We will see on Wednesday!
We will see on Wednesday!
The NHL Draft is only a few days away and the Anaheim Ducks hold the second overall pick in this one. They will have a few different options to choose from here and will likely be adding a new superstar and franchise cornerstone to the roster. After holding the worst record in the league last season, there is nowhere to go but up for the Ducks.
Thomas Harrington of The Puck Network gave his thoughts on who the Ducks will end up taking with the first round selection:
-"With the second overall pick, I predict the Anaheim Ducks will select Adam Fantilli. While Carlsson did have the superior tournament at the World Championships, he was also put in more situations to succeed than Fantilli did. Fantilli put together one of the most dominant seasons by a freshman in NCAA history, and if he can have a career similar to Kariya or Eichel, the Ducks will be very happy with him."
Fantilli would be a hell of a pick for Anaheim. While they did miss out on the chance to draft Connor Bedard, Fantilli is a great option. He isn't a consolation prize by any means and looks to have a very solid NHL career.
His IQ and natural abilities out on the ice are what make him special. The 18-year-old is still growing as a player but is already one of the more dominant prospects in recent memory. If not for Bedard, he could easily have been going first overall.
There aren't really many wrong ways Anaheim can play this. They will be getting a special player in this draft and should be ecstatic about the direction that the franchise is headed.
Good times aren't that far away for Anaheim and their fans. The Ducks will look to improve on last season and start building back up towards the postseason very soon.