Corey Pronman details what to expect from the Anaheim Ducks’ new prospects and how they fit into the farm system.
2023 Draft Grade: A-
Leo Carlsson is an excellent prospect. The Carlsson vs. Adam Fantilli debate has been done a lot — I leaned the other way, and it’s not going to be rehashed here. Carlsson can be a star No. 1 center and that means a lot. Nico Myatovic, Carey Terrance, Coulson Pitre and Damian Clara all have real chances to play in the NHL, too. The Ducks added a lot of skill while also getting a lot bigger. Carlsson is the only sure thing, but I think one of their Day 2 guys will be a career NHLer, too.
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Draft Class
2. Leo Carlsson, C, OREBRO (SWEDEN)
December 26, 2004 | 6′ 2″ | 194 pounds
Tier: NHL All-Star
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: High-end
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Player comparable: Tomas Hertl
Background: Carlsson was an important player for Orebro, who were a semifinalist in the SHL this season. He was given top-nine minutes at even strength and often flanked their top power-play unit. He is one of the more productive first-year draft eligibles in the SHL in modern history. He was a top player for Sweden’s world juniors team. He was invited to the senior Sweden team at the world championships, where he played center for the first time this season.
Analysis: Carlsson has elite skill, which when combined with his frame and a strong motor, has allowed him to be a very good player in a great league as a draft eligible. Carlsson routinely shows the ability to beat pro defenders with skill. He gets a ton of chances in the high-percentage areas, both due to his hands and his willingness to attack the net. He’s an excellent playmaker as well with a very imaginative offensive mind who can run a pro power play and often played the flank in the SHL on the man advantage. His only drawback is a lack of true separation speed. I’ve seen worse feet on a 6-foot-3 guy, but he won’t be turning NHL defensemen around. He’s mostly played wing the last two years but has enough experience at center and the traits to play the middle that I could see him become a legit No. 1 center in the NHL with star upside.
Thoughts on the pick: In Carlsson, Anaheim gets a dynamic playmaking center with size, a player with the high-end skill and hockey sense to be a big-time offensive contributor in the NHL. Carlsson at No. 2 may be a surprise to some. Many, like myself, have rated Adam Fantilli higher all season. But many in the NHL were concerned by Fantilli’s hockey sense at No. 2 overall over Leo. Time will tell if his sense will hold back his offense in the NHL, but Carlsson will provide an elite skill component to complement the nastiness of Mason McTavish and Nathan Gaucher down the middle.
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33. Nico Myatovic, LW, SEATTLE (WHL)
December 1, 2004 | 6′ 2″ | 180 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average
Background: Myatovic played a top-six role on a top CHL team for most of the season, playing on both special teams for Seattle. He’s developed very well since being drafted in the sixth round of his WHL Bantam Draft.
Analysis: Myatovic is a 6-foot-2 winger with a strong skill level. He won’t bring you out of your seats, but he can beat defenders with his stickhandling. He has enough vision and offensive IQ to create chances at higher levels. Myatovic also has a strong wrist shot. His compete is fine. I think he gives an honest effort, although I would like to see him get to the net more. His skating is fine for his frame. His stride isn’t heavy, but in the NHL he likely won’t pull away from opponents. He checks enough boxes to project as a bottom-six winger.
59. Carey Terrance, C, ERIE (OHL)
May 10, 2005 | 6′ 0″ | 178 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Background: Terrance was an all-situations player for Erie this season and for Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky. He was a late add to the USA U18 team where he played a notable role for them at the World Championship. He was the No. 10 in his OHL Draft.
Analysis: Terrance is a strong skating winger. He has the edge work and speed for higher levels and can skate by junior defenders routinely. He has good hands and can create offense off the rush. I don’t think his vision is that strong but Terrance has enough offense in his game to be a secondary scorer as a pro. His compete is fine and he can kill penalties, but I don’t think it’s a standout trait either. Terrance has played center in junior, but if he’s an NHL center it’s closer to a 4C or a bottom six wing.
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60. Damian Clara, G, FARJESTAD JR. (SWEDEN-JR.)
January 13, 2005 | 6′ 6″ | 214 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Background: A rare NHL prospect born and coming up in Italy, Clara was up and down with his club team in Sweden but was excellent with the Italian national team. He was named top goalie at the World Junior C pool. He played games at the Men’s World Championship B pool division this season for Italy. The previous season he helped lead Italy’s U20 team to promotion at the World Junior D pool.
Analysis: Clara is a 6-foot-6 goalie with decent athleticism which is highly intriguing. I wouldn’t call his lower half explosive but he can make some tough saves. His hockey sense is fine too. I find his game inconsistent. When he’s locked in he can look like a good future pro, but I see a lot of games where he’s sprawling around his crease or letting routine shots beat him. He’s worth a shot due to the potential, but he has a lot of development left to go. I see similarities between him and Arizona prospect Ivan Prosvetov.
65. Coulson Pitre, RW, FLINT (OHL)
December 13, 2004 | 6′ 1″ | 170 pounds
Tier: Projected to play NHL games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Background: Pitre was a good winger for Flint this season. He had a very good underage season scoring wise, but didn’t see a major scoring jump in his draft season. He’s developed quite well after being the 73rd pick in his OHL Draft by Windsor.
Analysis: Pitre has a lot of traits that would make him attractive to an NHL team. He’s a strong skater. He has a clean skating stride and enough footspeed to skate at an NHL level. He can beat defenders one-on-one with his skill while moving quickly. Pitre has good offensive skills, he can make some plays to his teammates and finish, but I wouldn’t call him an offensive standout. I would like to see a little more interior offense from Pitre, but he is highly physical and often engages with the body. There’s enough to him to get NHL games as a bottom six wing.
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85. Yegor Sidorov, RW, SASKATOON (WHL)
June 18, 2004 | 6′ 0″ | 182 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: High-end
Background: Sidorov was a top scoring forward in the WHL this season. He scored 23 goals in his first draft-eligible season. NHL Central Scouting had Sidorov at 5-foot-10 in 2022, but this season he measured in at 5-foot-11 and-a-half. Sidorov helped Belarus advance in the WJC B Pool before Belarus was banned from international play.
Analysis: Sidorov is a strong skater who can play with a pace for the game. He creates a lot of controlled entries with his skating and strong puck skills. He has good offensive sense and can make plays, but his main asset is his shot. He finishes opportunities well and can score from range. He sometimes relies on his shot too much and I would like to see him attack the net more, especially for a small winger. If he adds that element, he becomes a lot more intriguing from an NHL perspective as opposed to a projected depth player.
97. Konnor Smith, LHD, PETERBOROUGH (OHL)
November 6, 2004 | 6′ 5″ | 208 pounds
Tier: Has a chance to play games
Skating: Poor
Puck skills: Poor
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Background: Smith has developed well since going from a ninth-round pick in the OHL into a regular defenseman for the Petes over the last two seasons.
Analysis: Smith’s size and physicality are the main draws of his game. He’s 6-foot-5, works hard and doesn’t shy from using his big frame. He will be able to make stops as a pro. Whether there’s any offense is the question. He fights the puck at times due to his lack of skill. I do think he can move pucks OK because he sees the game well, but he can’t execute a lot of plays. His skating is also quite heavy. He has a chance to carve out a role but it will take time.
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129. Rodwin Dionicio, LHD, WINDSOR (OHL)
March 30, 2004 | 6′ 2″ | 207 pounds
Analysis: Dionicio had a highly productive OHL season, especially after he was dealt to Windsor. The second-year draft-eligible has excellent puck skills and a hard point shot. He can create quite a bit of offense inside the opponent’s zone. His skating stride isn’t the best, though, and he’s not that strong or competitive as a defender.
161. Vojtech Port, RHD, EDMONTON (WHL)
August 3, 2005 | 6′ 2″ | 168 pounds
Analysis: Port is a good-sized defenseman who skates well. He has OK offensive touch, but I wouldn’t call him a natural puck-mover, and that will be his main test versus men.
(Photo: Matthew Maxey / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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