Anaheim Ducks: Top 8 prospects worth getting excited about

6. Henry Thrun

Henry Thrun has really turned some heads since being drafted in the fourth-round (101 overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. The six-foot-two defenceman had a good season with the U.S. National Under-18 Team in the USHL in 2018-19, showing his offensive skill with 23 points in 28 games. However, there were little expectations for him this past season given that he was playing as a freshman for Harvard University at just 18-years-old.

As it turned out, not only did Thrun fit in, he stood out in a big way, finishing third in points on the backend with 21 in just 31 games. The big season has shot him way up the Ducks prospect chart and has many thinking he could soon be considered a big-time draft steal. While he is likely still a few seasons away from making an impact at the NHL level, he has turned into a very impressive prospect.

5. Jacob Perreault

The Anaheim Ducks had two first round picks at the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, the second of which they used on forward Jacob Perreault (27 overall). While numbers don’t mean everything, Perreault’s 39 goals in 57 games with the Sarnia Sting of the OHL make it clear he is one of the best finishers in this year’s draft. It was no fluke either, as he put up 30 the season prior as a rookie.

While the offence is great, his defensive play needs some serious work before he is ready to be an NHLer. This season saw him put up a very concerning plus/minus of minus34. To put this in perspective, the only player who finished ahead of him in points on his team was Sean Josling, who finished as a plus1. Despite his defensive play, or lack thereof, he is just 18-years-old and has plenty of time to improve on it.