The Anaheim Ducks now have one of the
top prospect system rankings among teams in the National Hockey League. Before
July 5th the Anaheim Ducks weren`t at the top but since a major
trade happened, they are now. The Ducks General Manager Bob Murray traded star
right winger Bobby Ryan to the Ottawa Senators exchanged for right winger Jakob
Silfverberg, right wing prospect Stefan Noesen and a 2014 first round draft
pick. Both players were top five prospects for the Senators and Silfverberg
just finished his rookie season for Ottawa.
Silferberg started the season in the AHL playing in 34 games for the
Binghamton Senators. The Swedish winger registered 13 goals and finished with
29 points. After the lockout was lifted, the 22 year old played in all 48 games
for the Senators. He scored 10 goals and had a total of 19 points. Jakob
Silfverberg played very well in the Swedish Elite League before coming to North
America last season. The Ducks acquired a strong prospect that’s ready to
become a full time NHLer. His skill should fit in nicely with the Ducks this
season. The other prospect forward the Ducks received was Stefan Noesen from
the Plymouth Whalers of OHL. He skated in 51 games registering 25 goals, and
finishing with 53 points. Noesen was a two time 30 plus goal scorer for
Plymouth and has shown his physical and skillful sense for the game. Stefan
Noesen was drafted 21st overall by the Senators in the 2011 draft.
The Anaheim Ducks have believed in him since that draft. The Ducks had the 22nd
pick, and were going to choose Stefan Noesen with that pick. Once the Senators
drafted Stefan, the Ducks then decided to shift gears and traded the 22nd
pick to the Toronto Maple Leafs for the 30th, and 39th
pick. Noesen comes to the Ducks with knowing a familiar face among the
prospects. Centre Rickard Rakell was his line mate in Plymouth and was selected
with the 30th pick from the Maple Leafs. Rickard Rakell is a
skillful, strong, hardworking two way player. He played in 40 games last season
for Plymouth and tallied 44 points. Rakell showed he was an effective top
player in the 2012 and 2013 World Juniors. He helped his team capture gold in
2012 and in 2013 earn a silver medal. Rickard Rakell has the potential to
become a solid second line player. The Ducks used him in 4 games this past
season, but he was pointless with a -2 rating. Look for Rakell to be given the
right amount of time to blossom into that strong second line player he can be.
He`ll see some games in a Ducks jersey, but for the most part he`ll be in the
AHL next season. The Ducks top prospect is right winger Emerson Etem who had an
explosive final year in the WHL in 2012. He scored 61 goals with a total of 107
points in just 65 games. He ranked in the top 10 among prospects for the CSS
rankings. He`s skilled with the puck but also can play defensively. Last season
he played in 45 games for Norfolk of the AHL and scored 13 goals with a total
of 16 points. The Ducks did test him at the NHL level by putting him in 38
games. He registered 10 points and 3 goals.
Etem will most likely start the season with the Anaheim Ducks but if his
play isn`t up to pair, don’t be surprised if he has a few development stints in
the AHL. The Ducks need to be smart with Etem, he has a lot upside and a lot of
talent. Looking at the Anaheim Ducks blueline there is two defenseman among
their prospects that really standout. The first is 2012 6th overall
pick Hampus Lindholm. The Ducks are being smart with his development by putting
him in the AHL last season. The longer he develops in the AHL and gets use to
this style of hockey, the better he will be for them in the future. He had 11
points and had a plus 5 rating in 44 games for Norfolk. The 2013-2014 season
look for Lindholm to see some NHL action, but at the same time the Ducks want
to develop him correctly. The other top prospect defenseman Sam Vatanen. The 22 year old was 4th round
pick in 2009 for the Ducks. He has great offensive skill and speed. Vatanen is
a strong puck moving defenseman and knows how to score. His previous year in
the Finnish professional hockey league, he totaled 42 points in 49 games as a
defenseman. He was third among scores on
his team for JyP . Last season he traveled to North America and played in 62
games for Norfolk of the AHL. In his rookie season in North America he totaled
45 points and was second among scoring leaders for Norfolk. The Ducks did suit
him up in 8 games, and he registered 2 goals. Look for him to crack the Ducks
roster for the 2013-2014 season. He has a lot of skill and is almost NHL ready.
The Ducks have a strong goaltending prospect in John Gibson. He was drafted in
2011 with the 39th overall pick from the Maple Leafs. John Gibson
has shown that he`s a mature goalie for his age and has proven success under
pressure. He proved it for team USA in this past World Juniors tournament that
he can be a number one goalie in the future. He broke records on his way to
winning a Gold Medal for team USA. He was also very strong for Kitchener of the
OHL the last two seasons, posting a .928 save percentage both years. The future for Gibson is very
bright within the Anaheim Ducks organization. He`s a complete goalie who should
see a minimum of 30 games for Norfolk of the AHL. If injuries do occur to the
Ducks goaltending, then look to Gibson getting a few chances at the NHL level
this coming season. The Anaheim Ducks have numinous prospects that could make
an impact on the NHL in the future. The Ducks are making the right decision to
give these players the right amount of development to better there NHL chances.
Players like Devante Smith Pelly, Peter Holland, Max Friberg, newly drafted
defenseman Shea Theodore and goaltender Frederick Andersen. The Anaheim Ducks
have built a strong future for this organization. They have young talented
players on the roster already, and these prospects will slowly be formed into
NHL ready players and join these skillful players in the near future.
Rating:
The Ducks are solid at Center and Right wing, but their weakness is among the Left Wingers. Their depth comes at Defense with alot of key young prospects coming up through the rankings. They've improved that over the past few drafts with taking strong defensemen. Goaltending for the Ducks is solid with the likes of John Gibson between the pipes. He's shown his talents for team USA and at the OHL level.
Ducks Future Prospect System Rating- 8/10 (Solid Depth)
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