Anaheim Ducks
The NHL's bottom dwellers in 2023, with an exciting future
The past few seasons have been a real struggle for the Anaheim Ducks, as they’ve selected in the top 10 of the NHL Draft four years in a row. With the second most ($38.28M) cap space available heading into next season, the Ducks have money to splash around as they look to retool their entire roster.
With only two defensemen (Cam Fowler and Colton White) under contract for the next two seasons, the Ducks' blue line will have undergone major surgery when the puck is dropped on opening night.
Having some of the most exciting young players in the NHL in Trevor Zegras and Mason McTavish, the Ducks have the pieces to build around currently in place. It’s now a matter of finding the right fit to play alongside them.
Given the best odds to be awarded the first overall pick and the rights to draft Connor Bedard, the Ducks fell to number two as they were jumped by the Chicago Blackhawks. Though the sting of losing out on Bedard is fresh, they have an incredible consolation prize in Adam Fantilli awaiting them.
Heading into his second season with the Ducks, General Manager Pat Verbeek has only four players on the current roster signed beyond next season, one being John Gibson. Gibson has been with the franchise his entire career and has missed the playoffs the previous five seasons. Once thought of as a top young goaltending prospect, Gibson will turn 30 in July. Gibson’s name has been mentioned in trade rumors for the past few seasons, with none ever coming to fruition. With four more seasons at $6.4M AAV, could this be the off-season we see Gibson moved out of Orange County?
Pavel Mintyukov, 19, D, 1st Round (10) 2022, Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
69 Games Played, 24 Goals, 64 Assists, 88 Points
There hasn’t been much to cheer about in Anaheim over the past few seasons, but OHL Defenseman of the Year, Pavel Mintyukov, should move the needle for Ducks fans. A pure offensive-defenseman, sooner rather than later, Mintyukov will quarterback the powerplay in Anaheim. Finishing the OHL season as the top scorer among defensemen, he can score, pass, skate, everything you would hope for in a top-pairing offensive-minded blue liner. Traded midway through the season from the Siginaw Spirit to the Ottawa 67’s, Minyukov’s numbers slowed down a bit but remained atop the OHL scoring race.
Olen Zellweger, 19, D 2nd Round (34) 2021, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
55 Games Played, 32 Goals, 48 Assists, 80 Points
When Olen Zellweger dropped to the second round in 2021, the Ducks patiently waited to pluck him off the board, as 31 other organizations are likely regretting passing on him. Another offensive-minded defenseman, Zellweger, is set to compete with Mintyukov to run the first powerplay unit - luckily for Anaheim, they have one for each of their power plays. His trade to Kamloops at the trade deadline was an absolute blockbuster and seemed to kick him into an even higher gear on the road to being named WHL Defenseman of the Year (there appears to be a trend building). Zellweger was a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning World Junior Championship team, where he was turned to heavily in the knockout stage, averaging over 28 minutes of ice time.
Nathan Gaucher, 19, C, 1st Round (22) 2022, Quebéc Remparts (QMJHL)
44 Games Played, 22 Goals, 24 Assists, 46 Points
The second of the Ducks' first-round picks in 2022, Nathan Gaucher plays a physical game. A big-bodied center at 6’3” and over 200 lbs, the Ducks have their eyes set on Gaucher being the club's third-line center behind Zegras (or Fantilli) and McTavish for the next decade. Gaucher is a solid two-way forward who is very strong on the forecheck. He likes to use his frame to work in front of the net, screening goaltenders and looking to deflect shots. He’s strong on the puck and makes opponents look silly at times, but prefers a North/South style of play.
Tristan Luneau, 19, D, 2nd Round (33) 2022, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
65 Games Played, 20 Goals, 63 Assists, 83 Points
The former first-overall pick in the QMJHL Draft, Tristan Luneau, is a solid two-way defenseman with size. Like Mintyukov and Zellweger, Luneau can run the power play as he finished the QMJHL season as the top point producer for defensemen with 20 goals and 63 assists. Also, like Zellweger and Mintykov in their respective leagues, Luneau was named QMJHL Defenseman of the Year (yes, the Ducks have the Defenseman of the Year for all three CHL leagues within their prospect pool.) The talent is there for Luneau to be an everyday NHL defenseman - the issue is when he'll get that opportunity. With Mintyukov and Zellweger likely getting a shot before him and already having a young Jamie Drysdale (21) on the roster, it would be difficult to play that many young blueliners together. Luneau can always become a trade chip, as plenty of teams would love to acquire his services.
Sasha Pastujov, 19, LW/RW, 3rd Round (66) 2021, Sarnia Sting (OHL)
60 Games Played, 41 Goals, 57 Assists, 98 Points
It seems as if Sasha Pastujov has been playing with a bit of a chip on his shoulder this season. Projected to be a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL Draft, he dropped unexpectedly to the third round. In the summer version of the 2022 World Junior Championship, Pastujov was a member of Team USA but was passed on for the 2023 tournament this past holiday season. Since not making the Team USA cut, he has been on a tear in the OHL as he came up just shy of 100 points this season, split between the Guelph Storm and Sarnia Sting. Pastujov is excellent with the puck on his stick, as he can create for himself and his teammates.
Though the Ducks may not have the number of young roster players other franchises have, they certainly have the quality. With players to build around, Anaheim has some stars already part of their roster and others who are just waiting to blossom.
A player like Zegras and the sunshine of Southern California is a perfect match for the Ducks. His skill has been on full display ever since he stepped onto an NHL rink as one of the league's most polarizing players.
With McTavish being promoted to the NHL this season, the Ducks have a formidable one-two punch through the middle of the ice for years to come.
It may be a few seasons until Anaheim is ready to compete for postseason play, but the future is bright. With another high draft pick this season, the Ducks are building from the ground up. If their draft picks continue to pan out, they could soon return to the success the organization saw in the early 2000s.
Jamie Drysdale, D, 21
Mason McTavish, C/LW, 20
Trevor Zegras, C, 21
Isac Lundeström, C/LW, 23
First Round Picks
No. 2 overall
First Round Targets
Adam Fantilli is the likely and intelligent choice here, but if the Ducks were to go off the rails, Matvei Michkov, Leo Carlsson, and Will Smith would be the other candidates to go second overall. The odds are Verbeek won’t overthink this pick and select Fantilli.
