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The Anaheim Ducks have been fairly quiet since signing Derek Grant and Kevin Shattenkirk in free agency. However, there were two minor pieces of news this week:
JACOB LARSSON LOANED
The Anaheim Ducks have loaned defenseman Jacob Larsson to a team in Sweden’s second-highest professional league. Larsson should be back for the start of Anaheim’s training camp.
DRYSDALE INVITED TO TEAM CANADA’S WJC SELECTION CAMP
Ducks prospect Jamie Drysdale has been invited to Team Canada’s selection camp for the 2021 World Juniors. Drysdale was a member of the team last year and is expected to be back again for this year’s tournament.
As for last week’s polls, here are the results and my thoughts on how they turned out:
QUESTION: When will Jamie Drysdale earn a spot in Anaheim's lineup?
(Votes: 157)
2021-22: 60% 2022-23 or later: 27% 2020-21: 13%
I’m with the 60 per cent of readers who think there’s a good chance we see Drysdale make the jump to the NHL for the 2021-22 season. Given the fact that Drysdale can’t jump to the AHL until the 2022-23 season, keeping him back in junior for two more years may be stalling his development.
QUESTION: Where do you think Max Jones will play in Anaheim’s lineup next season?
(Votes: 59)
Third line: 46% Fourth line: 41% Other: 14%
Personally, I see Jones potentially on the fourth line, with Max Comtois, Sam Steel and Troy Terry making up the third line. However, hopefully Jones is able to develop into a legitimate top-nine forward in the next couple of seasons.
QUESTION: Which defenseman do you think is most likely to earn a full-time role in Anaheim's defense group next season?
(Votes: 104)
Jacob Larsson: 36% Chrsitian Djoos: 28% Brendan Guhle: 16% Josh Mahura: 12% Kodie Curran: 9%
I have to agree here, with Larsson as the most likely to earn a full-time role. He was essentially a full-time member of the lineup last season and considering the Ducks have committed $1.2 million per year to Larsson, the intention likely isn’t for him to sit in the press box.
QUESTION: What do you see Jacob Larsson's role being with the Ducks long-term?
(Votes: 58)
Bottom-pairing defenseman: 45% Not with the Ducks long-term: 34% Top-four defenseman: 12% In and out of the lineup: 9%
I also see Larsson as a potential bottom-pairing defenseman, though with the expansion draft only a year away and quite a bit of depth on the left side of Anaheim’s defense group, it’s certainly possible that Larsson isn’t with the team long-term.
QUESTION: Will the Ducks make the playoffs next season?
(Votes: 117)
No: 82% It could go either way: 13% Yes: 5%
Pretty overwhelming response here. While I don’t think next season is a write-off for the Ducks, I don’t know that I’d bet on them being a playoff team either.
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OTHER RECENT DUCKS ARTICLES FROM OCTOBER:
Who could the Ducks select at 27th overall? Who could the Ducks select at 27th overall? - Part 2 Who could the Ducks select at 27th overall? - Part 3 Ducks select Jamie Drysdale at sixth overall, take Jacob Perreault at 27th Recapping all of Anaheim's picks in the 2020 NHL Draft Ducks trade Erik Gudbranson to Senators Ducks sign Kevin Shattenkirk and Derek Grant Weekly Recap: Ducks Edition (October 12) How soon could Jamie Drysdale earn a spot with the Ducks? Projecting Anaheim’s lineup for the 2020-21 season: Forwards Projecting Anaheim’s lineup for the 2020-21 season: Defense/Goalies Ducks loan Jacob Larsson Bob Murray can’t lose sight of Ducks’ future while pushing for playoffs Jamie Drysdale invited to Team Canada’s World Juniors selection camp