2018 Anaheim Ducks Draft Selections Rounds 3 through 6

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The future of the Anaheim Ducks has grown brighter with the influx of a new draft class. There is much this new wave of players brings to the table. We will finish our synopsis of these newest additions with an overview of the Anaheim Ducks final five selections of the 2018 draft.

There is no guarantee that any of the Anaheim Ducks 2018 draft picks will ever crack an NHL lineup. The likelihood is definitely high. At this point, its pretty much impossible for us to predict how these players will progress. In order for a player to contend for NHL ice time, there is a great deal of development that must take place.

Unfortunately, we do not have the luxury of looking into the future to see what is in store for these players. Nevertheless, we can still draw small conclusions based on what we already know.

Put aside any reservations you may have about this years draft class. We put our trust in the decisions GM Bob Murray makes, and he has drafted well recently. Never mind the Jason Chimera and Chris Kelly incident from last season. You can be confident that Murray is going to make decisions, to the best of his ability, that benefits his team. GMBM, or any GM for that matter, doesn’t walk into a draft unprepared.

As we review the five players selected in rounds two through six, keep these things in mind. There is no promise of advancement in the NHL. Nor is there a guarantee to stardom. However, there is assurance of one thing: opportunity.

Blake McLaughlin: Third Round, 79th overall

DALLAS, TX: Blake McLaughlin greets his team after being selected 79th overall by the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018 NHL Draft on June 23, 2018. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Blake McLaughlin was the Anaheim Ducks selection in the third round, the 79th overall

McLaughlin, who plays left wing, was the 6th overall selection of the Chicago Steel in the 2016 USHL Futures Draft. Unfortunately, he would only have the opportunity to play in 11 regular season games and one playoff game. Despite his disappointing two-point season, Chicago won the Clark Cup.

With a new season came new opportunity. McLaughlin took off in his new role on the Steel’s roster. During the 2017-18 season, the winger netted 23 goals and added 29 helpers (52 points.) His production throughout the year had him in second on the team for goals, assists, and points.

What McLaughlin lacks in stature, he makes up for in physicality and speed. He has vision on the ice that is clearly evident in his playmaking abilities. He is skilled when it comes to protecting the puck and knows how to most effectively pass it. His skill set should help the Ducks on special teams, who have struggled in that area in the past.

It has been noted that McLaughlin’s play is sometimes inconsistent. He also struggles with getting pushed around on the ice. These are both areas he’ll need to improve.

McLaughlin is moving on from the USHL for the time being. His next venture will take him to the NCAA to play for the University of Minnesota.

Lukas Dostal: Third Round, 85th overall

BUFFALO, NY – JUNE 2: Lukas Dostal performs the pro agility test during the NHL Scouting Combine on June 2, 2018. (Photo by Bill Wippert/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Lukas Dostal was the Anaheim Ducks second third-round pick, selected 85th overall.

Before the draft began, the Ducks knew they needed to add a few more goalies to their prospect pool. However, the 2018 draft seemed to be suffering from a goalie deficiency before it even began. “Where have all the goalies gone?” was a question that reared its ugly head more than once. However, in the midst of the goalie drought, the Anaheim Ducks selected two.

The first goalie they chose was 18-year-old Lukas Dostal. A native to the Czech Republic. Dostal made his professional debut in 2017-18 with Trebic. During the season, he played 20 games with a record of 10-10, 2.34 goals against average (GAA) and maintained a save percentage (SV%) of .921%.

Leading up to the draft, he was ranked by NHL Central Scouting as the number one European goalie prospect. He is highly skilled when it comes to tracking the puck and making saves. Dostal has great positioning and is a brick wall when he is in the net. This is a big reason why he stood out so much to scouts.

On the downside, Dostal has bounced around to a lot of teams. He hasn’t had the stability needed to reach his full potential. At 6′ 1,” and 165 lbs, he is one of the smaller goalie prospects in this year’s draft.

Don’t let his small stature or age fool you though. Dostal has built up an impressive reputation for himself in the Czech Republic. He has been the backbone for his team during the regular season, but especially in the playoffs. Last August, his contributions, and hard work helped lead the Czechs to a Silver Medal at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament for U18 players.

Jackson Perbix: Fourth Round,116th overall

PRIOR LAKE, MN: Elk River Elks forward Jackson Perbix against the Holy Family Fire during a prep hockey game on Dec. 28, 2017. (Photo by Josh Holmberg/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Jackson Perbix was the Anaheim Ducks fourth-round selection and the 116th overall pick in the 2018 entry draft.

Perbix was selected by the Green Bay Gamblers in the first round, 15th overall, in the 2016 USHL Futures Draft. He made his debut in the USHL during 2017-18, splitting the season between Green Bay and Elk River High School (Minnesota).

He tore up the “State of Hockey” high school league scoring 61 points (19g, 42a.) in 25 games. His transition to Green Bay wasn’t as smooth as he would have liked with only four points in 17 games.

In the NHL Central Scouting 2018 final rankings, he came in 97th. That isn’t terrible. however, it isn’t that impressive either. He’s been a star during his years with Elk River, now the Anaheim Ducks need to see more of what he can do with Green Bay. 17 games are not enough time to judge his playing capability. Seeing how he stacks up to the pressure of a more intense game will give a better picture of what kind of player Perbix might grow into.

I do, however, admire the work he has done coaching the Elk River Youth Hockey Mites. It is refreshing to see a player who is so invested in his community. He is a hometown hero to those kids. I’m certain they are proud of him.

Perbix is committed to the University of Notre Dame and is projected to start his NCAA career in the 2019-20 season.

Roman Durny: Fifth Round, 147th overall

BUFFALO, NY – DECEMBER 30: Roman Durny #30 of Slovakia skates against Finland during the second period of play in the IIHF World Junior Championships on December 30, 2017. (Photo by Nicholas T. LoVerde/Getty Images) /

In an effort to maximize their depth in the net, Anaheim drafted two goalies. Roman Durny was the second net-minder that the Ducks saw fit to bring in. They selected him in the fifth round, with the147th overall, selection.

The 20-year-old goalie made the transition from Slovakia to North American ice during 2017-18. The previous season with Team Slovakia, he had a save percentage of .903%. However, his 25 games last season with the Des Moines Buccaneers, Durny went 8-10-4 and upped his SV% to .920%. It seems his move to the USHL served him well.

Durny also played decently this year for Team Slovakia in the World Junior Championship. In his four games played, he had a 2.75 GAA and a .928 SV%.

Hunter Drew: Sixth Round, 178th overall

The Anaheim Ducks selected defenseman Hunter Drew in the sixth round (178th overall). This is the only defenseman the Ducks selected during the 2018 entry draft. This is evidence that Anaheim does not see an immediate need for an inundation of new defenseman.

Hunter Drew, a 19-year-old defenseman, is a native of Kingston, Ontario. He has spent the last two season in the QMJHL, playing for the Charlottetown Islanders.

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He struggled in his rookie season, adding only three assists in 42 games. However, his second season with the Islanders, in 2017-18, he improved to 39 points (8g, 31a) in 64 games. That was good enough for second place among Islanders defensemen.

Drew’s biggest knock is a problem the Ducks are far too familiar with. In his 64 games, he racked up a considerable amount of penalty minutes, 159 to be exact. Considering the Anaheim Ducks recent playoff penalty debacle, its an area he’ll need to work on.

Draft Conclusion

The Anaheim Ducks did not have a seventh-round selection. However, I think the two third-round picks served them well this draft year. Despite some controversy, I think Anaheim walked away with a fantastic set of prospects.

Of course, each of them has areas they need to improve upon. Nevertheless, they still have years of development ahead of them. As they continue to grow as players and skaters, the Ducks will harvest the fruits of their 2018 draft.

Here’s to the future, my friends! I cannot wait to see what the players from these past few draft years can bring to the table.

Next: Anaheim Ducks: Best Players To Wear #35-44

You can read up on 2018 first-round pick Isac Lundestrom here, and second-round pick Benoit-Olivier Groulx here.

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The Anaheim Ducks 2018 Draft Selections Rounds 3-6