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Anaheim Ducks Top-10 Prospects (6-10) |
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Sorry for the delays. I was going on vacation and several important people at my work resigned which meant it all went to me! Huzzah! I didn't want to do anything but relax on my vacation and I can tell you without hesitation...that Niagara Falls is pretty crap. Niagara-On-The-Lake though? Lovely. Still drunk from the wine tours.
Without further ado!
1. Sam Steel
2. Isac Lundeström
3. Troy Terry
4. Jacob Larsson
5. Josh Mahura
6. Maxime Comtois – Left Winger, 6’2 205lbs, 19 Years Old, 50th Overall 2017, Victoriaville Tigres in the QMJHL
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Comtois was a player who fell during his draft year. He entered the draft as a potential top-10 pick after an amazing rookie season (60 points in 62 games) and a dominant performance at the ivan Hlinka (4 goals in 4 games). He would go on to have a poor season scoring just 51 points in 64 games, culminating in the Ducks taking a chance on him at 50. This gamble might prove fruitful as Comtois had a bounce back season in the Q and Internationally. He re-asserted himself as a viable NHL caliber prospect.
Comtois is a fast skating power forward with a strong shot off the rush. However one of his greatest strengths is also a weakness. He’s a very emotional player and that either leads to fantastic timely goals…or dirty hits that get him suspended. It’s that type of edge to his game that in my opinion really gives him a shot at becoming an NHL player at the very least. Whether you like it or not, teams are always looking for sizeable players that use it…especially ones that can skate.
I really liked his versatility at the U20’s for Canada. I think he fit perfectly as the “number three” on the top line for large stretches of the tournament. He managed to play on the edge without crossing it, which is what ultimately tanked him in his draft year with a terrible U18 performance where he quite frankly embarrassed himself.
Comtois is all over the place as a prospect and hard to get a specific read on him. He has all the tools to be a top-6 power forward, but hasn’t shown the maturity to play that game just yet. The Drummondville Voltigeurs paid a hefty price to acquire Comtois this offseason and I think this will be a very smart move for him. They’re looking like serious contenders for the Q Championship. Plus he will play in the U20’s again this coming year and will likely be relied upon a lot as a senior member. If I was a Ducks fan, this would be the sleeper to look at.
Potential : Top-6 Power Forward (Top Potential)
7. Antoine Morand – Centreman, 5’10 181lbs, 19 Years Old, 60th Overall 2017, Acadie-Bathurst Titan in the QMJHL
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The undersized centre has been a steadily improving prospect with a nice level of consistency. Like Comtois, Morand was a highly touted player based on a fantastic rookie season that ended up falling into the second round. Unlike Comtois, his fall was based on being undersized instead of having a turd of a year. He played well as the Titan’s top centre and played all situations. Defensive awareness being a strong part of his game. Reading plays and understanding positioning.
Morand was a big part of the Titan’s Memorial Cup victory. He was their top line centre all season long and their top point scorer. If you watched the Memorial Cup you will likely have noticed Morand being deployed consistently in a defensive role including the arduous task of trying to slow fellow Ducks Prospect Sam Steel. It’s certainly a part of his game that gives him NHL viability.
Morand is a playmaker first and I’m interested to see how he will do in this upcoming season. The best goal scorer he has ever played with in the Q has been Jeffrey Truchon-Viel, an overager with little NHL potential. Next season he will play in Halifax and potentially centre Zadina if he is returned to junior (good chance in my opinion).
I really like his game; I’m just not sure he has enough flair and size to make it as a fulltime NHL centre. Potentially making Team Canada would go a long way into quieting any doubts.
Potential : 2nd Line Centre (Tyler Johnson, bust potential high)
8. Marcus Pettersson – Left Defenseman, 6’4 181lbs, 22 Years Old, 38th Overall 2014, San Diego Gulls in the AHL
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The lanky Pettersson just barely makes this list as he didn’t play the 30 NHL game cutoff I’m using. He played 22 games for the Ducks this past year as well as 4 in the playoffs. So…here he is! Pettersson has been a slow burn in the Ducks’ system. The now 22 year old spent three years in Sweden developing. His rookie season in the AHL was by all accounts a success. He has never been a huge offensive threat, but has been a good puck mover and defender.
He’s a solid prospect, but very unspectacular. He’s calm and smart under pressure, but has very little “wow factor.” He skates fine, but isn’t anything special and despite the 6’4 frame, physicality isn’t his game. He’s very much in the mold of the modern defenseman. A puck possession player that defends better by puck retrieval and distribution. Rather than the stereotypical “physical” defensive defender.
As a player, Pettersson will likely never “wow” you. He should be consistent and solid though. With the Ducks left side looking like Fowler-Lindholm-Empty, it will come down to either Pettersson, Larsson or Thompson to take this spot. The older Pettersson might have the inside track.
Potential : 5-6 Two-Way Defenseman (Honestly reminds me of Carl Gunnarsson)
9. Benoit-Olivier Groulx – Centreman, 6’1 194lbs, 18 Years Old, 54th Overall 2018, Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL
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Yet another “faller.” I’m starting to think that the Ducks scouting staff just look at Bob’s List and pick whomever the highest ranked player that is left in the late first-second rounds. Groulx was considered a potential late-first round pick for the majority of the season. Though his lack of production from the second line probably tanked him (Somppi played with Zadina). With Antoine Morand ahead of him on the depth chart, more secondary scoring will be expected from Groulx this upcoming season.
Groulx is a tough to play against two-way centre who has excelled and grown as a defensive player since being drafted 1st Overall in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft. This includes being strong on face-offs. He’s a smart and safe player that plays a game similar to Ryan Kesler in his prime. Being a highly skilled penalty killer and shorthanded threat does mean that going forward he is going to have to stop taking as many penalties. Keep the physical edge; lose some of the retaliatory stuff. At the NHL level, it’s hard to see Groulx ever becoming a major point getter. His defensive abilities and smarts should land him an NHL position though, especially as teams are always looking for quality defensive centremen.
The Mooseheads, should they retain Zadina, are going to be Memorial Cup contenders. They have a very strong team. Groulx will be a big part of it. If he can find another level offensively then he can easily turn into a very strong prospect.
Potential : 3rd Line Two-Way Centre
10. Max Jones – Left Winger, 6’3 209lbs, 20 Years Old, 24th Overall 2016, Kingston Frontenacs in the OHL
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Jones joins Morand and Comtois as a draft faller with a lot of hype surrounding him pre-draft. With his mix of size and skill, a lot of pundits figured he could find his way in the top-5 in 2016. He was coming off a 7 goal and 11 point domination of the U17 Tournament and a very solid season in the USNDP. With a move to the OHL, teams were basically lining up for Jones. Then he made his OHL debut and things fell apart a little. He has never been able to find consistency in his offensive game, primarily because he doesn’t think the game very well. He’s a typical North-South hard skating power forward that lacks creativity. Like a far less talented Evander Kane.
He’s good at putting the puck in the net from 15 feet in. I really like his work around the net. He’s very good at being able to create space for himself and others on the cycle. He overpowers a lot of players with his tenacity and puck pursuit.
Ultimately he projects to have an NHL future, if only as a depth player. The type of players coaches like a lot more than us fans. Next season Jones turns pro and will likely start in the AHL with the Gulls. I think it will be a very important year to see if his style of game might actually be better in the messy grind of the AHL over the more fluid and creative OHL.
Potential: Bottom-6 Power Winger
Thanks for reading. Arizona next.
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