Anaheim Ducks

Anaheim Ducks

Team Depth Chart of NHL Prospects
Strengths
  • Two-way, hardworking forwards
  • Depth up front and on the blue line
Weaknesses

About Prospect Scores and Probability

Prospect Criteria

Legend of Players' Leagues
Pro
Playing in N.A. Pro (NHL, AHL, ECHL, etc.)
CHL
Playing in CHL (OHL, QMJHL, WHL)
NCAA
Playing in NCAA
Europe
Playing in Europe
Junior
Playing in Junior 'A' (USHL, BCHL, AJHL, etc.)
N/A
Not Categorized Yet

Goaltenders

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. John Gibson CHL 7.5 C
2. Igor Bobkov Pro 7.0 D
3. Frederik Andersen Pro 6.5 D
4. Marco Cousineau Pro 6.0 D

Right Wing

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Emerson Etem Pro 8.0 C
2. Rickard Rakell CHL 7.5 C
3. Chris Wagner Pro 7.0 D
4. Matt Kennedy Pro 5.5 C

Left Wing

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Devante Smith-Pelly Pro 7.0 B
2. Max Friberg Europe 7.0 C
3. Luca Caputi Pro 6.5 D
4. Josh Brittain Pro 6.0 D
5. Harry Zolnierczyk Pro 5.0 A
6. John Kurtz Pro 5.0 C

Centers

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Peter Holland Pro 7.5 C
2. William Karlsson Europe 7.5 C
3. Steven Whitney Pro 7.5 D
4. Nicolas Kerdiles NCAA 7.0 C
5. Antoine Laganiere Pro 7.0 C
6. Kevin Roy NCAA 7.0 D
7. Radoslav Illo NCAA 6.5 C
8. Joseph Cramarossa CHL 6.5 C
9. Charles Sarault Pro 6.5 C

Defensemen

 League Prosp. talent Prob. of success
1. Hampus Lindholm Pro 7.5 C
2. Sami Vatanen Pro 7.5 C
3. Andy Welinski NCAA 7.0 C
4. Kevin Lind NCAA 6.5 C
5. Mat Clark Pro 6.5 C
6. Kenton Helgesen CHL 6.5 D
7. Tim Heed Europe 6.5 D
8. Brian Cooper NCAA 6.0 C
9. Josh Manson NCAA 6.0 C
10. Andrew O'Brien CHL 6.0 C
11. Nick Pryor NCAA 6.0 D
12. Kevin Gagne CHL 6.0 D
13. Jaycob Megna NCAA 5.5 C

Mighty Ducks: Quarter Report Card – Part 1

by Martin Dittman
on

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are off to one of their best starts of their young history. The same can be said for their AHL affiliate, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks. The baby Ducks have been helped thanks to depth and their new partial affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings.

The addition of the Wings has turned around the AHL team and has certainly helped the baby Duck players. They are now getting a chance to play with more skilled players. A welcomed change for a team that has never had much depth in their AHL system.

With the first quarter of the season already done, its time to get out the report cards and start grading.

Vitaly Vishnevski – Defense; Grade: B+ (Cincy)
Vitaly has been pretty good in his first AHL season. Nothing real fancy, and he has been doing some good work. A disappointment has been in the offensive department. Although he is not considered an offensive player, he should be contributing more. Fortunately, he is improving at that making him a much more solid player. He has racked up 35 penalty minutes in 17 games and had a tremendous pre-season delivering his trademark big checks. Vitaly will have to be more offensive when he joins the high flying NHL Ducks.

Niclas Havelid – Defense; Grade: A- (Anaheim) Read more»

Ducks: Balmochnykh Suspended

by Martin Dittman
on

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim are not the only Duck team feeling the effects of suspensions. On Wednesday, the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks learned they have lost top flight prospect Maxim Balmochnykh for eight games.

Apparently aggrevated by pesky play from Louisville Panthers tough guy Curtis Doell, he speared Doell in the face causing him to bleed and receive stitches. The injury was not serious though since Doell came back to play in the game later.

Balmochnykh will miss almost a month of playing time due to the suspension, not exactly the best way to develop and learn the North American style of play. It could be called a rookie mistake, but in reality, it was bad judgment by the youngster who still has learning to do. This is certainly one that should help him mature by learning from his mistakes.

Balmo had been off to a hot start in the AHL. In Game 1 against the Kentucky Thoroughblades he scored two goals and demonstrated his great scoring sense. He had 4 shots on goal that night and was the second star. He still cant speak English, yet he still has the knack for putting the puck in the net.

FIGHT NIGHT AT FREEDOM HALL
The spearing incident between Balmo and Doell created a night of aggressiveness and brawls between both teams. Read more»

Mighty Ducks Camp Update

by Martin Dittman
on

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim have had a wonderful off sesaon. They have made some new acquistions, watched prospects mature and for once, they had a relatively quiet off season unlike the past which was full of contract squabbles, ego trips, coaching changes and the occassional front office swap. The only problems this year stem from the possible sale of the Ducks by Disney to the billionaires Henry, other wise known as Henry Nicholas and Henry Samueli. The Ducks dont seem to care about what happens up top, instead they are focusing on the future and getting ready for the season.

The Ducks’ training camp motto is “Take the Next Step”. Apparently the fans are ready. A capacity crowd showed up at Disney ICE when camp opened bringing plenty of energy to camp. Heres a look at those trying to take the next step and make the big club and those who are on the verge of being there this time around. And a note for those wondering the “borderline” monikers, etc, it is only meant as their chances of making the team out of camp this year, not in the future or their future as an NHLer.

DEFINITE DUCKS

Niclas Havelid, D
Read more»

1999 NHL Entry Draft Preview: Anaheim Mighty Ducks

by pbadmin
on

This season, the Ducks have the 15th overall pick in the 1st round, followed by the 45th overall pick in the second round. The Ducks this year should obviously be looking to not only become a better team, but to have their top selection in the lineup as early as next season.

For Anaheim, their main problem is offensive help for the trio of Kariya, Selanne, and Rucchin. This year’s draft offers plenty of gifted offensive players, however, most of the pure scoring talent will likely be gone by the time the 15th pick rolls around. The Ducks, besides needing offensive help, also need a good backup goaltender to help Guy Hebert out, and also, a more pressing need, more help on the back line.

With the 15th overall pick, I believe the Ducks will try to pick up Taylor Pyatt, the left-winger from the Sudbury Wolves. Not only does Pyatt have great size (6’4″, 215lbs.) but he is not only physical, but he can score, too. Other forwards the Ducks are eyeing include Oleg Saprykine and Brett Lysak. As far as the blue line goes, defenseman Branislav Mezei and his huge 6’5″, 221lbs., frame seem to fit the mold of what the Ducks are looking for.

Although the Ducks need a backup goalie, I doubt they will pick one up until later in the draft. So, there you have it, my take on what the Ducks will do in the 1999 Entry Draft. I might be right, I might be wrong. We’ll all just have to wait till draft day to see…

Vitaly Vishnevsky Profile

by pbadmin
on

The Ducks may not have a high quantity of prospects but they certainly have the quality in Vitali Vishnevsky. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defenseman is very mobile for a big man. Vishnevsky who was picked by the Ducks fifth overall in the 1998 entry draft, has been called “a loose cannon” by some scouts, playing with the likes of Darius Kasparaitis, though he isn’t as physically imposing as Kasparaitis. Even though he’s not that big his still tough and can move the puck well. He has also been compared to New Jersey’s Scott Stevens, but with better skating. He impressed many of the scouts with his play in the 1999 World Junior Championship, being named the best defenseman. If the Ducks can sign him they would like to see him in camp next year.

Top Prospects

  1. Emerson Etem
  2. Sami Vatanen
  3. Rickard Rakell
  4. Peter Holland
  5. Devante Smith-Pelly
  6. Hampus Lindholm
  7. William Karlsson
  8. John Gibson
  9. Nicolas Kerdiles
  1. Max Friberg
  2. Andy Welinski
  3. Igor Bobkov
  4. Chris Wagner
  5. Radoslav Illo
  6. Mat Clark
  7. Joseph Cramarossa
  8. Kevin Roy
  9. Frederik Andersen
  10. Andrew O'Brien

Notable Prospects

  1. Josh Brittain
  2. Luca Caputi
  3. Brian Cooper
  4. Marco Cousineau
  5. Sebastian Erixon
  6. Kevin Gagne
  7. Tim Heed
  8. Kenton Helgesen
  9. Matt Kennedy
  1. John Kurtz
  2. Antoine Laganiere
  3. Kevin Lind
  4. Josh Manson
  5. Jaycob Megna
  6. Nick Pryor
  7. Charles Sarault
  8. Steven Whitney
  9. Harry Zolnierczyk
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