RD Jamie Drysdale (2020, 6th, ANA)

[tfong]

I don't think Anaheim has ever had a defensive prospect of his calibre. Kid is just really, really smart out there, and can skate like the wind.

Dunno if its just the shiny toy syndrome but Fowler looked really good I recall in his first year too.

 

[kilowatt]

God dammit. God f***ing dammit. Shit ass f*** shit. I knew he would be good, and now he's a Duck. I've got to watch Zegras and Drysdale carve up LA for the next decade and that's just f***ing great. f*** you Ottawa for taking Sanderson over Drysdale.

But for real, what a debut. He looks like Doughty did his rookie season. Please, Anaheim, ditch the orange, it's so fugly.

 

[Dominance]

Sanderson before Drysdale will age very poorly.

The same individuals saying Stutzle is clearly better than Byfield because of what he’s doing at a higher level sooner will probably take some issue with this comment.

 

[Mr Rogers]

Dunno if its just the shiny toy syndrome but Fowler looked really good I recall in his first year too.

It’s a completely reasonable position to take. He was also drafted 6 spots higher.

 

[Pavels Dog]

How does he look this good already. Damn. Impressive. Congrats Ducks fans. It's early, but looks like he could be a real steal.

 

[lawrence]

wow.... Ottawa and Detroit, lol you guys might be kicking yourself in the not so distant future if he Drys become a true elite dman. Ottawa too, Drysdale is an Ontario boy.

 

[Larkin2AA]

wow.... Ottawa and Detroit, lol you guys might be kicking yourself in the not so distant future if he Drys become a true elite dman. Ottawa too, Drysdale is an Ontario boy.

I mean, the Wings took Seider the year before... We need talent at all positions, but Raymond was the right pick at the time.

Regardless, Drysdale is going to be a good one for sure!

 

[Artorius Horus T]

And to think he is 18 supposed to be playing in the ohl

I was told that there was zero chance he plays in the NHL this season....

 

[Pavels Dog]

wow.... Ottawa and Detroit, lol you guys might be kicking yourself in the not so distant future if he Drys become a true elite dman. Ottawa too, Drysdale is an Ontario boy.

Drafting RHD at #6 looks like a good plan lately. I think from a positional standpoint we are fine in Detroit with passing over Drysdale, but that Ottawa decision looks a little more questionable. Anyway the big story is how quickly Drysdale seems to be taking these steps, not that Lafreniere, Byfield, Raymond, Sanders etc. can't become really good in their own right!

 

[canuck2010]

Dunno if its just the shiny toy syndrome but Fowler looked really good I recall in his first year too.

Fowler doesn't have the wheels that Drysdale does.

 

[Zegs2sendhelp]

Fowler doesn't have the wheels that Drysdale does.

Or the hockey sense in both ends of the ice or the ability to get shots through to the net.... they really arnt similar at all. Fowler’s game was literally his skating and that was about it. Drysdale is a much more complete package

 

[Gliff]

Fowler doesn't have the wheels that Drysdale does.

This isn’t true at all. Cam is a great skater.

The difference is that Drysdale uses his skating in all three zones and Cam just uses his in the defensive zone ever since getting his face bashed into the wall by Doan.

Drysdale was awesome. He reminded me of Doughty.

 

[Shroud of Orrin]

This debut - No surprise.

One thing I've noticed about Drysdale that sticks out time and time again other than the skating (which is ridiculous) is his seeing-eye ability with the shot. I remember reading a couple years ago when scouts were saying his shooting ability was avg. to poor. I don't know what they were thinking - he can really thread the needle.

 

[CheckingLineCenter]

Sanderson before Drysdale will age very poorly.

we will see but I do think it’s always been that Drysdale was better in the immediate, and Sanderson was this raw package that was a longer play.

All that said, not saying need should be a primary factor in drafting, but given Ottawa’s dearth of right shooting defenders... it does seem like they might’ve overthought it a bit.

 

[Trojans86]

This isn’t true at all. Cam is a great skater.

The difference is that Drysdale uses his skating in all three zones and Cam just uses his in the defensive zone ever since getting his face bashed into the wall by Doan.

Drysdale was awesome. He reminded me of Doughty.

Cam has excellent Edgework and decent speed. Drysdale has excellent edgework with great speed and more overall explosiveness.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Sanderson before Drysdale will age very poorly.

Guess you haven’t watched Sanderson at NoDak, his skating is great like his dad’s was, smooth and fast.

 

[Gliff]

Guess you haven’t watched Sanderson at NoDak, his skating is great like his dad’s was, smooth and fast.

Did you see Drysdale play last night in the NHL?

 

[CutOnDime97]

Did you see Drysdale play last night in the NHL?

Maybe they will both be good? Big fan of both

 

[Gliff]

Maybe they will both be good? Big fan of both

I agree 100%.

 

[Ed Ned and Leddy]

But I thought he was overrated because this was a weak draft for defensemen...

Stoked for Jaime, think he's one of the best young players around and one of the most fun to watch play.

 

[Sting]

The irony in here re: picking Sanderson over Drysdale after 1 game after seeing the Stutzle vs Lafren/Byfield threads. I can't even. The funny part is its not even Ducks fans doing this.

Happy to see Drysdale succeeding. Pretty impressive at his age!

 

[Dan Patrick]

The top of the 2020 draft is just a minefield for hot takes, Byfield vs Stützle, Drysdale vs Sanderson, Quinn vs all logic. I think most teams are going to be pretty happy with their players development this year. Further, if you are going to spend a lot of time comparing every prospect teams select to the one taken a few spots after them so early in their careers you are going to end up driving yourself crazy. Now if Byfield/Sanderson/Quinn were looking like total busts I think you can start to raise questions.

Back on topic, it's crazy to me that Drysdale's game has looked exactly the same at every level of play this past year. He hasn't lost a step playing against his peers, men in the AHL, and now full on NHL hockey. Just sublime skating with great hockey IQ to match.

 

[Gliff]

The irony in here re: picking Sanderson over Drysdale after 1 game after seeing the Stutzle vs Lafren/Byfield threads. I can't even. The funny part is its not even Ducks fans doing this.

Happy to see Drysdale succeeding. Pretty impressive at his age!

Thanks for noticing.

Ducks fans are just happy with what they have in Zegras and Drysdale. No need to try to win a debate on who is better between them and players taken before them.

 

[WhatTheDuck]

I'm not even sure young Fowler is close to Drysdale at this point.

To this point, Lindholm is the best Dman ever drafted and developed by the Ducks org. I think it is very fair to suggest that Drysdale had the more impressive debut and has the potential to become their best ever homegrown defenseman.

 

[The Devilish Buffoon]

wow.... Ottawa and Detroit, lol you guys might be kicking yourself in the not so distant future if he Drys become a true elite dman. Ottawa too, Drysdale is an Ontario boy.

Drysdale will become an elite DMan, no doubt about it. Nothing Drysdale has done should be surprising, so there's not much reason to change your view on him unless you undervalued him.

I dont think Ottawa will regret a thing, though. Can't speak for Detroit, although I had Drysdale comfortably ahead of Raymond.