Anaheim Ducks: Four of the Best Late Round Draft Picks
By Ciara Durant
Troy Terry— Anaheim Ducks 2015 5th Round Pick, 148th Overall
When you’re drafted in the same year as players like Connor McDavid, Jack Eichel, and Mitch Marner, it is no wonder a player like Troy Terry was still available in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft. Playing for the U.S. National U18 Team in his draft year, his talent was overshadowed by the likes of Austin Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk.
He ended his draft season 7th in points on his team, with 44 (19g, 25a.) However, it was clear that Troy Terry had a lot of room left to grow if he wanted to make it in the NHL, and as a player bound for the NCAA, the college experience would likely offer him the room he needed to grow.
While it was clear that he could already score from all areas of the offensive zone, he struggled and needed to improve while playing in his own end. He also needed to add some bulk to his lanky frame if he wanted to make it in the NHL.
The 2015-16 season was a rough one for Terry, as his production tapered off quite a bit during his first season with the Universit of Denver. Nevertheless, the next two seasons would see a resurgence from Terry as he posted two consecutive 40+ point seasons in 35 and 39 games respectively, making him over a point per game player.
2018 was a big year for the young right wing, as he signed his ELC with the Anaheim Ducks. Unfortunately, that meant he would have to forego his senior year with Devener, but it looked like good news for the big club. He also made his first appearance in the Olympic Games with team USA, and while they lost in the Quarterfinals game, it served to improve his confidence.
After Denver University was knocked out of the playoffs, Terry made his transition to the Anaheim Ducks. While he only played 3 games with the team (thank you, Randy Carlyle) the young forward showed signs that he could be a threat in the coming seasons alongside the Ducks veterans.
Coming into the 2018-19 season, Troy Terry struggled to find his footing with the parent club and was therefore sent down for some much-needed development in the AHL. Under the leadership of San Diego Gulls coach, Dallas Eakins, he found his confidence once again and finished off his season with the Gulls as a point per game player (41 points in 41 games.)
His newfound confidence in the AHL prompted a call up from the Anaheim Ducks, giving him another chance to prove that he was ready to take on the responsibility of NHL minutes. With the exit of Carlyle, he now had the opportunity to play in an environment that was conducive to his development.
The Ducks power play showed sparks of life with Terry on the PP unit and serves as a beacon of hope that the special teams this coming season have a chance at thriving with players like Terry and Max Jones likely earning full-time spots on the roster. When he feels confident, he is constantly creating more opportunities for the Ducks and taking the opposing teams by surprise.
His performance so far has, at times, made us forget that Terry was drafted in the fifth round of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. However, it is just further proof of Bob Murray and his team’s ability to draft well. With a player like Terry about to make a jump into the line up full time, the future in Anaheim looks extremely bright.