15 replies to this topic

[TroyLoney]

I was looking through an old copy of The Hockey News and it was the 2008 Future Watch. Here were the Ducks top 10 prospects in that issue:

1. Bobby Ryan
2. Brian Salcido
3. Brendan Mikkelson
4. J.P. Levasseur
5. Petteri Wirtanen
6. Logan MacMillan
7. Eric Tangradi
8. Mark Mitera
9. Matt Beleskey
10. Maxime Mecenauer

The name at #2 jumped out at me and I thought - whatever happened to that guy? He got a cup of coffee with the Ducks in February of 2009 but I haven't seen, or heard, from him since. What's his status and does he still have a future with this organization?

[20rules]

I tried doing a search. Sorry, I got nuthin'.

[forbesy]

Played for the Manitoba Moose this season, was one of the few blue liners to stay healthy in Manitoba, so despite being Anaheim's prospect playing for Vancouver, he did see a fair share of time but his numbers went down because of the way the team used their blue liners during even strength and most of his offense came during the powerplay (5 of his eight goals and 10 of his 18 points came with the man advantage).

I'd list him as being unlikely to be brought back by the Ducks when his contract expires this summer, at least on an NHL contract. Maybe as depth in Syracuse, depending on how the other contracts shake out. He's now 25, he's strictly an offensive defenseman who hasn't improved his play in his own end enough to make the jump. In Anaheim's organization, players like Sbisa, Mikkelson, Festerling and Mitera are all ahead of him.

This is totally blowing my own horn, but at the time that Hockey News list was released, the list I had done for Hockey's Future listed Salcido as being much lower.

[iSkelly87]

I really liked what forbesy had to say about a player I expect he didn't follow all to well this season. I'd be interested in seeing your current list of prospects and where Dan Sexton and some of the other ducks prospects that played in Bakersfield lands on the list. Especially a year with out a lot of AHL time most of the players did see a lot of ECHL time on top of most got a little AHL time.

[Getzlaf_15]

He's no worse than Eminger, expect Eminger was a first-round pick (If I'm not mistaken, too lazy to search it) so Eminger will get chance after chance, continue to do basically nothing, while Salcido rots away.

[forbesy]

I really liked what forbesy had to say about a player I expect he didn't follow all to well this season. I'd be interested in seeing your current list of prospects and where Dan Sexton and some of the other ducks prospects that played in Bakersfield lands on the list. Especially a year with out a lot of AHL time most of the players did see a lot of ECHL time on top of most got a little AHL time.

I don't cover the Anaheim prospects as closely as I once did, simply because my 'beat' with Hockey's Future has shifted to being the QMJHL.
The last list I did was the fall of 2008.
With that said, this muddled year wrecks havoc on a lot of prospects. The Edmonton Oilers had a similar season a few years ago and the effects of the disruption of development are still being felt on that organization.

He's no worse than Eminger, expect Eminger was a first-round pick (If I'm not mistaken, too lazy to search it) so Eminger will get chance after chance, continue to do basically nothing, while Salcido rots away.

With due respect, that's ridiculous on a number of levels.
First off, the Ducks have shown time and time again that deserving players will get the chance, regardless of age, contract or draft position. Witness what they did with Getzlaf, Perry, Kunitz and Bryzgalov among others over the years. On the flip side, witness what they did with players like Jason York in the past. Anaheim is not purposely holding Salcido back. Does his waiver eligibility make him a less likely target for the Ducks to call up? Definitely. But his play hasn't come close to putting him ahead of guys like Mikkelson or Festerling. Over the past two years, while Salcido has played in two NHL games, Mikkelson and Festerling have played in a combined 145 games. The proof is in the pudding.

To say Eminger is getting a roster spot because he was a first-round pick eight years ago is equally mind-boggling. Since being drafted, he's played almost 350 NHL games with five different NHL teams. Does he have his flaws? Definitely. But I would hazard a guess that Anaheim was rather aware of those shortcomings when they signed him. He wasn't a mystery player coming out of Europe that scouts watched in dimly lit arenas. Eminger is an NHL veteran and maybe the contract is too much or too long for your appetite, but the Ducks clearly did not want to ice an inexperienced blue line with three of Sbisa, Mikkelson, Festerling, etc. etc. So instead, last offseason, they looked at who was available on the free agent line and Eminger fit their pricetag, need and willingness to come to Anaheim. In fact, look at Luca Sbisa and look at Eminger and there's a great example why sending Sbisa to junior was a good idea. Eminger was rushed to the NHL and probably isn't as good as he could have been because of it.

Finally, I'm frankly unsure how you came to the conclusion that a 25-year-old who has seen two games of NHL activity is better or worse than Eminger. Maybe you were impressed with him in training camp or caught some games in Portland, Iowa or Manitoba, but there's good reason why one is playing in the NHL and another one isn't. Salcido's play hasn't merited him enough attention to deserve a longer shot at the show.

[TroyLoney]

Thanks for the information, forbesy. I was hoping that Salcido would become an NHL regular with the Ducks as I thought it would be cool to have a SoCal native on the team. Too bad it didn't work out. I hope the team re-signs him to a two-way contract this summer, though, and that he can play for them in Syracuse.

[Dark Knight]

Salcido's play hasn't merited him enough attention to deserve a longer shot at the show.

Sad to hear, he seemed to have quite a bit of promise. At least, on paper

[MrsBevo]

We need more of that kind of analysis around here Forbesy! Thanks for the insight. It is very helpful.

[Rooch20]

Indeed, we really appreciate your work with HockeysFuture and hanging around in our boards. Thanks for the info!

[Duckster24]

Signed with Sparta in Czech Republic.

http://hcsparta.cz/

[Dark Knight]

Signed with Sparta in Czech Republic.

http://hcsparta.cz/

Nice photo of... Mikkelson Let's hope the rest of the article is more accurate.

[QuackHead]

Too bad he didn't make it.

[Dark Knight]

Signed with Sparta in Czech Republic.

http://hcsparta.cz/

Now confirmed -- LINK

[Dark Knight]

Salcido, 25, said there were no discussions between him and the Ducks on a contract extension. He had signed a one-year contract with the Ducks in July of 2009 but his stock went down after a poor training camp and he was placed on waivers.

The Ducks wanted another team to claim Salcido, an offensive defenseman with decent size at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds.

But Salcido cleared waivers and was re-assigned to the Manitoba Moose because Ducks general manager Bob Murray felt that organization was the best place for Salcido to develop.

Read More >>

[Duckster24]

Now confirmed -- LINK

Is that a confirmation of a confirmation???