The Anaheim Ducks have fallen on hard times, but if you’re a Ducks fan and if you were also a fan of the NHL All-Star draft format held in 2011, 2012, and 2015, this weekend will give you something to cheer for. Today at 3 PM PST, you will find out where Frank Vatrano will land when the captains, assistant captains, and celebrity captains of Team Matthews, Team Hughes, Team MacKinnon, and Team McDavid select their respective teams.
In 50 games this season, Vatrano is enjoying the best year of his career, as the 29-year-old has 36 points in 50 games, putting him just five under his career-best of 41 that he recorded last season. Of those 36 points, 22 are goals, which puts him just two shy of his career-best of 24 from 2018-19.
Vatrano is the latest Ducks player to earn a spot in the All-Star Game under the draft format. But Anaheim has had a few players suit up for the game when the NHL used the format in the past.
Previous Anaheim Ducks players who took part in the NHL All-Star Draft
In 2011, we saw Corey Perry and Jonas Hiller represent the Ducks for Team Staal and Team Lidstrom, respectively, while Cam Fowler was part of the rookies for the latter. Perry ended up with two assists for Team Staal while Hiller helped Team Lidstrom get the win with a 6.00 GAA and a 0.882 save percentage. Perry also played in the 2012 game, this time for Team Chara, recording a goal and an assist to help the group win 12 to 9.
Ryan Getzlaf represented the Anaheim Ducks in the 2015 contest for Team Toews, putting up a goal and an assist to help them secure a 17-12 win over Team Foligno. Will Vatrano follow the likes of Hiller, Perry (in 2012) and Getzlaf, and help his team win in the 2024 game? We will find out when the puck drops this weekend.