Taking a Look Back on the Anaheim Ducks 2018 Entry Draft
By Ciara Durant
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.