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Anaheim Ducks: When Will the 2021 NHL Draft Matter?

By Jordan German

SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - JULY 23: With the third pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks select Mason McTavish during the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the NHL Network studios on July 23, 2021 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
SECAUCUS, NEW JERSEY - JULY 23: With the third pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks select Mason McTavish during the first round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft at the NHL Network studios on July 23, 2021 in Secaucus, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Anaheim Ducks
OSHAWA, ON – OCTOBER 20: Mason Mctavish #23 of the Peterborough Petes shoots the puck during an OHL game against the Oshawa Generals at the Tribute Communities Centre on October 20, 2019 in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /

Over the past two drafts, the Anaheim Ducks had two first-rounders to use, but with their highest pick position since 2005 and nothing to really trade for another high pick, they were left with just one option. With the 3rd pick, the Ducks chose Mason McTavish, a Swedish/Canadian 18-year-old center. It was a rather surprising pick considering that McTavish wasn’t considered higher than a 9th overall selection, but Bob Murray seemed to have a lot of faith in the young prospect.

McTavish’s most complete and overall impressive season came back in 2019-20 with the Peterborough Petes of the OHL. He scored 29 goals with 13 assists in 57 games for a total of 42 points on the season. Most recently, McTavish scored 5 goals with 6 assists in 7 games for 11 points for Team Canada’s U18 team in 2020-21.

Overall, he has the scoring touch that the Anaheim Ducks so desperately need as the worst offensive team in the NHL last year, and he has another hard shot to behold, but it is more likely that Jacob Perreault or Brayden Tracey come up to the Ducks and make a difference before McTavish is ready to start showing off his scoring prowess.

He has a lot of promise, but considering that he is just now 18, the Ducks might need to wait another season to see much from McTavish. Wouldn’t want his debut to be as disastrously bad as Jamie Drysdale’s.

Up next, the Anaheim Ducks used their 2nd round pick to select Olen Zellweger, a Canadian 17-year-old defenseman. If Mason McTavish isn’t ready at age 18, Zellweger definitely won’t be playing up in Anaheim for at least two years, but he does look really great for the future. He is a defenseman that stays out of the penalty box and takes up space on the ice to save some pain and effort for the goalie, it is exactly the kind of pick you want as a GM.

He doesn’t show up much on a score sheet, but he is capable of assisting plays, and he can add on another 10 assists to a team. For just a second-round pick, Zellweger gives Ducks fans a lot to be excited about if he manages to get to Anaheim within a two or three-year time span. For the certain future though, Zellweger has a contract with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL in 2021-22.

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