Who will Anaheim select?
Who will Anaheim select?
After clinching the worst record in the NHL last season, the Anaheim Ducks were hopeful to land the first overall selection in the upcoming NHL Draft. Fate had other ideas and the Ducks ended up landing the second overall pick.
While the second overall pick will still yield a potential star player for Anaheim, getting the chance to draft Conner Bedard would have been special. However, Mary Clarke of USA Today doesn't believe that the Ducks are too worried about missing out on Bedard.
-"The Ducks have no reason to despair about missing out on the No. 1 overall pick, because Adam Fantilli is set to be a star in his own right in the NHL. Fantilli lit up the NCAA this past season with 30 goals and 65 points for Michigan en route to the Hobey Baker Award for the top college player. Fantilli alongside Trevor Zegras, Troy Terry, and Mason McTavish is going to make one incredible forward core."
There is plenty of talent at the top of this NHL Draft and if Anaheim does indeed draft Adam Fantilli, they won't be sweating anything. He has the look of a special player as well and could become the next franchise cornerstone for the Ducks.
His IQ and passing ability will help this young team thrive on the ice and make them a force to deal with offensively. But while he did dominant in the college ranks, he still has room to grow his game.
Fantilli is still just 18-years-old and would have the chance to grow with the Ducks organization. He would be a slam dunk selection by the Ducks and is no consolation prize to Bedard. If this were any other draft, Fantilli would likely go number one overall.
The Ducks are in a great spot and all will be reveled soon on their draft plans.