ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks are the kind of team no one wants to play come playoff time, and the Nashville Predators had their hands full with the Quackers from Southern California to say the least. After a one year hiatus the Ducks made it back into the playoffs and look like a team on the rise once more.
Despite losing in the first round the offense played very well ranking 11th but 20th on defense. They were third on the power play but 19th in the penalty kill and 26th on face-offs. Let’s take a look at what the Ducks might do with the 22nd pick overall in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft.
On offense the team is in very good position at right wing with Corey Perry, Teemu Selanne, and Bobby Ryan as three of the top four scorers on the team. Only center Ryan Getzlaf comes in at number three. Center Saku Koivu comes in at number six. The team got production from the point position as well as three of the teams defensemen were in the team’s top 9 scorers.
The left wing position is in dire need of upgrading with only Jason Blake had more than 10 goals (16) at the position. In terms of prospects the Ducks don’t have a top 10 prospect at left wing. That will change come draft day.
On defense things are not as bad as they seem but they will need an upgrade. Toni Lydman and Lubomir Visnovsky were 1-2 in plus/minus on the team. Only one other defenseman was over a zero and that was Adam Sutton (+1). They have Justin Schultz and Sami Vatanen in the wings but more help on the blueline will be a must come draft day.
The Ducks are in good shape in goal on the current roster but will need to draft a goalie or two come draft day. The question is, will they pull the trigger on one at 22 or wait until the later rounds.
If they go for a netminder they should have the pick of the litter unless someone like Montreal and Buffalo takes on ahead of them. The need for a left winger, despite the poor defensive numbers should outweigh their need for a goalie or defenseman.
Brandon Saad, Nicklas Jenson, or Phillip Danault would all look good in a Ducks jersey. If they decide to go for D than Scott Mayfield and Connor Murphy would be very good additions. Our gut feeling at PHN is the Ducks will go for a left winger so expect the following announcement come draft day.
“With the 22nd pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks select, from the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League, left wing Brandon Saad.”
To learn more about Brandon Saad click here.
Contact the author at Brian.Jennings@prohockeynews.com
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