I just don't see Fantilli returning to college. I think if he were to return there would be stretches during the year where it'd look like a joke, and perhaps it would be even more than just stretches of the season.
Prospect Info: 2023 NHL Draft - Part 2 (Who Do You Want To Draft At #2)
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Anaheim4ever
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Both Oiler and Kings fans see Fantilli as the one they don't want to face on the Ducks.
They all seem to believe he's the best player at #2, from their perspective yeah you definitely don't want Anaheim getting a guy who can take over a game with his speed, hard shot, motor, skills, compete level, size. They don't want to be facing a guy who's like a mix of MacKinnon & Tkatchuk.
They all seem to believe he's the best player at #2, from their perspective yeah you definitely don't want Anaheim getting a guy who can take over a game with his speed, hard shot, motor, skills, compete level, size. They don't want to be facing a guy who's like a mix of MacKinnon & Tkatchuk.
This interview makes me feel he is looking to start in the NHL next season…
Wanted to learn to play with adults, and on a higher level. I just don’t see him going back to college. This is just my opinion of course. I see him going the Eichel path into the NHL. Doesn‘t look out of place, could have easily put up double the amount of points based on his play. I just don‘t see what the college level can do for him anymore. Unless it’s his choice then forgot everything I just said. Lol.
I think when Verbeek interviews him pre-draft, that is going to be a critical question, and a path right to NHL may be the plan. We shall see.
Wanted to learn to play with adults, and on a higher level. I just don’t see him going back to college. This is just my opinion of course. I see him going the Eichel path into the NHL. Doesn‘t look out of place, could have easily put up double the amount of points based on his play. I just don‘t see what the college level can do for him anymore. Unless it’s his choice then forgot everything I just said. Lol.
I think when Verbeek interviews him pre-draft, that is going to be a critical question, and a path right to NHL may be the plan. We shall see.
Vinegar Strokes
Dirty Ducks
Genuinely curious, when was the last time a 1st round draft caliber player won the Hobey Baker and returned to play in college?
I haven’t done any research but I would think that would be extremely rare and that’s not even taking his pro-ready size into account.
Not sure but it’s why I bring up Eichel. Both of them won the Hobey Baker, played in the WC before the draft, and both are pretty big kids as well.
If he is going to go to SD for like a 20 game stint sorta like what Z did then join the Ducks later, can see that happening. But there is nothing more the college level can do for him.
All I know is, if we do draft him, lock him up immediately. Don’t wait.
WhatTheDuck
9 - 20 - 8
The last Hobey Baker winner who didn't turn pro the next season - Ryan Duncan in 2006/07. A 5'6 forward who won in his sophomore year and then played his two remaining seasons (never coming close to the same numbers).
Two years prior, Marty Sertich won as a junior and then returned for his senior season, but again an undersized undrafted guy.
Ryan Miller won as a sophomore in 2000-01 and played one more college season before turning pro. But of course that's a goalie drafted 5th round and not a top prospect.
For the only real answer to your question, we have to go back 30 years to our own Paul Kariya. Won the Hobey Baker as a freshman in 1992-93 and was selected 4th overall by the Ducks. He then returned to play a few games back in college the next year before joining the Canadian national program.
Those are the only four HB winners in 30 years to not turn pro the next year. Hasn't happened with an early draft pick since Kariya. Though obviously the majority of winners are seniors.
Vinegar Strokes
Dirty Ducks
Thanks for that, so it would be almost unheard of for him to go back. Especially for his size and draft position. That tracks with what I expected, why would a top draft pick who was already named the best player in college go back for another season, especially since he’s not undersized.
For Karyia, did he not play in the NHL because of s lockout or something?
Ducks like late risers, but lardis might not be there at 33.
Hockey Duckie
Registered User
He might be able to fit the height requirement of Verbeek, though. We didn't draft small last draft. Verbeek passed up on offensive players in Grimaldi (FA) and Tolvanen (waivers) for bigger players like Leason (waivers) and Megna (waivers).
I'm not sure about Verbeek's tendencies about late risers. If we applied that to last year's draft, then Kulich would have been the draft pick. Central Scouting's midterm ranking of Kulich was 22nd and the final ranking was 13th. And if Verbeek was more focused on scoring, then Snuggerud would have been that player.
2022 Forward selections
Rd 1, 22nd OA: 6'3 C Gaucher (Safe pick)
Rd 4. : 6'3 C King (double overager, big, high scorer, and can't skate... not a gamble pick)
Rd 5. : 6'2 LW Hvidston (first gamble on a forward prospect, Sept baby)
Rd 6. : 6'4 RW Callow (project goal scoring PF going NCAA route)
Also, I guess 6' LW Tracey and 6' Perreault (guess he grew an inch since he was draft) having minor setbacks last season in San Diego doesn't help with the smaller players preference.
I think people are reading wayyy to much into height as being a huge factor for verbeek, based one one draft. Pat himself is like 5’9”.
I think Pat values strength, toughness, grit, complete (overall being tough to play against), much more than height alone.
I think Pat values strength, toughness, grit, complete (overall being tough to play against), much more than height alone.
Ducks DVM
sowcufucakky
Fantilli looks like someone put the brain of a cat into the body of a foal. Knows where he wants to go, gets there quickly, but all arms and legs Flailing about.
Not a bad game but not a great game from Fantilli in the final. Less than zero chemistry with his line today. Still, he can hang his hat on a game winning goal to send his team to a gold medal game.
The Mighty Duck Man
R-E-L-A-X
The Olympics, that was before NHL players went so it was probably viewed as a potential once in a lifetime opportunity.
I also don’t think this is any kind of worry. According to Scott Wheeler(I think) Michigan doesn’t think he’ll be back and that’s usually a pretty big indicator.
Emerald Duck
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The Mighty Duck Man
R-E-L-A-X
Maybe, but it’s a fairly compelling look at things. The next young player he adds to the organization that’s under 6’1 or shorter will be his first, and I say adds because it holds true for all the prospects he’s traded for too. Which isn’t to say it won’t happen, it inevitably will, but it sure looks like a trend.
And honestly I don’t think Verbeek’s own stature is relevant. I thought it might, and for some it definitely might, but it’s also just as possible he understands as good as anyone the advantages that size comes with, which might very well explain this trend. Hell, in general it seems most former players don’t make moves as GM that really reflect their playing career.
One wonders how long the careers of Drysdale and Zellweger will be with the Ducks.
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Ya maybe we can trade Drysdale for a pick in the 8-10 range so we can draft Reinbacher this year.
Interesting idea. With PV at the helm I don't see any way that both Drysdale and Zellweger will be in the lineup.
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I prob agree its tough to see both in the line up.... honestly with any GM... not even just PV.
Off the top of my head i cant recall very many d cores, that have 2 smallish players.
Makar + Girard is the obvious 1....
Makar and Drysdale(at least on nhl.com are both 5'11), i feel like that is prob pretty generous for drysdale.
Girard is listed at 5'10, zellweger 5'9.
And this is all before you add in fowler... who isnt under 6 feet tall... but he plays like hes 5'4
Still have to wait a bit tho... i think its too early to move drysdale(personally i think he still has a lot to show).... and zellweger you cant move until you start to see what he brings at nhl level.
Hypothetically in 3 years
Mintyukov 6'3 Drysdale 5'11
Hinds 6'3 Luneau 6'2
Zellweger 5'9 Helleson 6'3
Lacombe 6'2 Warren 6'5
Doesnt look as bad, once you move on from guys like fowler imo
We've heard this for the past year, but so far he sure hasn't shown any effort in employing that philosophy.
If nothing else, PV has a couple of good trade chips to work with.
The Mighty Duck Man
R-E-L-A-X
That might be getting too far ahead of ourselves, it’s quite possible the push for size among prospects was because of the core prospects Verbeek inherited all being kind of small and not because of his general worldview. At the same time, though, regardless of that it’s probably fair to ponder if those two as a third of your defense can be part of a winning formula. I’m a bit skeptical, myself.
The Mighty Duck Man
R-E-L-A-X
Minnesota was pretty small, especially their right side pre-Klingberg and Faber, but Spurgeon is a unicorn and their whole system is pretty great(and still got them nowhere).
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I do think the direction of the game... and physicality within the game certainlly makes having a smallish defensive plausible.... mobility seems to be 1 of the bigger priorities on the back end nowadays.
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