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Draft Options for the Ducks: Jamie Drysdale

September 20, 2020, 3:49 PM ET [20 Comments]
Ben Shelley
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With the NHL Draft just a few weeks away, the Anaheim Ducks are in a good spot with the sixth-overall pick. I did an article in June, which highlighted seven players who the Ducks could pick at sixth overall and over the next week or so, I’ll be doing individual player profiles. Going alphabetically, the first player profile will focus on Jamie Drysdale.

Let me start by saying that I doubt Jamie Drysdale will still be around by the time the Ducks are picking at sixth overall. He’s the top defenseman in the draft and I’d imagine he goes to either Detroit or Ottawa. If he is available, however, it means Marco Rossi is likely gone and Drsydale is the best option available for the Ducks, in my opinion.



Drysdale has huge offensive upside, scoring 47 points in 49 games with the Erie Otters in just his second overall season. He’s a great skater and can lead a rush up the ice and is also more than comfortable skating with the puck while in the offensive zone to create space. His puck control is great as well and once he’s controlling the puck, he’s hard to get it away from. To top it off, he’s also a great passer, both on the rush and while set up in the zone and can certainly quarterback a power play.

Defensively, he doesn’t panic under pressure and is sometimes even able to avoid forecheckers altogether, rather than throwing the puck away. He doesn’t get caught out of position a whole lot and isn’t prone to dumb mistakes.

Another key with Drysdale is that he would clearly fill a position of need for the Ducks. Anaheim is lacking right-handed defensemen and Drysdale projects as a top-four defenseman, if not a top-pairing defenseman.

Drysdale has huge upside and would be a great fit with the Ducks. If Anaheim gets a chance to draft him at sixth-overall, they shouldn’t pass it up.



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Here’s today’s poll question (results and discussion will be posted in a future article):

Would you be happy with the selection if the Ducks took Jamie Drysdale with the sixth-overall pick?
Yes
No
Depends who's available
Created with Poll Maker

OTHER DUCKS ARTICLES FROM SEPTEMBER

Reviewing the season: Sam Steel
Reviewing the season: Troy Terry
Reviewing the season: All players traded this year
Reviewing this week's polls (September 19): Ducks Edition
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