Anaheim Ducks – Draft Shopping List

Here is a look at Anaheim’s organizational needs and possible draft targets:

Draft picks –
#50
#60
#91
#122
#153

The Ducks dealt their first-round pick to Dallas for Patrick Eaves, which may not have worked out as well as they’d hoped as it was contingent on them making the western conference finals, which they did, but without Eaves. Fortunately, for them, they dealt Frederik Andersen to Toronto last year and received San Jose’s second-round pick, so they still have two picks in the top 60.

In a draft year where there are an inordinate number of centers ranked in the top-two rounds, that might well be where Anaheim puts its focus in Round 2 for at least one of their selections. Ryan Getzlaf is not getting any younger and Ryan Kesler is also getting a little long in the tooth, so there is an organizational need to stock up on some center prospects as they are pretty well set with young defenceman and have a bunch of young wingers on the team.

Sam Steel looks like he’ll be able to fill one of the top-two center roles and perhaps Rickard Rackell can move into the other slot…that would then open up a third-line slot in a few years, and centers such as Mackenzie Entwistle, Santeri Virtanen, Jack Studnicka and Zach Gallant will all be under serious consideration if available with one or both of the second-round picks.  They may also look at the likes of Alex Lipanov or perhaps even Adam Ruzicka if they think either might be able to develop enough defensive skills to play a top-three center role on the club some day.

If the top player on their board is a defenceman at 50, 60 or 91 it’s not inconceivable that they look at adding yet another one to their already brimming stable, but it’s more likely that they look at filling out their draft with forwards, be it centers or wingers, and perhaps also add a goalie, with that being most likely with the 91st pick if the run on goalies hasn’t ended at that point.   Matthew Villalta, Dayton Rasmussen, Ian Scott and Maxim Zhukov would all be in the mix with the 91st pick if available.