Round Table: Predicting the Anaheim Ducks Top 3 Picks of the 2020 Draft
The Anaheim Ducks have three selections in the Top 40 at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, including two first-round selections. Who should they draft?
The 2019-20 NHL season has come it its dramatic conclusion (ironically, at the time of writing this article, Corey Perry extended the SCF with his Game 5 Game Winning Goal.) After a truly trying 2020, it was a miracle to watch the Tampa Bay Lightning win the Stanely Cup. However, all eyes are focused on the NHL Entry Draft, especially Anaheim Ducks fans.
With the end of the 2020 season, there is still much mystery up in the air with when the 2020-21 season will begin, with Gary Bettman already speaking out that the season could be pushed back. One thing that is almost guaranteed at this point is the upcoming NHL Draft. Running on the dates of October 6th and 7th, the 2020 NHL Draft has been noted as one of the deepest in recent memory. Of course, time will tell how productive the players will be, but with the hype behind many of the prospects, it is important for teams to take advantage of the picks they have.
There are multiple teams that have multiple picks in the first two rounds, giving teams that have struggled the chance to bring in multiple impact players. Teams like Ottawa (picks 3, 5, 28, along with four in the second round) and New Jersey (7, 18, 20) have struggled over the past few years but now have a great opportunity to build a strong core moving forward.
The Anaheim Ducks are another team that has multiple picks in the first round with the 6th and 27th overall picks. The Ducks also have the 36th overall pick, another chance to select an impact player in this draft. With the potential of these picks becoming impact members of the team, the group at Pucks of a Feather decided to weigh in on who we believe could be selected on draft day.
We will be looking at predictions for the top 3 picks the Ducks to have in the draft. We will not be discussing the possibility of any trades, just who will be selected should the Ducks keep the first three selections. The selection process of each is a combination of who we think fits based on both team needs and what Bob Murray may be thinking.
Of course, some of the players that we have chosen may not end up being available by the time the Ducks go to make their selections, but we will keep the obvious selections away (sorry they will not be drafting Alexie Lafreniere, Quinton Byfield, and Tim Stuzle). Without further ado, let’s look at the picks starting with the 6th overall selection.
6th Overall
Brad Senecal: Marco Rossi
As a Canadian, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Jamie Drysdale at the 2019-20 World Junior Championship and really thought for the longest time he would be the perfect pick. However, after watching the Anaheim Ducks this past year, it was really clear to see how much help was needed upfront.
At only 5’9”, Rossi is one of the smallest players in this year’s draft, however, he is one of the most creative in this year’s draft. Time will tell if he will remain a Center in the NHL, as his size may cause some concerns about him staying there, but after a 120 point season in his draft year with the Ottawa 67’s, Rossi is a player who could help the Anaheim Ducks’ scoring woes for years to come.
Ben Thomasian: Jake Sanderson
The Anaheim Ducks haven’t drafted many defencemen over the past few years and with one of those recently being loaned recently to a Slovakian team, the time seems right for them to dip their toes back into the defensive pool. Rawer than a greyhounds dinner, potential second pairing defenceman, Jake Sanderson has the tools to become a “two-way” threat from the blue line.
A toolset that as we all know, GM Bob Murray bats off to with vigor. Perhaps an underrated asset of Sanderson’s that also fits in Murray’s wheelhouse, is his ability to transition the puck. In fact, according to InStat, Sanderson leads the draft class in this metric.
Cam Fowler has long been excellent at it. Hampus Lindholm is strong. Troy Terry has it as a strength. Newcomer, Sonny Milano has it as his best attribute. Will Sanderson be the next Duck to display this strength? I think he will be.
Garrett Brown: Jamie Drysdale
Always a fun exercise to predict the unpredictable. With the Anaheim Ducks, our jobs are uniquely difficult; especially given the team’s recent propensity to go off the board. However, when Drysdale is made available to the Ducks at 6, they would be remiss not to fill a glaring need on the roster.
By selecting the best player at his position in Drysdale, the Ducks are taking a significant step forward in their “rebuilding” process. There remains a hole on the right side of the Duck’s defense, and by slotting the Erie Otter prospect into the Duck’s top-four, it looks much more daunting.
Drysdale playing alongside either one of Hampus Lindholm or Cam Fowler would be an unnerving sight for Pacific Division coaches. He has already proven his adept for quarterbacking power-plays at the junior level. And currently, with Manson being the only right-handed, top-four caliber defenseman rostered, Drysdale would slide right into a spot that he should quickly become comfortable with.
He is one of those players that make the game appear to slow down for him. Hugely evocative of Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes, Drysdale seems to be the next young defender in possession of awe-inspiring talent. Players of his caliber are not only capable of contributing on the power-play, they impose their will and solely create chances. And these compliments aren’t to undersell his defensive ability. He regularly shuts the opponent’s offensive plays down and is able to transition with ease, creating offense from nothing.
Ciara Durant: Marco Rossi
I was on the Alex Holtz train for quite a while, that is until I heard the name Marco Rossi and dug into the career of one of the most dedicated players I’ve ever had the pleasure of researching. Since then, I have been a big proponent of drafting Rossi with the 6th overall draft pick.
His well-rounded game would make him the perfect addition to the Anaheim Ducks. We witnessed how much of a train wreck 2019-20 was for Murray’s Ducks and it truly revealed a lot of cracks and flaws.
Rossi is not only an offensive magician, but he plays a very solid defensive game as well. He has been an incredible asset to the 67’s penalty kill as well. His creativity is through the roof and watching him play hockey is a real treat. Rossi is incredibly mature and he is always putting in the hard work to make himself better both on and off the ice.
Every area the Anaheim Ducks need help in, Rossi is an expert in. While the Ducks could go for a player who specializes in one area of the game, it would, in my opinion, be a mistake for Bob Murray and co. to pass up on such a well-rounded player should he be available at 6th overall.
27th Overall
Brad Senecal: Jacob Perreault
The some of former NHLer Yanic, Perreault is a guy that can do a bit of everything on the ice. A good 200-foot player, much of his concerns lie in his conditioning and drive to better himself on the ice.
However, his skill set is something that the Ducks could really use. A solid two-way Center (whose faceoff prowess resembles his father’s) who is said to have one of the better shots in the draft, Perreault is a player who also would have a great impact on the team and has much of the criteria that Bob Murray is looking for.
Ben: William Wallinder
After taking Trevor Zegras and Brayden Tracey with their two first-rounders last year, the Anaheim Ducks elect to go with two defensemen in this year’s draft. Wallinder is another potential second pairing defenceman, though his point of difference is his sheer size. Standing at 6’4, the Swedish defenceman won’t be confused with the modern-day puck mover, however, he has made strides in this area and is relatively strong in transition.
Like Sanderson before him, if Wallinder was any rawer he’d be mooing on the skillet. Yet, his potential upside as a “two-way” threat from the middle pairing should see him taken by Bob Murray at the back end of the draft.
Garrett Brown: Jacob Perreault
Perreault provides goal-scoring at a rate that is sorely needed considering the Anaheim Ducks’ current make-up. Draft profiling experts have regularly questioned his skating ability; but look at the success had by Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry— two average skaters, at best. And while the league is assuredly getting quicker and more agile, Perreault feels like watching a player who possesses Ryan Getzlaf’s IQ along with Corey Perry’s shot creation/finishing ability. And that’s scary.
He could feasibly slot in beside Getzlaf in 1-2 years, providing the knack for goals that he has lacked since Perry’s prime. And for those who are justifiably worried about Getzlaf’s impending downfall and eventual departure, a line boasting Perreault and Trevor Zegras would be a logical next step.
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Ciara Durant: Tyson Foerster
Consistency. That is something the Anaheim Ducks are in desperate need of, and Tyson Foerster can provide that for the team. While he wasn’t necessarily on anyone radar at the beginning of the year, Foerster has worked his way into the discussion posting 80 points for the Barrie Colts in 62 games. This speaks volumes when you consider the fact that he scored every one of his teammates by 40 points or more.
Along with his lethal shot, great vision, and defensive instincts, Foerster is a special teams mastermind, especially on the power play. We all know how desperately the Anaheim Ducks need help on their power play. Out of his 36 goals scored in 2019-20, half of those were scored on the power play.
While he has areas he needs to improve in, he really took a step forward during the 2019-20 season. Not to mention, when incited to the CHL Top Prospect Game last season, it was Foerster who stood out among his fellow draftee’s. Scoring two goals, and an added helper, he led Team White to victory. That should speak a lot to his character and dedication to the game.
36th Overall
Brad Senecal: Tyson Forester
With their second-round pick, I have the Ducks going for another forward with scoring upside. Forester has been ranked anywhere from 15th to 46th based on the different available prospect ranks. However, he has a lot to his skill set that if he is still available once the Ducks get to this pick, they should be able to jump at the opportunity.
A Center standing a 6’1 and currently just under 200-pounds as an 18-year old, Forester has a big body with a knack of getting to the net, putting up a 36-44-80 line in 62 games played this past season. Depending on who the Ducks pick earlier in this draft along with Trevor Zegras and Sam Steel, the Ducks will be able to be patient with Forester should they select him, giving him time to develop and become an impact player for the team in the long term.
Ben Thomasian: Helge Grans
I’ve been joking about the Ducks taking Grans with the #6 selection for a while, but in reality, they have a long look at him in the second round should he still be available. Another big Swede, like Wallinder, he could do wonders to set the Ducks second and third pairings in the near future with a strong first pass.
While the Anaheim Ducks would like to see him use his size more efficiently, Grans has time to put that side of his game together as he adds more strength to his frame. Already a good skater with a strong shot, Grans will need time to work on his defensive play before he can realize his potential as a “two-way” second pairing defenceman.
Garrett Brown: Ty Smilanic
For this pick, I am going to get more inside the heads of the Anaheim Ducks by going slightly off the board. As we are seeing more and more every year, grit and determination are a highly sought after commodity in today’s NHL, especially come playoff time. Smilanic is a player who has shown all this and more during his amateur career to this point. Add to that, he shows tremendous offensive upside according to The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler.
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Projected by most to be a late second-rounder, Smilanic was initially expected to be a lock for round one. However, due to a draft-year that included mono, a high ankle sprain, and a broken hand, Smilanic fell down the rankings. It’s apparent that teams are low on him due to these circumstances, but I believe that the team that takes a chance will reap the benefits sooner rather than later.
The Anaheim Ducks currently appear to have a fair amount of players who don’t want to do the dirty work and put their bodies on the line in order to further the team. Smilanic has proven this to be a part of his game, as Wheeler stated in his draft profile, “I was told that among his four outside fingers, only the index wasn’t in the cast.” And his hand remained this way for a large chunk of the season.
If anything, his draft year showed his character. His skill has never been in question as he projects to be a point-producing workhorse at the next level. Smilanic hates not having the puck, and when he gets it, it’s tough to move him off of it. With some added weight and a structurally sound hand, this skill is a service that the Ducks can utilize up and down the lineup.
Ciara Durant: Ridly Greig
Ridly Greig kind of reminds me of a mixture of Nick Ritchie and Ondrej Kase, and if you’ve followed me for any length of time, you knew how much I loved those two players prior to them being traded to Boston. So, of course, he is a player I’d love Bob Murray to consider.
He has an energy that drives the pace of the game, very similar to Kase. Much like Ritchie, he isn’t afraid to get down and dirty. While he sometimes tends to enter dangerous waters, he is sound in his decision making.
If we can’t have Nick Ritchie on our team, we might as well go for Ridly Greig. In all seriousness though, Greig plays with the intensity and grit that we all know Bob Murray loves. He has been exposed to the sport of hockey his entire life and knows the in’s and out’s of the game like the back of his hand.
He is wise and aware. His size may be a bit of an issue, considering he is only 5’11’ and 159lbs. However, we all know that the NHL is moving away from size and more towards skill, and Greig has that in spades. He is a speedy player, who can play both center and on the wing, making him a versatile asset that Murray could add to his arsenal.
Be sure to catch the draft to see who the Ducks end up selecting. The draft will be held virtually this year starting on October 6th at 4 pm PT and concluding October 7th at 8:30 am PT.
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