Player Discussion Drew Helleson

[Hockey Duckie]

He's on a bit of a heater with 7 points in his last 7 games

WIll he be in the mix for a spot in the top 7 next year?

For the AHL club, most definitely! For the NHL club, it's highly unlikely. Helleson still hasn't figured out what his game is, is it being a shutdown guy, an offensive guy, or a two-way guy? Right now, he's in the middle of nowhere even though he's scored 7 points in the last 6 games of the season.

The NHL blue line might look like this next season...

Fowler - Luneau
Mintyukov - LaCombe
Zellweger - Gudas
Extras: Vaak, Lindstrom

There isn't room for Helleson if all those defensemen return.

 

[FiveTacos]

Extras: Vaak, Lindstrom

There isn't room for Helleson if all those defensemen return.

I think at most they keep one of Vaak and Lindstrom. And would not be shocked if they moved on from both ... It just depends on what the internal eval is of guys like Helleson. He's 23, either he gets a look next year or you might as well move on.

 

[McDonald19]

Another season of development, as 24-25 is his final waiver exemption season.

 

[MMC]

2 assists in his first game up

 

[Kalv]

2 assists in his first game up

In his NHL career he has 3p in 4 games. Around 62 point pace in a full season

 

[70sSanO]

I thought he looked good against Detroit. I think he needs to be given a chance.

It is unfortunate LaCombe has taken a step back. If Helleson can replace LaCombe that would be a good thing.

John

 

[KelVarnsen]

I dont think Helleson is going to replace anyone. IMO hes not good. He may be ok for a game or two while he plays on adrenaline but in my mind, he's an AHL player.

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I dont think Helleson is going to replace anyone. IMO hes not good. He may be ok for a game or two while he plays on adrenaline but in my mind, he's an AHL player.

swing and a miss on that Manson deal..

 

[Sean Garrity]

swing and a miss on that Manson deal..

You’d rather 30ish games of Manson than Helleson and a 2nd?

 

[MMC]

I dont think Helleson is going to replace anyone. IMO hes not good. He may be ok for a game or two while he plays on adrenaline but in my mind, he's an AHL player.

What are you basing this on? Because he's only played one game this season and 4 in his career and in his one game this season he was fine by all metrics

 

[MMC]

swing and a miss on that Manson deal..

Helleson is playing games for this Ducks team. Manson in all likelihood was walking to FA and would not be. Not to mention the pick that got us Carey Terrance

 

[Ducksforcup]

Wouldn't give him up on him yet He makes some really good reads in the breakout and he's helped improved the flow of the team.

Small sample size, but his game seems to suit the NHL more than AHL potentially.

 

[Hamilton Bulldogs]

Thought he looked solid tonight. Smart game and got the puck out of the zone easily. Might be a decent 7th / 6th D-man.

 

[LuGBuG]

Looked great. Still very young in DMan years

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

I haven’t watched the gulls this year so much but last year he was terrible with the puck on his stick but really good without it. Solid defender with no offensive upside. That’s not how he’s looked in Anaheim, though.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-helleson-has-make-or-break-opportunity-with-latest-call-up

 

[JAHV]

I haven’t watched the gulls this year so much but last year he was terrible with the puck on his stick but really good without it. Solid defender with no offensive upside. That’s not how he’s looked in Anaheim, though.

I'm generally skeptical of the hockey pundit cliches ("he's one of those guys whose game fits the NHL better than the AHL for...reasons"), but perhaps it's true in this case. Maybe he feeds off the confidence and better skill of the guys around him. Who knows? His advanced stats don't look very good, but he's looked solid from the eye test.

 

[The Midnight Burrito]

I'm generally skeptical of the hockey pundit cliches ("he's one of those guys whose game fits the NHL better than the AHL for...reasons"), but perhaps it's true in this case. Maybe he feeds off the confidence and better skill of the guys around him. Who knows? His advanced stats don't look very good, but he's looked solid from the eye test.

If he can just complete a short pass after making a puck recovery then that’s really all he needs to do as a shutdown guy in his own zone. In theory an NHL squad could have better-skilled, smarter guys playing a more rigorous system than an AHL one. I’m not sure all of that holds in this case, but maybe?

 

[70sSanO]

I’m not sure what people expect of Helleson. If he can play decent defense, move the puck, and pick up some points he’ll be fine.

I imagine some are afraid Verbeek will see him as the top 4 RHD instead of signing the mythical FA.

Teams just don’t move, or let walk, certain players in their prime. But there is always a market for 30yo wanting a long term contract at a value that usually becomes an anchor at some point.

I’m happy Helleson looks competent. Although time will tell if it continues. It is a lot more promising than the endless stream of d-men playing on their off side.

John

 

[Hockey Duckie]

I think Helleson's very good if his game is simplified as a shutdown RD who gets the puck out safely. In the AHL, it felt like they were trying to make him into top-pairing, all around RD and it hasn't worked out for him in his AHL career. In the NHL, Helleson isn't being fitted into a top-pairing role and it's working for him. He doesn't have to be an offensive d-man because Anaheim already has a bunch of them.

 

[ZegrassyKnoll]

I'm generally skeptical of the hockey pundit cliches ("he's one of those guys whose game fits the NHL better than the AHL for...reasons"), but perhaps it's true in this case. Maybe he feeds off the confidence and better skill of the guys around him. Who knows? His advanced stats don't look very good, but he's looked solid from the eye test.

If he can just complete a short pass after making a puck recovery then that’s really all he needs to do as a shutdown guy in his own zone. In theory an NHL squad could have better-skilled, smarter guys playing a more rigorous system than an AHL one. I’m not sure all of that holds in this case, but maybe?

FWIW Hazy's reasoning on the broadcast last night was that NHL players are "where they're supposed to be" and that it's a faster but "less chaotic" style of play.

 

[TheStuntman]

Always thought his ceiling was as a stay at home shutdown physical dman.

 

[JAHV]

FWIW Hazy's reasoning on the broadcast last night was that NHL players are "where they're supposed to be" and that it's a faster but "less chaotic" style of play.

Yeah, I heard that and my BS detector immediately went off, especially given the specific criticism of this roster (levied by the players themselves!) that guys don't always know where each other is going to be. But perhaps it's true in this case.

 

[tomd]

Always thought his ceiling was as a stay at home shutdown physical dman.

Not a bad outcome if he is good at that.

 

[duckpuck]

Yeah, I heard that and my BS detector immediately went off, especially given the specific criticism of this roster (levied by the players themselves!) that guys don't always know where each other is going to be. But perhaps it's true in this case.

Remember, the comparison is to the AHL. So, relatively speaking, the Duck's NHL structure could be: (i) better than the AHL; and (ii) still not good enough by NHL standards. If that's the case, Helleson might be a better fit in the NHL.