37 replies to this topic

[TroyLoney]

I do not follow the Iowa Chops at all. I do not watch college hockey at all. I do not even know how I would go about following junior leagues. Therefore I turn to you folks that do those things with a question:

Which of the Ducks prospects (any player not on the roster right now) can we expect to make a run at being on the roster next season?

[woodbutcher]

I do not follow the Iowa Chops at all. I do not watch college hockey at all. I do not even know how I would go about following junior leagues. Therefore I turn to you folks that do those things with a question:

Which of the Ducks prospects (any player not on the roster right now) can we expect to make a run at being on the roster next season?

http://www.hockeysfuture.com/teams/anaheim_ducks

Here ya go, knock yourself out.

[FredFrog]

I do not follow the Iowa Chops at all. I do not watch college hockey at all. I do not even know how I would go about following junior leagues. Therefore I turn to you folks that do those things with a question:

Which of the Ducks prospects (any player not on the roster right now) can we expect to make a run at being on the roster next season?

We may have quite a few openings on defense, since we have issues with the return of Scott, Beauchemin and Huskins, aong with the uncertainty of a Pronger trade. This could lead to a very young defense and a very long season. I think Salcido along with Mikkelson on defense need strong consideration, although along with Festerling this would give us three rookies/second year players on defense.. I would of put Mitera on this list, but due to his missing almost the entire season at Michigan I think that he will need a year in the AHL. Bickel is also a long shot for next year, particularly since he missed much of this year due to injury.

The first and second line will be filled with current players, and possibly a free agent signing. Miller will probably come up, and possibly Wirtanen or Bodie, depending upon who is signed from the current team, as forwards for the third/fourth line. I think that Beleskey needs another year in Iowa. I also think that many of the younger players that will turn 20 in time for next season will need one-two years in Iowa, if they develop at all. We may end filling third and fourth line positions with free agent signings.

[German Rocket #7]

My guess is that the following players will get a full-time job with the Ducks next season:

- Drew Miller
- Andrew Ebbett
- Bobby Ryan (actually a shame to have to put him there)

These could/should be the part-time Ducks next year:

- Mark Mitera (!)
- Matt Beleskey
- Brian Salcido
- Brett Festerling
- Brendan Mikkelson
- John DeGray
- Nicolas Deschamps

[DuckNewbie]

My guess is that the following players will get a full-time job with the Ducks next season:

- Drew Miller
- Andrew Ebbett
- Bobby Ryan (actually a shame to have to put him there)

These could/should be the part-time Ducks next year:

- Mark Mitera (!)
- Matt Beleskey
- Brian Salcido
- Brett Festerling
- Brendan Mikkelson
- John DeGray
- Nicolas Deschamps

I would expect Tangradi (2007 draft) to have a better shot at getting playing time than Deschamps (2008 draft)....particularly since Tangradi has signed an entry contract.

But honestly, Tangradi in the AHL, and Deschamps back in Juniors is more likely?

[TheJoeMan]

My guess is that the following players will get a full-time job with the Ducks next season:

- Drew Miller
- Andrew Ebbett
- Bobby Ryan (actually a shame to have to put him there)

These could/should be the part-time Ducks next year:

- Mark Mitera (!)
- Matt Beleskey
- Brian Salcido
- Brett Festerling
- Brendan Mikkelson
- John DeGray
- Nicolas Deschamps

Ebbett, Festerling and Ryan are already full-time Ducks.

As for next year I think Mikkelson or Salcido will be here full-time and the other one traded. Other than either of them I don't expect any Ducks rookies to crack the lineup except for injuries unless Mitera shows considerable recovery from his injury. For forwards I think Miller is for sure going to have a full-time job. Hell he may have it by the end of this season. Or he'll be traded. I think Wirtanen is going to start off as our fourth line center next year and will be groomed to be the third liner by years end. Bodie is a free agent and will walk. Deschamps will play another year in junior. Tangradi and MacMillan will spent most of next season in Iowa if not the whole year. Belesky will be our primary call-up and may sneak onto the roster full-time at some point. I wouldn't hold my breath on de Gray ever being a Duck considering the age of Fester and Phil (I love Mikkelson's nickname) plus Mitera and Gardiner down the road. Same goes for Bickl but you never know. I never thought I'd see Fester here either. I predict JP will backup JS by the trade deadline when Hiller is moved.

[West of House]

I'm looking forward to Mitera one of these years.

[DuckNewbie]

On an only slightly related, and completely trivial, note....

HockeyFutures considers prospects who play in 65 or more games before their 24th birthday as "Graduated", and no longer prospects.

As of our last game, Mr. Bobby Ryan has played 66 NHL games. He has graduated, and I would like to welcome him to the NHL.

[Todrick]

very cool

[FredFrog]

HockeyFutures considers prospects who play in 65 or more games before their 24th birthday as "Graduated", and no longer prospects.

As of our last game, Mr. Bobby Ryan has played 66 NHL games. He has graduated, and I would like to welcome him to the NHL.

This means that our prospects will drop from 22nd to an even lower ranking at Hockey Futures, since Ryan was our top prospect.

[Todrick]

This means that our prospects will drop from 22nd to an even lower ranking at Hockey Futures, since Ryan was our top prospect.

This also makes Drew Miller the ducks most promising prospect...

based on HF saying, "aside from Ryan, he is the most promising prospect int he system"

[DuckNewbie]

This means that our prospects will drop from 22nd to an even lower ranking at Hockey Futures, since Ryan was our top prospect.

True...but they don't update all that often, so we can hide our shame for awhile. In fact, Ryan is still listed as a prospect at the moment. Might take them awhile to poke through the stats and notice (or care) that he reached 65+ games.

(Only idiots like me notice silly things like that. )


Added:
I take that back! As of this morning, he has moved to the "Graduated" category....and our list of RW prospects is essentially non-existant.

[Todrick]

which is made all the more horrifying by the reality that Bobby isn't even Playing RW for the Ducks

[DuckNewbie]

Back on topic....

Check out the latest TSN ranking of the top 15 OHL players:
Link

#3 is our own Eric Tangradi

Seems pretty obvious that part of his success must come from his Belleville team since 3 out of the top 4 are from Belleville. But it still gives one hope that he might turn into a good'un.

(The much touted Tavares is 8th).

[FredFrog]

Check out the latest TSN ranking of the top 15 OHL players:

#3 is our own Eric Tangradi

Seems pretty obvious that part of his success must come from his Belleville team since 3 out of the top 4 are from Belleville. But it still gives one hope that he might turn into a good'un.

Tangradi is the second leading scorer in the OHL. The fact that he is 214 pounds and a 20 year old in the juniors probably adds to his scoring total, since he is playing against smaller, younger players, but his scoring is still impressive. While his future is still uncertain, he certainly looks like he has NHL potential. Even better, he has already been signed by the Ducks to a three year entry contract.

[ducksfanforlife]

My guess is that the following players will get a full-time job with the Ducks next season:

- Drew Miller
- Andrew Ebbett
- Bobby Ryan (actually a shame to have to put him there)

These could/should be the part-time Ducks next year:

- Mark Mitera (!)
- Matt Beleskey
- Brian Salcido
- Brett Festerling
- Brendan Mikkelson
- John DeGray
- Nicolas Deschamps

Not so sure about Deschamps or DeGray but the rest for sure....

[forbesy]

Not so sure about Deschamps or DeGray but the rest for sure....

I agree with this. DeGray has been solid in his first year of pro, but is still a few years away from challenging for NHL time. Deschamps needs to get a lot stronger and deal with physical pressure more before he's ready for the next step.

Of the list provided, I would expect one of Mikkelson/Salcido/Festerling to play with the team full time next season.

Also, the list leaves out MacMillan, who despite being a bit of a disappointment since being drafted is at the very least comparable to Deschamps with an added physical element to his game.

[Dark Knight]

Ducks prospects in NCAA hockey tournament

Ducks prospect Nick Bonino is a sophomore forward for top-ranked and top-seeded Boston University, which is trying to win its first NCAA title since 1995.
...
Mark Mitera, the Ducks’ first round pick (19th overall) in the 2006 draft, is playing for the Wolverines after he missed 33 games because of surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered in the season opener.

Teammate Steve Kampfer, the Ducks’ fourth round pick in the 2007 draft, is also back after he missed 16 games from Oct.17 to Dec.6...

LINK

[TheJoeMan]

Ducks prospects in NCAA hockey tournament
LINK

So glad none of them are playing Bemijdi State in the first round. They are my underdog team because my brothers old teammate plays for them. But I hope our prospects have a good tournament. I expect Bonino and Mitera to get contracts shortly after it's over.

[SacredCow]

Once Michigan is eliminated can Mitera come play for the Ducks or the Chops?

It's worth noting that the NCAA Tournament games will be televised on ESPN 2, ESPN Classic and ESPNU.

[Duckster24]

Once Michigan is eliminated can Mitera come play for the Ducks or the Chops?

It's worth noting that the NCAA Tournament games will be televised on ESPNU.

Yes he can, but with the emphasis he put on his education, one wonders if he won't stay and finish out the semester so he can graduate. (Unless he already has enough units to graduate.) And if that happens, he could conveivably wait until August and become a free agent and sign with whomever he wants.

[Bryan]

now that i know about some of the north american players, can somebody identify some european players that could be up there next season? The ducks have Kontila, Wirtonen, Birner, and some european goalies. Do you think that they have a chance of playing?

[Todrick]

now that i know about some of the north american players, can somebody identify some european players that could be up there next season? The ducks have Kontila, Wirtonen, Birner, and some european goalies. Do you think that they have a chance of playing?

Maybe Wirtanen... He has looked decent in pre-season and at training camp...

But baring some sort of trade STEAL or unforeseen circumstances(aside from the Beauch/scott/pronger issue) I'd say the ducks we see now, are pretty close to the ducks roster we see next season.

[Bryan]

thanks Todrick, if the ducks hadn't acquired petteri nokelainen, i feel that Wirtanen wouldve fit there perfectly there. Birner is supposed to be a scorer, but he plays in Finland and it seems to me that he can't play. (less than 10 ponts ) The ducks have two european goalies too Modig, Stefaniszin who i feel just need a little bit of learning here in the states and they'll be fine. Stefan Warg is a big defenseman like Pronger, and we need another one of those

[Todrick]

i agree, Wirtanen saw his prospects dim slightly with Nokelainen's singing.

I'm not up on current stats and figures so much, but I make it a point to pay attention at camp and Wirtanen has done well. Funny you mention Warg... as I recall he is big... but that was about it.

A bit off topic but, Defense wise, I CAN NOT wait for Gardiner to get up here... I have not been as impressed with a kid since Bobby... you know what... I think I was more impressed with Jake, then Bobby last summer... but I think much of that was simply shock and awe with regards to his skating ability. I had expectations of Bobby and he finally met them... I had none for Jake and he blew me away. a couple years of development... he's gonna be a monster.