Photo: NHL
By Thomas Harrington
Now that the individual graduated prospects and prospect updates and profiles are complete, it’s time to rank the positional strength of Anaheim’s prospect system.
For more information on every individual player listed below, feel free to look back at the prospect profiles, updates, and draft reviews that have been published throughout the summer and fall. Note: for players that can play multiple positions, they’ll be listed under the position that Anaheim lists them on the summer development camp roster. For those that did not attend, I used the same position they were listed at last year. Even if I think they’re better in a different position, I’ll still go with what Anaheim lists them as in order to be consistent. Also, I’ll be listing players with the leagues and teams that they are expected to be with this coming season, not with who they played for last year.
Anaheim has focused on adding centers and defensemen over the past few years, though defensemen were less of a focus at this past draft, as none were chosen until the fourth round. Given their defensive prospects progressed over the past season, the Ducks probably felt they could focus on other areas instead. Despite not choosing any until the fourth round, defensemen are Anaheim’s best prospect position for the second year in a row, with centers coming in a close second. Goaltenders jump up from fourth to third, and right wingers fall back to fourth. Left wingers continue to be fifth place, though there are a couple of very interesting prospects the Ducks have at this position.
The Ducks lost a few defensive prospects from last summer, and the biggest loss was Henry Thrun who was traded after he told the Ducks he planned to test free agency, but the growth that Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, Tristan Luneau, and Tyson Hinds had in junior hockey more than make up for it. The Ducks became the first team in NHL and CHL history to have a prospect win the Defenseman of the Year award in all three Canadian junior hockey leagues: Zellweger won it in the WHL, Mintyukov won it in the OHL, and Luneau won it in the QMJHL. Zellweger was then named the CHL Defenseman of the Year, while Hinds won the QMJHL’s Best Defensive Defenseman award. In addition to them, Jackson LaCombe completed his college career, turned pro to end the season, and got in a couple of games with the Ducks. Drew Helleson also made his NHL debut after an up and down rookie season in San Diego. Both LaCombe and Helleson will probably see games in both the NHL and AHL this season. Mintyukov, Zellweger, and Hinds are all turning pro, and I expect all three to spend most if not all of the season in the AHL, though either of Mintyukov or Zellweger could make their NHL debut this season. Ian Moore and William Francis both have another season of NCAA hockey in front of them, while Noah Warren and Luneau will both be returning to the QMJHL. Anaheim’s three recently drafted defensemen will also be in Canadian juniors: Konnor Smith and Rodwin Dionicio in the OHL and Vojtech Port in the WHL.
Zellweger and Mintyukov remain Anaheim’s top two defensive prospects, though I think both Luneau and LaCombe have closed the gap on them. Hinds also took gigantic steps forward last year, which was especially evident at the World Juniors. All five of them have top four potential, though they all play the game very differently. Helleson is another who has top four potential, though he and Hinds may end up as a team’s very good fifth defenseman. Moore, Warren, Port, and Dionicio could end up as a bottom pairing defensemen, while I think it unlikely that Francis makes it to the NHL, but I’m hoping he can at least have a solid AHL career when he’s done with college. Smith doesn’t have much offensive upside but can be a physical force who works well as a team’s sixth or seventh defenseman.
Anaheim’s lone graduated prospect from last year was center Mason McTavish, but he’s been replaced in the pipeline by the recently drafted Leo Carlsson. It’s currently unclear where he will play this year; he could suit up in the NHL, AHL, SHL, or some combination of the three. Benoit-Olivier Groulx will likely split time between the NHL and AHL again, while Nikita Nesterenko likely will as well. Josh Lopina will be returning to San Diego, and he’ll probably be joined by both Ben King and Nathan Gaucher in their first professional seasons. Albin Sundsvik will continue his career in the SHL, while Sam Colangelo and Kyle Kukkonen will be returning to the NCAA. The recently drafted Carey Terrance will be in the OHL.
Losing a player of McTavish’s caliber would usually really hurt Anaheim’s center depth, but Carlsson is projected to have a higher ceiling, possibly significantly higher, and he’s Anaheim’s top center prospect. Groulx and Nesterenko are the most NHL ready right now, though I think Gaucher has a higher ceiling than both. Terrance could end up as a middle six forward with some finishing ability. King showed he has a scoring touch in juniors; now he needs to show that he can do the same against professional competition. Kukkonen had a solid freshman year and may become a useful bottom six forward someday. Colangelo could become a bottom six forward with offensive upside. Sundsvik and Lopina may have futures as fourth line NHL centers, but both will need to have a strong season to show that’s still a possibility.
Lukas Dostal should be in Anaheim this season, possibly as John Gibson’s backup. If Gibson is traded, Dostal could end up seeing significant NHL time. Gage Alexander and Calle Clang will be in the minors, Clang most likely in the AHL and Alexander in the ECHL, though I’m hoping Alexander gets time in San Diego as well. It would be surprising to see either of them make their NHL debut this year. Overseas, the Ducks have Vyacheslav Buteyets playing in the VHL and possibly KHL as well, while Damian Clara will play in the HockeyAllsvenskan and may get time in the SHL as well.
As the only goaltending prospect who should be in the NHL this season, it’s no surprise that Dostal is the best of the bunch. He’s put up good to great numbers in the AHL and I think is ready to play in the NHL for the entire season. Clang is Anaheim’s second-best goaltending option, and I’m hoping he becomes San Diego’s starter this season. Similar to Dostal, he should become at least an NHL backup someday and could become an NHL starter. Given how difficult it is to project goaltenders, it’s hard to rank Alexander, Clara, and Buteyets. All will be ones to watch over the next couple of seasons, and it wouldn’t shock me if all or none end up in the NHL eventually.
Jacob Perreault will be returning to San Diego for his fourth professional season; he’ll be joined by Sasha Pastujov, Judd Caulfield, and Jaxsen Wiebe. Pastujov and Wiebe will be making their professional debuts this season, while Caulfield played in five games for San Diego last year after his NCAA career finished. Trevor Janicke and Jack Perbix will both be continuing their NCAA careers, while Michael Callow will be moving on from the USHL to the NCAA. Finally, the recently drafted Yegor Sidorov will be returning to the WHL, while the recently drafted Coulson Pitre will be returning to the OHL.
I’ve had Perreault as Anaheim’s top right wing prospect for the past few years, but after his struggles last season, I think Pastujov has now taken that spot, though Perreault remains a strong second. Both have top six potential. Pitre could work as middle six forward with a scoring touch. Sidorov, Perbix, Callow, Caulfield, and Wiebe could all work out as bottom six forwards, with Sidorov and Callow probably having the most offensive upside of the five. If Janicke makes it to the NHL, it will be as a fourth line winger.
Brayden Tracey, Blake McLaughlin, and Pavol Regenda are the three left wing prospects who will likely see time in the AHL this season. McLaughlin could also see time in the ECHL, while both Tracey and Regenda could see time in the NHL. Artyom Galimov is returning to the KHL for his fifth, and possibly final, season. Connor Hvidston and the recently drafted Nico Myatovic will be in the WHL.
Of Anaheim’s left wing prospects, Regenda is the most NHL ready, though I think Myatovic and Tracey have the higher ceiling. They represent Anaheim’s top three left wing prospects, and all could become NHL regulars someday. Hvidston remains an interesting prospect given his young age and may become a fifth round steal someday. Galimov and McLaughlin both struggled at times last season. Of the two, Galimov feels like he’s more likely to have a future in the NHL given his extensive KHL experience, but a great season from either would go a long way to showing they can eventually get there.
In recent years, Anaheim’s prospect pool has lost the likes of Trevor Zegras, Jamie Drysdale, and McTavish to the NHL. Even with their departures, the Ducks still have a very strong group of prospects. Between high draft picks, trades, and signings, they have significantly added to the depth and overall quality of their prospect system. After strengthening their defense so much in previous years, the Ducks were able to focus on their forward group at the most recent draft and trade deadline. Anaheim could have some very good players coming into the NHL over the next few years, and it will be exciting to watch their development. While not every highly rated prospect will work out, there could also be late-round surprises that do. While nothing is a guarantee, especially in the NHL, Anaheim’s future does look bright based on the quality of prospects they have been able to acquire over the past few years. The question really is how far away is that future.
Next up will be Anaheim’s top 10 rookies.
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September 20th, 2023
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