Anaheim Ducks: Top 8 prospects worth getting excited about

For today’s top 8 prospects, we are reviewing the Anaheim Ducks.

Not too long ago, the Anaheim Ducks were one of the most feared teams in the entire NHL, as they were not only a highly skilled team, but also very physical. However, they have slowed down over the years as their top end players are on the back nine of their careers.

Corey Perry, who was once one of the most feared goal scorers in the entire league, was bought out prior to the 2019-20 season, while long time captain Ryan Getzlaf has seen his production drop off in recent years.

As a result, the Ducks have plummeted down the standings, finishing 27th in the league this past season. However, they have some solid young players in Sam Steel, Troy Terry, and Max Jones who have begun to get NHL experience and should be improved heading into the 2020-21 season. They also have a few pretty intriguing prospects, a list which they were able to improve upon very recently at the 2020 NHL Draft.

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As mentioned in the other top 8 prospects articles, any player who has played in more NHL games in a season than any other league, regardless of the season, will not be included. That is why players such as Steel, Terry, Jones, and Brendan Guhle are not on this list. With that said, here are the top 8 prospects in the Ducks system.

8. Benoit-Olivier Groulx

Since almost day one of being drafted in the second-round (54th overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Ducks management and fans alike have been extremely excited about Benoit-Olivier Groulx. Not only has he put up good numbers over his four seasons in the QMJHL, but he has proven to be outstanding defensively as well. His hard-working mentality makes him a player coaches love.

While his draft year season with the Halifax Mooseheads in which he put up 28 goals and 55 points was solid, his past two seasons have really shown just how good he is. The 2018-19 season saw the Rouen, France native score 31 goals and 80 points in just 65 games.

This most recent season, despite being traded to the Moncton Wildcats midway through the year, was more of the same as he had a combined 78 points. He will make his professional debut this upcoming season and will definitely be a player to keep an eye on.

7. Josh Mahura

Ducks fans have gotten to know defenceman Josh Mahura a little bit already, as he has played a combined 28 games over the past two seasons. While his play at the NHL level hasn’t been overly special to this point, he is still a very young player. The 22-year-old was selected by the Ducks in the third-round (85 overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.

At the time he was drafted, he was playing for the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL, but was a risky pick as he only appeared in two regular season games due to a torn left MCL as well as a partially torn meniscus.

Once recovered, he proved to the Ducks brass they made the right choice, as he posted a very impressive 22 goals and 69 points in 60 games during his final WHL season.

This past season saw him appear in 44 games for the San Diego Gulls of the AHL where he had 21 points, as well as 11 games with the Ducks where he put up four points. Expect him to compete for a full-time spot with the Ducks next training camp.