ANAHEIM — Who’s next?
Who among the Ducks’ top prospects is likely to get the next call to join the NHL team?
Trevor Zegras made the leap Feb. 21 from the San Diego Gulls of the AHL to the Ducks. But who else could follow the 19-year-old left wing for the drive a few minutes north on I-5 to Honda Center from the Gulls’ temporary headquarters at Great Park Ice in Irvine?
Jamie Drysdale, an 18-year-old defenseman, could be the next logical choice. After all, he had four goals and five assists and was tied for second for the AHL scoring lead among defensemen going into the Gulls’ game Wednesday against the Ontario Reign.
Zegras and Drysdale were the Ducks’ top picks in the past two drafts. Zegras was selected ninth overall in 2019 and Drysdale was picked sixth in 2020. The Ducks also had two other first-round selections the past two years: Brayden Tracey (29th in ’19) and Jacob Perreault (27th, ’20).
Under normal circumstances, each of the four might be playing elsewhere this season, but the pandemic has created opportunities for them. Zegras has played four games with the Ducks. Drysdale, Tracey and Perreault are playing with the Gulls instead of their Canadian junior teams.
So far, Drysdale has been every bit as impressive as advertised.
“I just think it’s a daily thing,” Gulls coach Kevin Dineen said of Drysdale during a recent Zoom call with reporters. “Some players you see a real jump, but I think Jamie came in right away and impressed us with his work ethic from Day 1, and that’s not even being on the ice with him.
“That’s watching training camp from the stands for 10 days.”
What stands out?
Smooth skating, of course, but there’s much more, according to Dineen.
“I love the way he passes the puck, hard and crisp and on the tape,” Dineen said. “His decision making is beyond his years right now. A lot of players come in and feel like they can really contribute on the offense and may end up cheating to that part of the game.
“But Jamie has established himself as a solid contributor at both ends of the ice.”
Zegras, Drysdale, Tracey and Perreault have shared a home in Orange County since training camp began, and the teenagers have formed a close bond, according to Perreault. Drysdale has stood out as the best cook in the household, Perreault reported with a chuckle.
“We try our best, but I’ll give that one to Drysdale,” he said.
Forging relationships on and off the ice at an early age could be beneficial in the coming years, as the Ducks continue their rebuilding efforts. The four knew each other from national team camps and competitions over the years and by reputation, of course.
Now, they’re friends.
“It’s special, for sure,” Perreault said. “There’s still a lot of work ahead of us and so much development to be complete players and reach our potential. (But) we all get along … and I think starting out at such an early age is something pretty cool.”
Asked specifically about Drysdale’s play, Perreault said of his former rival, “There’s so many things that make him so good, but I’d say his best attribute is skating. Just all-around, his speed, his backward skating, his agility. It makes him so hard to play against, especially 1-on-1.
“I’ve been playing against him for two years now and every time I played against Erie, I was always been going up against him. It’s not something I looked forward to, to be against him. Now, I’m happy to be on his team, on his side, and I don’t have to worry about that anymore.”
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