Taking a Look Back on the Anaheim Ducks 2018 Entry Draft
With the 2019 NHL Entry Draft only a few hours away, we take a look back on the Anaheim Ducks 2018 Draft selections.
Only a few hours stand between the Anaheim Ducks and the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. When all is said and done, the Ducks will walk away with 7 new prospects to add to their cupboard. However, before we get excited about the newest Ducks, let’s review the 2018 draft.
Seven players were selected by the Anaheim Ducks in 2018. We’re going to take a look at how their season went, how they’ve progressed, and whether they’ve improved or not. Hopefully, in the near future, we will see a few of these players dressed with the Ducks or the San Diego Gulls.
Isac Lundestrom— Center, 2018 1st Round (23rd Overall) Draft Pick
Isac Lundestrom had a busy 2018-19 season. Drafted 23rd overall by the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he was immediately signed to a 3-year Entry Level Contract, good through the 2020-21 season, in August.
After development camp and the preseason, Lundestrom joined the Anaheim Ducks roster during the first home game of the season against the Detroit Red Wings. He played a total of 15 games with the big club, registering his first NHL point on October 13th against the Dallas Stars, setting Kiefer Sherwood up for his first NHL goal.
Like quite a few of his fellow rookie prospects, Lundestrom didn’t make much of an impact on the ice, registering only two assists during his 15 game stretch. So, he was sent down the 5 to play for the Anaheim Ducks AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. He played 12 games with the Gulls, tallying 9 assists.
He headed off to the IIHF World Junior Championships with Team Sweden, posting 1 goal and an added 3 assists in the 5 games he played. Unfortunately, they were knocked out of the contest in the Quarter-Finals. However, Lundestrom stepped up in a big way and acted as an anchor for his team who had been ravaged by the flu.
Instead of returning to San Diego, he opted to go back home and spend the remainder of the 2018-19 season in Sweden with Lulea HF of the SHL. The season was short, but he managed to play 17 games where he registered 9 points (2g, 7a.) It may not seem like overwhelming point totals, but remember, Lundestrom doesn’t play in a league with players of similar age, he plays against men.
He was an amazing asset to them in the playoffs, however. Only two points shy of posting a point per game during their 10 game playoff campaign, he scored 2 goals with an added 6 helpers before they were eliminated. This brought him full circle back to California, where he rejoined the San Diego Gulls in their attempt to win the Calder Cup Playoffs. He only appeared in 7 of their games. Their run would end in Round 3, and Lundestrom would finish in the playoffs with 3 points.
Benoit-Olivier Groulx— Center, 2018 2nd Round (54th Overall) Draft Pick
The 2018-19 season was one filled with growth for 19-year-old Benoit-Olivier Groulx. Drafted 54th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he is currently unsigned with his parent club and spent the season playing with the Halifax Mooseheads of the QMJHL.
Bo is often praised for getting the little things done to win, and he proved as much this season. The French Canadian grew by leaps and bounds this year, trying to perfect different aspects of his game while simultaneously helping lead his team to the Memorial Cup Finals.
This is his third season with Halifax, and each year he improves, especially on the score sheet. During his first season in the QMJHL, he posted 30 points. This past season, he finished with 80 points, enough for second on the team in points, which included 31 goals and 49 additional helpers.
The kid is an offensive beast who is more than happy to score goals but also set up his teammates. His leadership skills have not gone unnoticed either, and he earned himself the privilege of wearing the “A”, serving as one of four alternate captains alongside fellow Duck, Antoine Morand.
Unfortunately, he only played 10 games with Halifax during their playoff campaign. However, he was over a point per game player, having 12 points credited to his name, including 4 goals and an added 8 assists. Halifax would make it to the Memorial Cup Finals but fell short of winning it all.
He has recently been one of 37 other players to be invited to Canada’s National Junior Team Summer Development Camp. It is promising to see his development go in such a positive direction. He certainly needs a few more seasons before he is NHL ready, but he could be a promising addition to the Anaheim Ducks in the future.
Blake McLaughlin— Left Wing, 2018 3rd Round (79th Overall) Draft Pick
Blake McLaughlin was drafted by the Anaheim Ducks with one of their two third-round draft picks in 2018. Taken at 79th overall, the 19-year-old Grand Rapids native is a true testament of dedication, both on and off the ice. Currently unsigned by the Anaheim Ducks, he went on to play his first season in the NCAA for the University of Minnesota.
Granted, at first glance, McLaughlin’s stats don’t jump off the stat sheet. In 35 games this season, he posted 20 points. This included 5 goals with an additional 15 helpers. 20 points isn’t horrible, but it isn’t outstanding either. However, when you put into perspective the fact that he is only a freshman, competing with the upperclassman for ice time, 20 points is a decent season total.
McLaughlin found a rhythm in Minnesota that worked for him, and he took off. In his first season with his NCAA team, Minnesota was 4-1-0 went whenever he scored a goal. When his name was on the score sheet, the team went 10-5-0. Blake also had 5 multipoint games this past season, leading Minnesota to a win each time.
Lukas Dostal— Goaltender, 2018 3rd Round (85th Overall) Draft Pick
Drafted in the third round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Lukas Dostal was recently signed to a 3-year ELC with the Anaheim Ducks, and for good reason. The 18-year-old Czech goaltender spent the majority of his season with two different teams, but he did not allow the change to sway him.
He started his season with HC Kometa Brno but was put on loan to SK Horacka Slavia Trebic of the Czech2 league. There he played 24 games, posting an impressive .915% save percentage. Keep in mind, he spent most of his season playing against men.
He would transition to the Finnish Liiga league, as another loan. While h played only 10 games with the team, he didn’t let the pressure of being on a different team get to him. He posted an outstanding save percentage of .922%.
However, his most notable performance this season for Ducks fans was his performance with the Czech Republic Team during the IIHF World Junior Championship. This was their first chance to get a real good look at the goaltender we had drafted in 2018.
His calm, cool, and collected demeanor made him stand out as one of the best goaltenders in the competition. He was the youngest goaltender on his team, but rose to the top, playing in 4 games.
His first performance between the pipes, a shut out against Team Switzerland, set the stage for one incredible performance. Although ht lost 2 of his 4 games between the pipes, he still managed an incredible .956 SV%. Of the 115 shots on goal he faced throughout the tournament, he only let in a total of 5 goals.
Jackson Perbix— Right Wing, 2018 4th Round (116th Overall) Draft Pick
Jack Perbix was selected by the Anaheim Ducks in the 4th round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. This season, he spent his first full year in the USHL, playing most of his season for the Green Bay Gamblers. He would spend 17 games with the Des Moines Buccaneers as well.
It was thought that Perbix would go on to play for Notre Dame, but he later changed his NCAA commitment to play for the University of Minnesota. He will join fellow Duck, Blake McLaughlin, there next season.
In a total of 60 games played between both Green Bay and Des Moines, Perbix posted a total of 49 points for the 2018-19 season. This includes 12 goals and an added 37 helpers. He is definitely more of a setup man than a natural born goalscorer, but he is committed to working hard and seeing that his teammates succeed.
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- Review of Anaheim Ducks prospects at the World Junior Championships
Perbix’s only flaw is his skating, which he needs to work on over the next few seasons. Nevertheless, he has been public about the fact that he believes that someday he will have the chance to make an impact on the Anaheim Ducks roster.
Roman Durny— Goaltender, 2018 5th Round (147th Overall) Draft Pick
Roman Durny is the second goaltender drafted by the Anaheim Ducks during the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. This seemed like a sign that there was a possibility Bob Murray was not quite confident in Olle Eriksson Ek. Lukas Dostal seems to be the favorite, but Durny still had a decent season with the Des Moines Buccaneers.
This was Durny’s first full season playing in the United States after his time in Slovakia. He played 50 games for Des Moines and posted a .909 SV%. There are a few things he needs to work on if he wants to make it in the NHL, but a few more seasons of development will hopefully allow him to hones his skills and get NHL ready.
Hunter Drew— Defenseman, 2018 6th Round (178th Overall) Draft Pick
Hunter Drew was the only defenseman drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. Selected in the 6th round, it is likely the Ducks selected him to restock their prospect cupboard with a right-handed defenseman.
Drew spent the 2018-19 season playing in the QMJHL with the Charlottetown Islanders. He has one of his best seasons yet, setting a career high in goals, assists, and points; the 20-year-old tallied 50 points (16g, 31 a) in 61 games.
The Kingston, Ontario native is best known for playing physical and using his 6’2” frame to his advantage. However, he has taken great strides in the past few seasons to improve his offensive game drastically. He has a great attitude both on and off the ice and is willing to learn and grow.
In April, he was signed to an amateur tryout (ATO) by the San Diego Gulls. While this doesn’t mean we will see Drew in the Ducks lineup anytime soon, it could definitely mean that the Ducks have found yet another gem in one of the later rounds of the draft.
Next. Ducks Re-Sign Miller, Grant, and Holzer. dark
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