ANAHEIM – There was another disappointing end to the Anaheim Ducks season as they lost a seven-game series with the Chicago Blackhawks at home. For the second year in a row, they lost at home. Throughout the season the Ducks were masterful at the one-goal games, including a period when they won 30 of them by the slimmest of margins. Their defensive efforts in the regular season were impeccable. But the playoffs exposed as they often do a team’s flaws.
Frederik Andersen is not the goalie of the Ducks’ future; certainly not as a number one goaltender anyway. He allowed two horrific goals to Jonathan Toews in the series with the Hawks and was tenuous at best under the pressure of the spotlight. 
But it is unlikely the Ducks will go for a goalie in the first round of the upcoming NHL Entry Draft instead opting for a youthful forward to complement their aging stars such as Ryan Getzlaf, Ryan Kesler and Corey Perry.
The Ducks need to bookend their offense with a steal like they did with Cam Fowler from the 2010 draft. Fowler has been an aggressive puck-moving defenseman with the talent to contribute to the offense while committing to his defensive role.
Over the 2014-15 season, the Ducks were 11th in goals with 2.74 and 20th in goals against at 2.70 thus reflecting their ability to win that one-goal contest. Their power play was a dismal 28th in the league at a 15% success rate with a penalty kill at 81% good for 15th in the NHL.
The Ducks are fun team to watch in the regular season and all the way up to when they face the Los Angeles Kings or Chicago Blackhawks. That’s when all of the flaws and warts and foibles of the roster come to the fore. They looked unbeatable in the Winnipeg Jets series before the Calgary Flames series hitting the brick wall, aka Chicago Blackhawks, in the conference final.
Until the Ducks get a solid, reliable number one in net, they will need to find a two-way offensive player who can score points and contribute on the defense to sure up the zone coverage to protect Andersen. In Jens Looke, the Ducks may have an opportunity to fill both needs.
Looke has played in the Swedish Hockey League; the 18-year old is a right winger standing at 6’ and weighing in at 189 pounds. By western conference standards he is small but his skating ability and strength of skating style make him an intriguing prospect. He is gifted at passing and vision in the offensive zone and has the speed to back check and cover his responsibilities in the D-zone.
His draft ranking for many scouting services are absent. And for those who have him ranked think he is clearly going in the second round. But his time in the SHL suggest a quicker than average progression to suiting up in the big club. With the really big names destined for the NHL already gone, the Ducks need another “steal” like Fowler and Pro Hockey News believes Looke may be one of those steals at 27.
He is touted as a strong second line winger with a two-three year wait on his advancement to the NHL. His forecast is high second round but we think the Ducks take a chance.
“With the 27th pick in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, the Anaheim Ducks are pleased to select, from the Swedish Hockey League, Jens Looke.”
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