Before :
30. New Jersey Devils : Kasperi Kapanen 29. Los Angeles Kings : Brendan Lemieux 28. Tampa Bay Lightning : Julius Honka 27. Chicago Blackhawks : Conner Bleackley 26. Montreal Canadiens : Nick Schmaltz 25. Boston Bruins : Alex Tuch
Now :
24. The Anaheim Ducks select Defenseman Jack Dougherty of the USNTDP in the USHL
6’2, 187lbs, 1996-05-25 : 18 years old
23 – 4g – 8a – 12p – +20
Dougherty as I went into detail about was arguably the best defenseman at the U18’s and easily the best defender for the Gold winning Americans. He showed his ability to play in all situations. Power play, penalty kill, defensive situations, he was a rock. The major concern surrounding him was his foot speed and how he could handle the faster forwards that will ultimately try to beat him to the outside. Now this was a small sample size, but even on the big ice, speedsters like Fiala, Virtanen and Nylander had trouble getting past him. Why? He’s smart with his positioning and smart about his on ice awareness. He doesn’t make too many bad decisions on the ice, especially when it comes to suicide pinches and up the middle passes. His physical play is a big plus and he’s hard to take in a scrum.
I honestly believe he can become a strong two-way defender at the next level, most likely on the second pairing. Somebody who can play some hard minutes and be a stabilizing force. I’m not sure how much his offensive game will translate considering the plethora of more talented defenders who will likely see PP time ahead of him, he strikes me as capable, but not somebody you throw out on the first PP wave. Despite a good hard shot and a decent eye for passing, I can’t see him becoming a really big point producer at the next level barring an evolution to that side of his game.
Considering all the forward prospects Anaheim has accrued and slowly filtered into their team (hell they felt they were solid enough to trade Holland feeling Rackell had the higher upside for a second line centre slot), quietly adding a defenseman could be a good gamble especially at this part in the draft and with the 10th overall pick still in their grasp.
Comparison : Dennis Seidenberg