Defenseman Jamie Drysdale made his NHL debut for the Anaheim Ducks last night, helping to lift the team to a 3-2 overtime win against the Arizona Coyotes.
Drysdale was selected sixth overall by the Ducks in the 2020 NHL Draft. He started the season with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, where he scored four goals and 10 points in 14 games, before being called up.
In his debut last night, Drysdale played over 18 minutes and registered a goal and an assist. He led all Ducks’ defenders in corsi for percentage and was also second amongst the team’s defensemen in expected goals for percentage (according to NaturalStatTrick.com).
There was certainly a lot to like about his performance. He was already comfortable handling the puck in the offensive zone and his goal showed that, as he walked the line to find a shooting lane. Defensively, he had good gap control on entries and was able to keep forwards to the outside. He’s also such a good skater that even when he’s stuck in the neutral zone, he can get back almost effortlessly to defend a rush.
So overall, it was a pretty great debut for Drysdale. He got time on the power play, already managed to pick up his first goal and looked confident.
It’s also worth noting that fellow star prospect Trevor Zegras also picked up his first NHL goal. He got a pass from Troy Terry and was able to lift the puck over Adin Hill to tie the game in the second period.
While Anaheim’s season hasn’t gone according to plan, last night’s game was a reminder that the future is bright.
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Should Jamie Drysdale remain in the NHL for the rest of the season?
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