When it comes to strong prospect pools, the Anaheim Ducks are not talked about enough.
Their future looks strong when you mention guys like Mason McTavish, Jamie Drysdale and Urho Vaakanainen who have broken into the league and become mainstays in the Ducks lineup.
Looking even further ahead though, the Ducks have a few pieces on their back end that they’ve picked up over the last few drafts that could make them one of the strongest defensive teams in the NHL.
Three strong defensive prospects within the Anaheim Ducks prospect pool.
Today, I’ll look at three of the best defensemen they have secured, that will likely break into the NHL as early as next season.
Olen Zellweger – 2021 2nd Round Draft Pick, 34th Overall. 19 Years Old
One of the most overlooked prospects in the NHL, and one of my personal favorites, is Olen Zellweger. A 5-foot-10, 174-pound D-man from Calgary, Alberta, Zellweger has been praised as a smooth skater with a two-way game.
His offensive ability stands out as his biggest strength, and it shows in his numbers. In his first three seasons with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League, Zellweger put up 103 points in 124 games played.
This season alone Zellweger has over a point per game, with 10 goals and 18 assists through 23 games played while earning his second selection to the World Junior Championships to represent Team Canada.
Last year, Zellweger had two goals and nine assists for 11 points through seven games with Team Canada. This year, he has a point per game with no goals and five assists through the first five games of the tournament.
His size may be a worry to some fans, but he still throws his body around when he has to and plays bigger than he actually is. His speed is evident on every play and he knows exactly when he needs to jump up into the rush.
As a left-handed defender, Zellweger could easily find himself on the Ducks’ top pairing in a couple of seasons, and I think it’s safe to say he’s going to have a lengthy career.
Pavel Mintyukov – 2022 1st Round Pick, 10th Overall. 19 Years Old
Pavel Mintyukov is believed to have a much higher ceiling than Olen Zellweger and rightfully so. Mintyukov, a 6-foot-1, 192-pound Russian defenseman averaging well over a point per game this season, is something the Ducks should be excited about.
With 101 games played over two seasons in the OHL with the Saginaw Spirit, Mintyukov has 31 goals and 82 assists to his name for a whopping 113 points. His offensive ability is what stood out to many scouts going into the 2022 draft.
He has some holes in his own end, as he has been criticized for his weak zone exits whenever he carries the puck out, but has been praised for being able to make up for his mistakes most of the time.
There is definitely some concern over whether or not his offensive game can transfer over to the NHL, but the Ducks were extremely high on him for a reason.
If he can clean up his own end and become a more well-rounded two-way defenseman, he could easily move himself into a top-four slot in the Ducks lineup and remain there for years to come.
He has shown improvement this season during his time in Saginaw, but I believe he is still at least another full junior hockey season away from making it to the NHL.
Tyson Hinds – 2021 3rd Round Pick, 76th Overall. 19 Years Old.
This pick for the Ducks was a steal. At 6-foot-3, 181 pounds, Tyson Hinds is a player that never should’ve slipped as far as he did.
Hinds has spent time in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with three different teams, most recently serving as the assistant captain of Sherbrooke Phoenix. This is his fourth season in the QMJHL, and he has 175 games under his belt already.
In those games, he has added 29 goals and 61 assists for 90 points. This season, though, has seemingly been a breakout year for Hinds. Through 27 games, he has nine goals and 19 assists for over a point per game with 28 in total.
Like Zellweger, Hinds earned the opportunity this year to represent Team Canada at the World Junior Championships. Through five games at the WJC, he has two goals.
Hinds definitely has some holes in his game, but nothing too major that can’t be fixed. He always plays physical and very clearly has a defensive mindset.
He is the first one back in his zone on the back check, can read plays and execute zone exits very well, and has added an offensive side that no one really expected to take off as much as it has this season.
Although he is likely headed to the AHL before he makes the jump to the big leagues, I don’t think it will be long before we see Tyson Hinds in an Anaheim Ducks jersey.