getzlaf play forever but he can’t. The Anaheim Ducks need to look to the future and Thomas could be the next Getzlaf a few years down the line. ~~The~~ next wave of forwards (Sam Steel, Max Jones, Kevin Roy, etc) is expected to make the jump to Anaheim this season or next. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to start building strong down the middle again for the new wave to be restocked.

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