Anaheim Ducks: Checking In With The 2017 Draft Class

The NHL finished the 2018 Entry Draft yesterday. Before moving on, we take at the Anaheim Ducks 2017 draft class.

All of the excitement that corresponds with the draft is finally upon us. Anaheim Ducks General Manager, Bob Murray, has many tough decisions ahead of him. However, this year, the path to draft success has been laid out a little better than 2017 was.

With the consideration that “big name” Anaheim Ducks won’t be around in the near future, the next few draft years are going to be very important. It is essential that they build up inventory and start training young players to move into bigger roles. They don’t want to be “sitting ducks” when their key players reach retirement age.

However, Anaheim entered the 2017 draft without having a first-round draft pick. This was definitely not an ideal situation to be in. GMBM put himself in when gave up the Anaheim Ducks first round draft pick to the Dallas Stars in exchange for late-season pickup, Patrick Eaves. To Murray’s defense, it was a smart move picking up a goal-scoring veteran player for the playoffs.

There were definitely questions as to whether or not there would be any choice prospects available. Especially considering their first pick wasn’t until late in the second round. Additionally, the entire class as a whole wasn’t very strong.

The draft could have easily turned into a year where GMBM and the Ducks had to settle for players that didn’t quite fit the Anaheim Ducks mold. Fortunately, they were able to walk away with a trove of promising players. As an added bonus, Patrick Eaves signed a three-year extension, worth $9.45M.