Five Anaheim Ducks prospects who can surprise and contribute in 2018-19
By Kennyth M
5. Giovanni Fiore, 21 years old, LW
Why he can make the Ducks – Fiore is a goal scorer. While he isn’t the flashiest player on the ice, he consistently gets himself into scoring position. His compact release allows him to get shots off in a hurry, and he does a nice job of changing his shooting angle.
During his first pro season, Fiore was able to net an impressive 18 goals for the Gulls, which led to a one-game audition in Anaheim. The Ducks lacked players with the ability to finish a play during the past year, so he can capture depth scoring role with a strong camp.
Why he stays in San Diego – Despite having NHL size (6’1″, 190 lbs), he’s not a physical player. Fiore’s game is one-dimensional at the moment, so he’ll need to be in a scoring role to impact the team. The Ducks tend to utilize “energy” players on the fourth line who hit and score “greasy” goals, which isn’t Fiore’s game.
Fiore is still young, so he can use the extra ice-time available by suiting up for the Gulls. He’ll focus on adding grit to his game and try to be a difference maker on both ends of the ice.
Forcast – Carlyle has mentioned he wants to play a faster game, so it’s possible the fourth line will be focused on accomplishing the task. If that’s the case, Fiore will be competing for a role. I definitely see a few games for him in Anaheim, but most of his season will be spent in San Diego.