I understood it this way too.
Verbeek wanted to trade up around pick 16 (iirc, could be 18th pick);
@HanSolo shared on our draft GDT that the Ducks were on the phone around that pick. They made the trade with Toronto at 23 with a few people in mind, but not expecting Solberg to be available at 23.
This will be a fun exercise. I added RD Badinka because he was also a late riser and Anaheim loves late risers.
Here are picks 24 to 30.
24. C Beaudoin (OHL)
25. C LeTourneau (St. Andrews College, headed to NCAA)
26. RW Greentree (OHL)
27. LW Vanacker (OHL)
28. RW Gridin (USHL, headed to NCAA)
29. RW Hemming (Finland)
30. RD EJ Emery (US NTDP, headed to NCAA)
...
34. RD Badinka (Sweden)
We can cross off the NCAA guys because Verbeek hasn't used a pick above the 5th round on an NCAA bound prospect since he took over GM duties for the draft for the past three drafts.
Here are picks 24 to 30 without NCAA bound guys
24. C Beaudoin (OHL)
26. RW Greentree (OHL)
27. LW Vanacker (OHL)
29. RW Hemming (Finland)
...
34. RD Badinka (Sweden)
We haven't drafted a Finnish prospect since round 2 of the 2015 draft with C Nattinen. I was hoping the Ducks would draft 6'2 and 187 lbs, Finnish RD Soini in the later rounds of the 2024 draft, but went with a 5'10 and 152 lbs C Blais in the 4th round. Guess our scouts really don't like Finnish prospects.
Here are picks 24 to 30 without NCAA bound guys or Finnish guys
24. C Beaudoin (OHL)
26. RW Greentree (OHL)
27. LW Vanacker (OHL)
...
34. RD Badinka (Sweden)
That's a small group there. My preferences would be between Vanacker and Badinka.