Anaheim Ducks: The top five draft classes in team history

This summer marks the 25th anniversary of the Anaheim Ducks organization. To commemorate, Pucks of a Feather will bring our readers the best of the franchise all season long.

The Anaheim Ducks are set to take part in their 25th Entry Draft later this month. I wanted to take a look back at the best draft classes in the Ducks quarter-century history. Teams are built through the draft more than anywhere else.

The Ducks are a classic example of how to build from within. They have four picks in the first three rounds this year, we can only hope the 2018 Draft can be added to this list one day.

Honorable Mention: 1993, 2016 Entry Drafts

It would be remiss to not have the 1993 Entry Draft on here since the Ducks found the original face of their franchise. Paul Kariya was the leader of their team every second he sported the Wildwing masked jersey. No one could have asked more from a 1st round pick, captain, and player.

Kariya made an impact from the second he stepped on the ice and led the Ducks to their first Western Conference Crown and all the way to the 2003 Stanley Cup Finals. It’s marvelous that he’s back in the hockey world and around the team again and I for one am hoping the Ducks will raise his #9 to the rafters this season.

2016 also deserves to be included here. Picks such as Max Jones, Sam Steel, Josh Mahura, and Jack Kopacka show immense potential. All of these prospects have yet to make a name for themselves in the NHL, but they have been lighting up Juniors. They should arrive in Anaheim in the next few years. Only time will tell if they’ll be added to the list in the future. As of now, it looks like this group could potentially usurp number one on this list.

#5 – 1996 Entry Draft

In just the third year of drafting the Ducks landed two gems with their first two picks, defenseman Ruslan Salei and forward Matt Cullen. Salei played for the Ducks from 1997-2004 and was a steady presence on the blueline.

Salei showed great leadership through the Ducks’ Stanley Cup Finals playoff run. He would move on to a few other NHL clubs until 2011 before returning to his native Russia. Tragically Salei passed away in a plane crash in 2011 but, his presence is still felt by Ducks fans.

Matt Cullen joined the Ducks the same season as Salei did. He had many good years in Anaheim including back to back 40 point seasons ( one point shy of three straight). Cullen played for a variety of teams following the Ducks and is still a current member of the Minnesota Wild. A three-time Stanley Cup winner (Hurricanes in 06, Penguins in 16/17), he has been a valuable depth forward his entire career.

#4 – 2014 Entry Draft

The Ducks most recent drafts have been incredible, and 2014 is without a doubt one of them. If Matt Berkovitz makes it to the NHL after his time with Army, then the entire draft class will be playing in the NHL.

This class included the likes of Nick Ritchie, Marcus Pettersson, Brandon Montour, and Ondrej Kase. I’m not the biggest Nick Ritchie fan. He has, however, scored some big goals for the Ducks. The potential is still there for the young power forward to excel.

Montour and Pettersson should be big contributors to the Ducks back end this season. They will join the ranks of Cam Fowler and Hampus Lindholm. A move that helps the Ducks become faster and more skilled. Both of these defensemen from the 2014 class can move the puck. They use their legs to move up ice quickly. Additionally, both possess the vision to make a great pass or get pucks to the net.

The Ducks were old and/or inexperienced in the playoffs last year on the blueline. Their young players gained some valuable experience which should pay dividends this season.

The biggest steal of the draft came in the person of 7th round pick, Ondrej Kase. Kase has displayed incredible speed, great hands, and this season especially a great finish ability.

20 goals almost 40 points in his second full season with the Ducks was a 2017-18 highlight. Kase has developed solid chemistry with pivot Adam Henrique. A full off-season for them to work together will bring the expectation of big things from this duo in 2018-19.

#3 – 2012 Entry Draft

I debated putting the 2014 Draft ahead of this one but decided that the 2012 class is slightly ahead of 2014. Hampus Lindholm drafted sixth overall, made an immediate impact from the second he touched the ice with the Anaheim Ducks.

The second and third rounds produced local kid Nic Kerdiles and goaltender Frederik Andersen. Kerdiles should finally get his shot this season to crack the Ducks lineup. He has shown decent numbers with Anaheim’s minor league affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. The Socal native is a big bodied forward that is also a fast skater with good hands.

Pucks of a Feather has covered the Frederik Andersen/John Gibson saga to excess. Andersen was a great goalie for the Ducks when he was here. He piloted them to within one game of the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015. Ironically, trading him to Toronto may bring an even bigger contribution to Anaheim.

His great play in goal allowed the Ducks to get a windfall in return for him from the Leafs. The picks Anaheim got back were used to select highly touted prospects Sam Steel and Maxime Comtois.

Not to be outdone, the fourth-round selection of former Northeastern University Husky, Kevin Roy may pay big dividends as well. Roy had a great year for the Gulls. He also had a 25 game call-up to Anaheim mid-season. His impressed with his speed combined with finishing ability was impressive. He could be an impact player for the Ducks next season.

#2 – 2011 Entry Draft

It’s a positive if one or two of your draft picks makes it to the NHL and have a positive impact. Its unheard of for every single player you draft in a given year to make it to the NHL. That’s what the Ducks achieved in the 2011 draft. Every single player from this draft class has played in at least five NHL games. Further, three of the seven are key members of the Ducks.

Rickard Rakell is arguably the Anaheim Ducks second-best skater. He led the team in goals last season and was an All-Star selection. The young Swede is poised to be the next face of the franchise along with the fellow classmate John Gibson.

Gibson is high on the list of reasons the Ducks made the 2017-18 post-season. If he could avoid the injury bug, Gibson will be the Vezina winner next season and could lead the Ducks to a Cup (Hot take heard it here first).

Josh Manson was the sixth round selection in this draft class. He has made a name for himself with the Ducks and around the league. A force in his own end, he’s known for dishing out huge hits. Manson smart plays and has shown an increased offensive side to his game.

The Ducks also drafted William Karlsson in the third round.  He is making Anaheim pay for giving up on him, with his breakout season in Vegas.