A big day for 2023 second-round pick, Nico Myatovic, who signed his ELC on Friday and made his professional hockey debut later that day.
A big day for 2023 second-round pick, Nico Myatovic, who signed his ELC on Friday and made his professional hockey debut later that day.
Late Friday morning, the Anaheim Ducks announced they signed forward Nico Myatovic (19) to a three-year ELC.
The contract will begin at the start of the 2024-25 season and Myatovic will play the remainder of this year for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL on an ATO.
The Ducks selected Myatovic with the 33rd pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The selection came as a bit of a surprise as public consensus was much lower on him (around 71st) based on public expert draft rankings (The Hockey News, Sportsnet, TSN, Elite Prospects, etc.). However, the Ducks' front office and scouts tend to identify players they covet and take them where they see fit regardless of consensus or how picks fall.
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In 2022-23, the 6-foot-3, 187-pound forward scored 30 goals and 60 points in 68 regular season games with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.
Seattle went on to win the WHL championship and play for the Memorial Cup. The Thunderbirds lost the Memorial Cup Championship game to fellow Ducks prospect Nathan Gaucher and his Quebec Remparts. During their WHL playoff run, Myatovic scored seven points in 19 games and during their five Memorial Cup games, he scored two goals and two assists.
2023-24 was a difficult one for Myatovic. He played four games in October, scoring two goals and three assists before suffering a broken leg that would keep him out of the Thunderbird's lineup for three months.
Myatovic returned to the ice on Jan. 19 and finished the 2023-24 season scoring a total of 30 points (nine goals) in 34 games. Seattle finished the regular season with a 27-38-3 record and didn't qualify for the 2024 playoffs, freeing Myatovic to finish his year in the AHL on an ATO.
Myatovic is a high-motor forward who pressures the puck well and is tough to play against in every zone. He is a powerful North/South skater and thrives on the forecheck disrupting breakouts or forcing poor decisions. He's a defensive workhorse as he's never out of position and often the first forward in the defensive zone on a backcheck.
While he won't lead many rushes (at least in this stage of his career), he is constantly supporting the puck and making himself available in passing lanes. He will likely score most of his goals from around the crease area as he fights for position, gets sticks on point shots, and finds rebounds. His puck-protection and vision allow him to extend plays in the offensive zone and find teammates to distribute the puck to.
Myatovic made his AHL debut on Friday night when the San Diego Gulls defeated the Tucson Roadrunners 4-0. He was deployed on the listed fourth line on the left wing of Jan Mysak and Brayden Tracey.
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He had a quiet night with only two shots to show for his efforts. It was apparent he was feeling out the speed and style of the AHL game and didn't have the puck on his stick much. His total time on the ice was strictly at 5v5, although it wouldn't be surprising if he was featured on both special teams units if he plays for the Gulls in 2024-25.
In his professional debut, he made his presence most felt on the backcheck. He was often the F3 and his explosive stride allowed him to catch opposing rush attacks regularly and influence turnovers or bad-angle shots.
The Gulls have 11 games remaining on their 2023-24 schedule. They have a 23-30-8 record and are unlikely to make the playoffs. It will be worth monitoring how Myatovic adjusts in those 11 remaining games and how much of an impact he can have at the AHL level as a 19 year old.
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