Prospect Info: 2022 Ducks Prospect Rankings #5

[MMC]

It's time for our annual Ducks prospect rankings. Each poll will run for 48 hours except in the case of a clear landslide. I will go to the top 25 and include a final poll where you can pick 5 honorable mentions. Please tell me who you want me to add in the replies. In the fifth poll, I am voting for Jacob Perreault.

As always the list will define prospects as hockeysfuture does: NHL Prospect Criteria - Hockey's Future.

2022 Ducks Prospect Rankings

1. C - Mason McTavish (+2)
2. D - Pavel Mintyukov (2022 draftee)
3. D - Olen Zellweger (+3)
4. G - Lukas Dostal (no change)

Our graduates and departures are:

Trevor Zegras
Jamie Drysdale
Alexander Volkov
Josh Mahura
Brendan Guhle
Jack Badini
Roman Durny​

Click to read more...

 

[bsu]

Perreault than Vaakanainen... I think.....

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Perreault prob wins in a land slide…
But I strongly considered thrun or luneau here

 

[bsu]

Perreault prob wins in a land slide…
But I strongly considered thrun or luneau here

If Thrun or Luneau turn into Vaks on the Ducks (for Thrun atleast) I would be thrilled. That's the reason I'm voting for Vaks because I think he has more to give. His gaps were amongst the best I've seen on the Ducks in a long time (obviously short sample size). Excited to see how he looks with a healthy training camp going into the season (I hope)

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

Where my Vaak supporters at?

 

[bsu]

Where my Vaak supporters at?

I'll be there next 1

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

If Thrun or Luneau turn into Vaks on the Ducks (for Thrun atleast) I would be thrilled. That's the reason I'm voting for Vaks because I think he has more to give. His gaps were amongst the best I've seen on the Ducks in a long time (obviously short sample size). Excited to see how he looks with a healthy training camp going into the season (I hope)

I havnt been super impressed with Vaaks at all…. And if luneau or thrun don’t become better than Vaaks, our depth isn’t as good as it seems

 

[bsu]

I havnt been super impressed with Vaaks at all…. And if luneau or thrun don’t become better than Vaaks, our depth isn’t as good as it seems

HFBoards where every prospect hits his full potential. I'll stick with the player that has proved something at this level and has as much upside as both of those players. Thrun is literally the same type of player as Vaaks if he pans out that's what you're getting.... and that's even if he signs with the Ducks. Thrun isn't a huge upside player at all, he's projected as a solid two way guy similar to Vaaks. Luneau has upside but his injury scares me and watching his skating doesn't do him any favors with me right now (He's probably building back strength but his explosive skating is lacking)

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

HFBoards where every prospect hits his full potential. I'll stick with the player that has proved something at this level and has as much upside as both of those players. Thrun is literally the same type of player as Vaaks if he pans out that's what you're getting.

In your opinion sure, you’ve been wrong before…. Personally I think thrun is more likely to be top 4 than Vaaks. Vaaks is guhle/larsson/mahuraish

What a weird generalization to post

 

[pbgoalie]

Vaak for me
I’m not certain he’s a prospect even. He’s an NHL player that just needs to stay healthy

 

[bsu]

Why are people comparing Vaaks to Guhle and Larsson. Literally can't even take those posts seriously I coach defensemen and see a huge difference between the players. I can't even fathom comparing those players but to each their own. Vaaks has elite gap control which was brought up by Boston fans before we even traded for him, eye test matched that. Sucks he was paired with Drysdale without knowing our system at all too. Once he's acclimated and not paired with a 19 year old he'll be a solid defensemen for us.

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

Why are people comparing Vaaks to Guhle and Larsson. Literally can't even take those posts seriously I coach defensemen and see a huge difference between the players. I can't even fathom comparing those players but to each their own. Vaaks has elite gap control which was brought up by Boston fans before we even traded for him, eye test matched that. Sucks he was paired with Drysdale without knowing our system at all too.

I don't get those comparisons at all either. But I'm a couch potato, so what do I know?

 

[bsu]

No training camp and barely any practices, paired with our 19 year old worst defensive defensemen... coming off an injury sounds like a great situation. Excited to see how he looks next year have knowing the system and healthy for once.

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

Vaaks is guhle/larsson/mahuraish

What a weird generalization to post

 

[MMC]

Vaak for me
I’m not certain he’s a prospect even. He’s an NHL player that just needs to stay healthy

Vaakainanen is so close to being ineligible, turns 24 this season, and 45 of 65 GP. Did think about an exception, but ultimately decided to keep him here because his 29 GP this season is by far the most he's played in one year, so he's really still only recently cracked the league in a stable role this season, and still has yet to prove himself beyond 29 games. Pretty high on him myself though

 

[bsu]

Vaakainanen is so close to being ineligible, turns 24 this season, and 45 of 65 GP. Did think about an exception, but ultimately decided to keep him here because his 29 GP this season which is by far the most he's played in one year, so he's really still only recently cracked the league in a stable role this season, and still has yet to prove himself beyond 29 games. Pretty high on him myself though

I thought about going Vaaks here but Perreault upside is Phil Kessel-ish (going to take at least another year though) IMO so I'll go upside here.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

yea... theyve all looked like bottom pairing at best dmen

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

Tough one, everyone from here out is a bit problematic. Went with Vaaks, who's already an actual NHLer and might be a pretty decent one.

 

[Deuce22]

Why are people comparing Vaaks to Guhle and Larsson. Literally can't even take those posts seriously I coach defensemen and see a huge difference between the players. I can't even fathom comparing those players but to each their own. Vaaks has elite gap control which was brought up by Boston fans before we even traded for him, eye test matched that. Sucks he was paired with Drysdale without knowing our system at all too. Once he's acclimated and not paired with a 19 year old he'll be a solid defensemen for us.

Perhaps because of what GM traded for him?

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

Went with Vaaks as well because I think he's at the lower end of the 4s in the league already who settles in to a mid-pairing role when it's all said and done.

Can't begrudge Perreault if he wins though. Flashes of brilliance while still being young for the AHL last season and I thought his consistency issues really mirrored the roller coaster the team went on. Also thought that he took a leap in his own end defensively, where he's like most of the young forwards in our system (ie they try, but they really don't know where to be positionally).

 

[Deuce22]

Went with Gaucher. Like his motor and style of play. I see him as a physical middle sixer who can be strong on the PK.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Vaakainanen is so close to being ineligible, turns 24 this season, and 45 of 65 GP. Did think about an exception, but ultimately decided to keep him here because his 29 GP this season which is by far the most he's played in one year, so he's really still only recently cracked the league in a stable role this season, and still has yet to prove himself beyond 29 games. Pretty high on him myself though

Probably want to put RD Axel Andersson in the poll too, yet another former Bruin defensive prospect.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Went with Tracey.

He had a huge improvement jump between his two seasons in the AHL, from 0 pts in 12 games two seasons ago to 31 pts in 55 games last year. At one point during the season, he lead the team in scoring. He was doing this player lower in the lineup than Perreault.

Still love Perreault, but Tracey's development jump was just bigger than Perreault's improvement playing at the same level.

 

[Jeffrey Pedler]

Perreault.

 

[Arthuros]

I said Vaak, and I MEANT IT.

But this is the mushy middle where all good prospects could reasonably go. Just a matter of how you value upside potential vs. predictability.

I think Vaak is unlikely to be more than a top-4, but he looks like he could be full-time NHL right now (at this point in time). Meanwhile, Thrun could be top-pairing in 2 years or be another Mahura struggling to crack the lineup.

Similarly, Perreault could be quite the something in the next 2 years...or he could be an AHL-lifer.