Some teams are very good at scouting, drafting, and developing overall, but it is clear that others know what they are doing within a specific area. In the case of the Anaheim Ducks, for many years they have been great at identifying defensive talent and making them everyday NHLers or stars. Unfortunately for them, many of these players have either broken out or are thriving elsewhere while the Ducks finished last in the league without much help on defense.
Although it’s unrealistic to think that the Ducks can still have all of their former draft picks who are doing very well around the league still on their roster, even 2-3 would change the whole complexion of their organization. While the team should be happy with what Cam Fowler continues to provide year after year, they should also be excited about what the future holds with Jamie Drysdale, Olen Zellweger, and Pavel Mintyukov…until they leave and also thrive down the road.
Who the Ducks Have Lost
From 2010 to 2014 (five drafts), the Ducks had some of the most consistent and stellar drafting when it came to defensemen. They drafted Fowler (2010), Josh Manson (2011), Hampus Lindholm (2012), Shea Theodore (2013), Brandon Montour, and Marcus Pettersson (2014). Now before making note of any more, let’s see where each is, what they have done since leaving Anaheim, and how this season in particular has looked for them.
Manson & Lindholm
Manson was on the Stanley Cup winning Colorado Avalanche last season right after being traded by the Ducks. He was a key piece and a strong defensive presence. Despite playing just 27 regular season games and five playoff games this season, he and the Avalanche both got their win.
Related: 3 Anaheim Ducks Offseason Trade Candidates
Now nobody really knew just how dominant Lindholm could be at both ends of the ice until he showed it this season for the Boston Bruins. He has always been very good defensively and his previous career high was 34 points. Albeit, playing for the best regular season team in NHL history, he recorded 53 points and was a +49. He will get some votes for the Norris Trophy without a doubt as he was even forced to step up big time early in the season with Charlie McAvoy out of the lineup.
Cup Final Clash
Right now Theodore and Montour are set to face off in the Stanley Cup Final as the best defenseman on each of their teams. Montour hasn’t played for the Ducks in four years, and even though this was a breakout year for him, he hadn’t really got a great opportunity since the Ducks. Montour went from a career high of 37 points to 73 this season and has been a big part of the Florida Panthers’ run. Theodore on the other hand was a sweetener at the expansion draft so the Vegas Golden Knights wouldn’t touch certain players. He almost immediately became a star. After playing just 53 games for the Ducks, he has 247 points in 397 games for the Golden Knights and two sixth place finishes in Norris Trophy voting.
Other Notable Losses
Josh Mahura isn’t a very known name, but he has been a part of the Panthers’ defense all season. This is partly due to their cap problems, but he wouldn’t still be there if he didn’t show good stuff. Over the past four seasons, he was hardly given a chance in Anaheim, playing 79 games. Mahura played in all 82 games for the Panthers this season.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had a couple former Ducks’ draft picks come through their team as Justin Schultz became a two-time Stanley Cup winner and enjoyed his time in Seattle this season. He never suited up for the Ducks, unfortunately for them, because he was a highly touted offensive defenseman. Currently on the team is Pettersson who has been there since being traded by the Ducks over four years ago. He took a big step this season logging five more minutes of ice time per game than the season prior. While Jake Gardiner, the last name I’ll mention, isn’t anything special, the former first round pick has spent 10 seasons as a top-four defenseman in the NHL, never playing a game for Anaheim.
Although it pains Ducks fans to see the success of their former draft picks on other teams and not theirs, the future looks bright and there’s always hope if the drafting is this consistent and good.
