The Ducks made seven selections on Saturday’s Day 2 of the NHL Draft after stunning the floor with their selection of Beckett Sennecke third overall and trading up to grab hard-hitting defenseman Stian Solberg at No. 23 on Friday.
Here are glimpses at each of the newest members of the flock.
Pettersson might be described as Leo Carlsson Light in that he combines deceptiveness, creativity, a vast array of subtle movements and fluid skating to take over both shifts and lines. He is, however, noticeably smaller than Carlsson, and his lack of consistency was likely what dropped him out of Round 1. He also leans more toward goal-scoring than playmaking, as 27 of his 57 points in 44 games as a Swedish junior last season were goals.
Size and competitiveness have been emphases for the Ducks and Massé continues that trend. He made offensive strides in his second junior season when he was an alternate captain for the Saguenéens. He garnered honors as the QMJHL’s top pro prospect after winning that league and the entire CHL’s rookie of the year awards a year earlier. He’s a right-handed shot with the work ethic to stick as a bottom-six forward if the top-six doesn’t materialize for him.
He and the opponent-crunching Solberg should become fast friends as Procyszyn also plays a controlled but abrasive and sometimes violent game. He’ll level opponents, sure, but he will also give subtle bumps leading to dispossessions, angle skaters into corners and use his teammates to trap attackers. That all plays into another strength of his, initiating transition. Skating and shooting are areas that may be lacking presently.
Smith has many bankable facets to his game already and has made progress in virtually every area, though he is still defining his style and physique alike. His skating and play in his own zone have come along nicely while his offensive instincts, poise, misdirection savvy and escape ability have long been present. He may develop into a strong-value pick in time, partially as a result of the high quality of defensemen in this prospect crop.
Blais has quick feet and his hands don’t lag behind, making him an excellent playmaker who can also create tempo. Beyond his straight-line speed, his ability to use his edges and move laterally also stands out routinely. Blais will need to add to his slight frame –– he played at around 150 pounds last season –– and perhaps develop a more effective shot to keep defenders honest. The Ducks acquired this pick and No. 214 overall in a trade with the Kings for the 164th overall pick.
Bernevik stands 6-foot-4 and is firmly over 200 pounds already after his first campaign in the USHL, finishing second in the league in goals. He’ll move onto the collegiate level next season and look to build on a strong offensive campaign. He’s a raw prospect with size and a nifty backhand as part of an appealing arsenal of shots. Skating and defensive play are still works in progress.
Uljanskis is a Latvian who moved to Sweden in 2021 to further his development. He represented Latvia at both the U18 and U20 World Junior Championships, where he consistently stood out among his teammates. He’s got NHL size while his skating and ability to read the play have both improved over the course of his time in Sweden.
