Prospect Info: 2023 Ducks Prospect Rankings #3

[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 first poll, I am voting for Olen Zellweger.

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

2023 Ducks Prospect Rankings:

1. C - Leo Carlsson (2023 draftee)
2. D - Pavel Mintyukov (no change)

Our graduates and departures are:

Mason McTavish
Urho Vaakanainen
Henry Thrun
Simon Benoit
Axel Andersson
Sean Tschigerl
Hunter Drew
Thimo Nickl
Olle Eriksson Ek
Bryce Kindopp
Max Golod
Ethan Bowen​

Click to read more...

 

[Arthuros]

Wow, we actually lost a lot of prospects this year. Not a lot of high end ones, but still.

Gotta think this is Olen "Offensive Zone" Zellweger.

Add Regenda?

 

[Gliff]

No surprise.

 

[TheGoodShepard1]

Wow, we actually lost a lot of prospects this year. Not a lot of high end ones, but still.

Gotta think this is Olen "Offensive Zone" Zellweger.

Add Regenda?

I was gonna suggest adding Hinds as well.

 

[Sean Garrity]

4 is where it's going to get interesting.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

There's probably a legit case for going Dostal here, but Zellweger is so impressive

 

[McDonald19]

4 is where it's going to get interesting.

There's probably a legit case for going Dostal here, but Zellweger is so impressive

Yeah, I like Dostal next. He did pretty well in the NHL last season with an awful defense in front of him.

 

[Boo Boo]

We should leave the polls open for longer. Even if they’re blowouts it would be nice to spend more time talking about the guys toward the top of the list.

 

[GreatBear]

Other than Carlsson I don't expect to see a forward on the list until #6 at the earliest, and possibly even later than that.

Speaking of defensemen, in addition to Hinds I would also add Moore to the list. He is probably going to come in somewhere between 10 and 15, but he should be in consideration at some time. If the Ducks can sign him I have faith that he will make the NHL at some point.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Dostal for me

But zellweger also has a strong case with back to back WHL dmen of the year and chl dmen of year last year.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Others have said it but i think there's a clear 1/2/3, although the margins are not big right now. Dostal is a really nice prospect but I think Zell has the potential to be better at his position. also kinda a personal bias, but i often discount goalie prospects because they are goalies

 

[Bleak]

Others have said it but i think there's a clear 1/2/3, although the margins are not big right now. Dostal is a really nice prospect but I think Zell has the potential to be better at his position. also kinda a personal bias, but i often discount goalie prospects because they are goalies

Ditto. I have a hard time quantifying the intricacies between being a skater and a goalie. For instance, where would you rank Gibby on our team if we had to make a concrete list?

 

[Static]

Ditto. I have a hard time quantifying the intricacies between being a skater and a goalie. For instance, where would you rank Gibby on our team if we had to make a concrete list?

For me, positional scarcity does play a role on this list. Goaltender development and performance in general is extremely volatile and it's been historically easier league-wide to find starting caliber goalies than top two/three defensemen.

 

[anezthes]

Carlsson, Minty, Luneau, Dostal, Zellweger and Hinds for me.

 

[Hey234]

For me, positional scarcity does play a role on this list. Goaltender development and performance in general is extremely volatile and it's been historically easier league-wide to find starting caliber goalies than top two/three defensemen.

I would say that finding reliable #1 goalies through trades is a mixed bag. Some getting lucky like Vegas and Hill and others are saddled with bad contracts.

I like Zell and personally have him ranked 4th, but I think Dostal has a higher chance of hitting his potential. I have concerns whether Zell will be able to defend well enough against NHL forwards to be a top 4 defenseman.

 

[Kalv]

Spent a lot of time thinking who I got #2, but here gotta go with Zell. Next one is Dostal for me, with Luneau shortly after. After that it will get interesting for me.


Some nice depth to this crop, IMO.

 

[Bleak]

I would say that finding reliable #1 goalies through trades is a mixed bag. Some getting lucky like Vegas and Hill and others are saddled with bad contracts.

I like Zell and personally have him ranked 4th, but I think Dostal has a higher chance of hitting his potential. I have concerns whether Zell will be able to defend well enough against NHL forwards to be a top 4 defenseman.

For how long though? Could be a one-and-done like we quite often see on stanley cup teams

 

[Duck Off]

4 is where it's going to get interesting.

I'm curious how it goes after 5. I have Luneau & Dostal as 5 and 6 (in that order as well). After that, it's tricky, but I think I'll go Gaucher.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

I'm curious how it goes after 6. I have Luneau & Dostal as 5 and 6 (in that order as well). After that, it's tricky, but I think I'll go Gaucher.

I feel like everyone’s top 5 has the same 5, after 5 it’s interesting.

I’d go
Mintyukov
Carlsson
Dostal
Zellweger
Luneau


At 6 I’d prob go pastujov/hinds/gaucher in that order

 

[Anaheim4ever]

For how long though? Could be a one-and-done like we quite often see on stanley cup teams

Binnington - one and done.
Niemi - one and done.
Matt Murray - I think he had only 2 decent years maybe.

 

[McDonald19]

I think Dostal has a higher chance of hitting his potential. I have concerns whether Zell will be able to defend well enough against NHL forwards to be a top 4 defenseman.

Agreed. Dostal has already showed us, in a fairly small sample size, that he can compete well at the NHL level. Zell’s ability to translate his game to the NHL is a mystery. Zell’s upside is off the charts though.

 

[FiveHoleTickler]

I value starting goalies more than top 4 defensemen. Dostal is also further along in his development, which takes out a lot of the guesswork on his projection.

Zell probably next for me though.

 

[Hockey Duckie]

Going with Luneau here. If the thought is Minty is bigger than Zell, when why shouldn't it extend to Luneau?

Ducks	Prospect	D-men
Defenseman	Games	G	A	Pts	PPG		Playoffs	G	A	Pts	PPG
A	55​	32​	48​	80​	1.45​		14​	11​	18​	29​	2.07​
B	65​	20​	63​	83​	1.28​		13​	2​	15​	17​	1.31​
C	69​	24​	64​	88​	1.28​		11​	0​	9​	9​	0.82​

Spoiler: Answer to Players A, B, and C

Answer:
A = Zellweger
B = Luneau
C = Minty

It's a luxury to boast the WHL, OHL, and QMJHL d-men of the season in the same season!