Anaheim Ducks

They came dressed in all white and left feeling all blue. Not more than a week since playoff fever gripped downtown Winnipeg for the first time since the mid-1990s under a different franchise incarnation, it was all over Wednesday night. The Anaheim Ducks, it turned out, were not interested in any feel-good, small-market Canadian team playoff-run storylines.

The Ducks completed the first-round Western Conference series sweep in front of the monochrome crowd at the MTS Centre. One can say this much for the Jets: Among all that white in the building, Winnipeg never tossed in a flag of that color.

As sweeps go, this was a pretty close series. Anaheim had to come from behind in the third period in the first three games of the series. But the Jets are grounded, and the Ducks are flying on to the next round, probably with a nice, relaxing wait. They better make good use of the rest because it'll get tougher from here.

All the other Western Conference teams are a bear though the Ducks may have lucked out again with their second-round draw, which will be the winner of the Calgary-Vancouver series. Right now, it's looking much better than even money the Ducks will be in the Western final, where they'd no doubt face their toughest test. 

The Ducks go into what odds say will be a series against the Flames looking deep and strong. Ryan Kesler looked just like the old playoff stud of yesteryear when he was a Canuck, scoring two goals in Game 4. Corey Perry had seven points in the series, and Ryan Getzlaf and Josef Silfverberg were tremendous. 

As Los Angeles Times Ducks beat writer Lisa Dillman put it:

It was the first playoff sweep by the Ducks since they did it against Colorado in the second round in their 2006 playoff run. Anaheim also pulled off two series sweeps the year it reached the 2003 Stanley Cup Final, doing it against Detroit in the opening round and Minnesota in the Western Conference finals.

The Ducks won the Western Conference title with the exact type of consistency they showed in the first round. They don't usually crush you; their regular-season goal differential, 236-226, was the smallest of all 16 NHL playoff teams, yet they finished with the most points in the West.

Some still wonder if they are for real, having to squeak out so many close games. Kesler, bidding to play in his first Cup Final since 2011 with the Canucks, isn't concerned with any skeptics, telling the Ducks' website, "We just never give up. We keep going. You saw in the third period, we didn't stop pushing."

Getzlaf's looking forward to a little time off before the next series, as he told the team's site:

We didn't have to play as long as I thought we would. We thought this might've been a little bit longer of a series. I was happy with the way our group responded. It was a hard-fought series. There were a lot of bodies thrown around. We have to bruises to prove it. It's nice to have a little rest now.

Again, the Jets earned respect for their rabid crowd, which included Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper:

Wow – what an atmosphere. Happy to be part of the #WPGWhiteOut tonight. #NHLJets #GoJetsGo pic.twitter.com/jbnpgqOo9X

— Stephen Harper (@pmharper) April 23, 2015

The Ducks get to relax at home in the California sun now and watch the others slug it out to get to where they are. Will complacency set in? It could happen, but this Ducks team has seemed focused all season, and with gamers such as Kesler, Perry, Getzlaf and hungry youngsters such as Silfverberg and goalie Frederik Andersen, this group under coach Bruce Boudreau might just have the right stuff to place a Southern California team in the Cup Final for the third time in four years.

How well did the Ducks fare against the Flames in the regular season? Pretty well (3-1-1). Anaheim's big three of Perry, Getzlaf and Kesler will go into the next round playing probably their best hockey of the season. If the Flames are the opponent, Calgary will need a huge series from guys like Sean Monahan and Jiri Hudler—not to mention former Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller.

Against Vancouver, Anaheim went 3-1-1. With the Canucks down 3-1 in the series to Calgary, it's looking likely the Ducks will go from seeing all white on the road to all red.

So far, the Ducks are passing all tests—with flying colors.

The Anaheim Ducks are one of only five teams that have clinched NHL playoff berths heading into action Thursday night and are at 9-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.

Anaheim also leads the race for the Presidents’ Trophy, which is awarded to the team that collects the most points on the season.

Winning the Presidents’ Trophy, however, has not translated to much postseason success in recent seasons. Since the 2008 Detroit Red Wings won the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup, only the 2013 Chicago Blackhawks have gone on to duplicate the feat.

The Boston Bruins (18-1 on the Stanley Cup odds) won the Presidents’ Trophy a year ago, but this season they're just looking to make it into the playoffs as one of the last teams to qualify in the Eastern Conference.

The Red Wings (20-1) are in the same boat, as they are trying to hold off Boston for third place in the Atlantic Division, with the Montreal Canadiens (10-1) and Tampa Bay Lightning (10-1) still battling it out for that division's title. Montreal and Tampa Bay have already secured spots in the postseason.

The New York Rangers have also clinched a playoff berth, emerging as the favorites to win the 2015 Stanley Cup at 13-2 odds after representing the Eastern Conference in the Stanley Cup Final last year. The Rangers lead the league in road wins and goal differential and just welcomed back star goaltender Henrik Lundqvist following a seven-week absence due to a vascular issue in his neck.

In the Western Conference, the Blackhawks look to be the top challengers for the Ducks at 7-1 odds to win the Stanley Cup but are still awaiting the return of star winger Patrick Kane from a fractured clavicle.

Kane hopes to be able to return early in the playoffs, with Chicago chasing the Nashville Predators (14-1) and the St. Louis Blues (10-1) in a competitive Central Division that also includes one of the hottest teams in the NHL, the Minnesota Wild (8-1).

The Predators have clinched a playoff spot as well but have really been struggling lately, putting them in danger of surrendering the division lead to the Blackhawks or Blues in the final week of the season.

Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Getzlaf tied Paul Kariya for second on the franchise's all-time points list when he put the puck past goaltender Jhonas Enroth during the third period of Sunday's 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars, per the Ducks' official Twitter account.

Getzlaf's goal represented his second point of the game, as he had previously picked up an assist on Corey Perry's first-period goal.

With 669 career points, Getzlaf now ranks behind only Teemu Selanne (988) in Ducks history, albeit with a massive gap of 319 points, per Hockey-Reference.com.

Getzlaf's greatest asset is his ability to set up his teammates for goals, as evidenced by the 466 assists he's racked up thus far in his career. In that category, he sits just 65 back of Selanne's franchise-record 531, with Selanne being known as more of a goal scorer.

Getzlaf's career high in assists for a single season is 66 (2008-09), making it conceivable he passes Selanne for the lead at some point next year.

Thus far in 2014-15, Getzlaf has accumulated 61 points in 61 games, putting him on pace to match his second-best season as a professional. His most productive season came in 2008-09 when he finished with 91 points.

Still only 29 years old, Getzlaf is under contract with the Ducks through the 2020-21 season, allowing the chance for many more points in the future. While it would take a lot to catch Selanne, it's quite possible Getzlaf will eventually leave Anaheim as the all-time franchise leader in both points and assists.

Of course, if any current Duck is going to best Selanne's franchise record of 457 goals, it will likely be 29-year-old forward Corey Perry, who already has 290 to his name, compared to just 203 for Getzlaf.

In what appears to be a granting of a request from John Gibson, the Anaheim Ducks have sent the 21-year-old netminder to their AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals. The Admirals have games on Friday and Saturday, and it's presumed that Gibson will start in both after giving up six goals to the Pittsburgh Penguins while starting in Anaheim's first game of the 2014-15 season.

Ducks G John Gibson wanted to play some games and was assigned to AHL Norfolk. LaBarbera was called up.

— Helene Elliott (@helenenothelen) October 15, 2014

It's likely that Gibson requested the move out of a desire to get some playing time and under the assumption that Frederik Anderson will get starts for the Ducks on both Friday and Sunday night.

Gibson is said to be returning to the team after the Admirals' game on Saturday.

In the meantime, Jason LaBarbera will serve as Anderson's backup.

What does this mean for the Ducks' goaltending situation? Is Anderson cementing his role as Anaheim's No. 1 netminder, or will Gibson get to pick up where he left off as a legitimate contender for that spot?

Anderson's Numbers

If Gibson did indeed request the move to shake out some butterflies, speculation about Anderson's ascent should be kept in check.

However, it's impossible to ignore what Anderson has accomplished during the first three games he's played this year.

GP	Wins	GAA	PCT
3	3	1.95	.928

First, Anderson has won all three of those games, something Gibson hasn't done in the last three games he's started dating back to last season's playoff series against the Los Angeles Kings.

Additionally, a 1.95 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage are compelling stats and aren't likely to be ignored by the Anaheim coaching staff.

So in a recent, albeit small, sample size, Anderson is the clear favorite—or at least the "hot hand."

Gibson's Struggles

It is, however, unfair not to point out that Gibson was thrown into an incredibly high-pressure situation last year because of Anderson's injury in the playoff series against the Kings.

That said, Gibson just hasn't looked good in his last two starts while allowing a total of 14 goals in his last three. You don't win jobs in the NHL as a goaltender with numbers like that. And while those games might be statistical outliers for Gibson, giving him some time to settle down and play at the AHL level makes a lot of sense.

It also speaks well of Gibson's ability to know where he's at in his development and what he needs to do to be competitive.

So sure, he has struggled. But I don't believe that means he's in head coach Bruce Boudreau's doghouse.

Moving Forward

Gibson's hiatus will be temporary.

Thus we should expect him to continue to compete with Anderson for Anaheim's No. 1 goaltending spot. However, we can also expect Gibson to be on a bit of a tight leash during his next few starts at the NHL level.

If it's a confidence issue, he'll recover and be fine. If he's just not ready to play at the NHL level, don't expect Boudreau to continue putting him out there and letting him struggle.

Stats courtesy of Hockey-Reference.com

Bobby Kittleberger writes about Ducks hockey at The Anaheim Project. Keep up with him on Twitter at @robertwilliam9.

There is an old saying that goes, “If you can’t beat them, join them.” But in the NHL, the trend is more along the lines of, “If you can’t beat them, copy them.”

The Anaheim Ducks had their dreams of winning a Stanley Cup squashed when the Los Angeles Kings defeated them in a thrilling seven-game series in May. In a sense, 2013-14 was a disappointing season for the Ducks, because despite Ryan Getzlaf having a career season and the team coming within one point of the Presidents’ Trophy, the team didn’t get the job done in the playoffs.

The Ducks of 2014-15 will feature some new faces, but they will be without a familiar face in Teemu Selanne, the ageless wonder who finally decided he could retire. However, it should be a season full of hope and enthusiasm.

What We Learned in 2013-14

We learned that despite the Ducks' ability to be the second-best team in the NHL during the regular season, their weaknesses were exploited during the playoffs. During the regular season, the trio of Andrew Cogliano, Getzlaf and Corey Perry teamed up for 29.6 percent of the Ducks' total scoring, and in the playoffs, that number went up to 35.8 percent.

What that means is that during the postseason, these players took on a larger role, and the Ducks were an easier team to play when they were kept in check. Their scoring dropped from 3.20 goals per game to 2.69 goals per game, and the targeting of Cogliano, Getzlaf and Perry played a role in that drop.

The Ducks' reliance on key players during the regular season was fine, but during the playoffs, their lack of depth was exploited, particularly at center.

Getzlaf held his part of the bargain during the playoffs, but the Ducks' other centers were unable to have the same impact as him. Nick Bonino did his best, as did Mathieu Perreault, but the Ducks were unable to match the Kings' trio of Anze Kopitar, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards.

The Ducks' weakness at center was something they were able to get around during the regular season, but getting exploited in the playoffs forced them to address that issue during the offseason.

Outlook for 2014-15

The Ducks went out and got the No. 2 center they have coveted for years, and he’s a player who will be looked upon to help the team’s offense in 2014-15.

Ryan Kesler may be coming off three down years with the Vancouver Canucks, but he may be better off in a lineup in which he won’t have to be the primary guy. Getzlaf and Perry should enable Kesler to fly under the radar to a degree, but he also should benefit from playing with talented youngsters such as Devante Smith-Pelley and Kyle Palmieri.

Another significant move the Ducks made was the addition of Dany Heatley. He has tailed off a bit since he was traded from the San Jose Sharks to the Minnesota Wild in 2011, but Heatley may be able to find himself again in Anaheim. There is no denying Heatley’s goal-scoring talent.

At this stage of his career, he is no longer the “50 in '07” guy he once was, but scoring 15 or 20 goals isn’t out of the question.

Only three players are returning who scored 15 or more goals last season, so the addition of Heatley should not be overlooked. Before getting into the Ducks' next biggest story for the upcoming season, here is how the roster could shake out this season.

As you can see from the chart above, youth will be a big part of the Ducks roster in 2014-15. Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, Emerson Etem, John Gibson and Smith-Pelley are all names you may not be familiar with, but you should be by the end of the upcoming season.

Left Wing	Center	Right Wing
Dany Heatley	Ryan Getzlaf	Corey Perry
Andrew Cogliano	Ryan Kesler	Jakob Silfverberg
Emerson Etem	Nate Thompson	Devante Smith-Pelley
Matt Belesky	Rickard Rakkel	Kyle Palmieri
Patrick Maroon

Fowler and Lindholm are two young blueliners with a ton of potential—with Fowler being closer to being an established defender—and they represent the future of the Ducks’ back end.

Sami Vatanen is another player who could be thrown into that conversation. The 23-year-old rearguard tallied 21 points in 48 games last season, and according to The Hockey News, he possesses plenty of hockey sense and offensive ability.

The big kicker for the Ducks is the fact that Hall of Fame blueliner and former Anaheim captain Scott Niedermayer is an assistant coach, so each defender will be under the personal tutelage of an NHL great.

As for Etem and Smith-Pelley, both are talented young forwards who should get better by the mere fact that they will continue to play games, and more experience should bring more comfort in executing at the NHL level.

There is a common expression in which people say, “Save the best for last,” and that is the case with the Ducks’ future starting netminder.

As a 21-year-old, Gibson came in and stopped 83 of 87 shots to close out the 2013-14 regular season. He also posted a 3-0-0 record with one shutout and a 1.33 goals-against average. In the playoffs, he went 2-2-0, but recorded a shutout and stopped 102 of 111 shots.

Despite his brilliance during the regular season, there is the chance that management plays it safe and starts him off in the AHL. Frederik Andersen is a capable starter, and the signing of Jason LaBarbera this summer could indicate the team's willingness to allow Gibson to marinate a little longer.

No matter what happens in training camp, Gibson will be on the team's final roster before the playoffs start, and he should have no problem picking up where he left off. He is an athletic goalie with great reflexes and talent, so it isn’t a matter of if but when he will have his chance in prime time.

The Ducks lost some players this summer in Selanne, Bonino, Perreault, Daniel Winnik and Jonas Hiller, but they added defensive center Nate Thompson and a top-six center in Kesler. Other additions include youngsters who will be promoted to full-time duty for the upcoming season.

As the youngsters find their way in 2014-15, there is a chance there could be some stumbling, but ultimately, the Ducks should be a team that succeeds because of their star power and talented youth.

The additions should allow the Ducks to remain a top contender in the West and a favorite to once again capture the Pacific Division title.

The acquisition of Ryan Kesler during the Anaheim Ducks offseason has overshadowed what might have been a more significant shift in the team's roster.

Quietly, the Ducks have lost half of their entire offensive lineup from just one year ago.

After trading Dustin Penner and absorbing the retirement of Teemu Selanne, the Ducks declined to offer contracts to Saku Koivu, Mathieu Perreault and Daniel Winnik, effectively releasing them into free agency. Nick Bonino, who had a breakout year in 2014 scoring 22 goals and 49 points, was part of the package that brought Kesler to Anaheim.

That's a lot of movement for a team that played the best season of their existence, just one year ago.

Why is it that Anaheim seems to have so much turnover after great seasons?

We saw the steady dismantling of the 2006-2007 team, which some argued was one of the best ever assembled, and now we're seeing a team that was statistically better follow in the same path.

What does that imply for the 2014-2015 season?

It at least means that a significant change in the team's identity has taken place.

Goodbye to Three Scoring Lines?

Bruce Boudreau has made a habit and a reputation of rolling three scoring lines, allowing his fourth group of forwards to serve the checking role.

Unless you see a revitalized Dany Heatley (which is certainly possible) or the Ducks' young wingers take a big step forward, it's going to be tough for Andrew Cogliano and Matt Beleskey to create enough offense to warrant the three scoring line rotation.

It could happen, but what's more likely is that Boudreau will have to scale back to a more traditional first, second, checking and fourth line arrangement.

Even if he doesn't say that, the personnel that allowed three scoring lines in Anaheim are simply no longer available.

Trading Depth for Top-Heaviness

Where the 2013-2014 Ducks were a well-toned, evenly proportioned body of lean muscle, they're now more like the top-heavy weightlifter who seems to completely ignore his lower body.

The addition of Kesler gives them a strong top six but with little upside on their third and fourth lines.

Whether or not that works for Anaheim is a question of how their top players handle that kind of responsibility. Corey Perry and Ryan Getzlaf have proven themselves to be capable of carrying their team and putting up Hart Trophy-worth seasons. Yet both have had a history of being somewhat spotty and inconsistent with their offense.

The Ducks have essentially bet the farm on their top six. Fans had better hope those players are up to the task.

Buying Stock in Their Farm System

Anaheim has established a promising farm team, and this season is the moment of truth for three offensive products of that system.

Emerson Etem, Devante Smith-Pelly and Patrick Maroon have all gotten new numbers this year, suggesting they'll be mainstays in the Ducks lineup. That means each player is likely to play a significant role in the team's offense, which shows that general manager Bob Murray is putting a lot more faith in them this time around.

That's new territory for Anaheim, since they haven't relied on any of these three players outside of simply getting them experience at the NHL level.

Will Anaheim Make the Adjustment?

Despite coming off an incredibly successful regular season last year, the Ducks are going to have to make a lot of adjustments moving forward. The one-two punch of Getzlaf and Kesler is certainly going to be a positive change for Anaheim.

But the bigger question mark is whether the young guys can step up and be an effective supporting cast.

If that happens, Anaheim not only makes a smooth transition but also improves on last year's performance.

Bobby Kittleberger writes about Ducks hockey at The Anaheim Project. Keep up with him @robertwilliam9.

After a woefully underwhelming stay with the Minnesota Wild, 33-year-old Dany Heatley wasn't exactly a newsworthy discussion topic during the NHL's free-agency period.

But in a deal that surprised a lot of fans, the Anaheim Ducks signed Heatley in early July to a one-year contract that will likely have him playing the left-wing spot on the team's top scoring line alongside Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry.

"My job is to get in shape and be ready to play with those two guys,” Heatley told reporters.

Had the same signing occurred in 2010, Ducks fans would have been building statues and altars all across California to honor general manager Bob Murray.

However, coming off a season during which Heatley so heavily regressed (28 points, minus-18 in 76 games) that he was at times a healthy scratch in Minnesota, even a low-risk deal isn't sitting well with some of Anaheim's fanbase.

Nevertheless, the argument can and should be made that the Heatley signing is an excellent move for the Ducks as an organization.

It's a shrewd signing by Murray that is likely to pay dividends for a number of reasons—even if Heatley doesn't score 50 goals this year.

Heatley Came Cheap

For a player of Heatley's offensive pedigree—he's posted four 40-plus-goal seasons in his career—he came extremely cheap.

At $1 million for one year, CapGeek.com indicates he's making less than Matt Beleskey and Nate Thompson, who don't have skill or a resume that's even comparable to Heatley's. That's a low-risk investment in a player that still has plenty of offensive upside.

Even if he continues to regress, Anaheim loses little and can simply let him walk after his one-year deal is up.

Perspective on 2 Bad Seasons

Like most major sports, the NHL operates on a "What have you done for me lately?" basis.

In reality, two bad seasons don't erase a decorated offensive career.

If Minnesota was just a bad fit for Heatley, he wouldn't be the first player to play poorly after jumping teams. Teemu Selanne's production dropped significantly during his time in San Jose and Colorado before eventually re-signing with Anaheim.

With a player of Heatley's skill level, it's likelier that he was in a similar situation with the Wild.

If the Ducks are a better fit, he could easily recapture his scoring touch.

Potential with Getzlaf and Perry

That fit will likely come alongside two of hockey's best offensive players in Getzlaf and Perry.

If they can continue to play their power game and cycle the puck in the corners, Heatley could be the type of player they need to get open and make himself available for Getzlaf's strong passing.

Add Perry's disruptive play in front of the net, and you've got a line that would be extremely difficult to defend.

He's Still Young

At 33 years old, Heatley should be in his prime physically—or at least on the tail end of it. That means it's far too early for us to say that he doesn't have anything left to give.

Even the "plenty left in the tank" notion is an odd one to be applying to him right now. That's what you say about players creeping up on 40, not 33. Jaromir Jagr or Sergei Gonchar might have "plenty left in the tank," but Heatley shouldn't be in that conversation yet.

It's premature to assume that he can't turn his career around and get back to at least respectable offensive numbers.

All About Upside

There is simply no way that Anaheim loses when it comes to the Heatley deal.

Murray added a big chunk of offensive upside to the Anaheim roster, and he did so for pocket change in professional sports currency.

He's the reigning GM of the year for a reason, so we can put at least a reasonable amount of trust in his judgment and hope for the best Heatley has left to come out in a Ducks uniform.

Bobby Kittleberger writes about Ducks hockey at The Anaheim Project. Keep up with him @robertwilliam9.

Player: Marcus Pettersson

Drafted By: Anaheim Ducks (38th overall)

Position: D

Final Central Scouting Ranking: No. 7 European skater

Height/Weight: 6'3'', 161 lbs

DOB: May 8, 1996 (18 years old)

Most Recent Affiliation: Skelleftea (Sweden)

Background

Marcus Pettersson's father also played professional hockey and spent a very productive career playing in his native Sweden.

Pettersson has the height scouts love in a defenseman at 6'3", but it is not a misprint, his weight right now is somewhere in the 161-pound range.

Last season, Pettersson scored four goals and accumulated 18 points in 38 games while playing for Skelleftea in Sweden, the same club with which his father played. He also scored a goal in seven games for Sweden at the World Juniors.

Pettersson was ranked the seventh-best European skater this year by Central Scouting. If he continues to fill out and develop, scouts feel he could have a bright pro future in North America.

Full Scouting Report

It would be next to impossible for Pettersson to play in the NHL at anywhere near his current weight. There is no question he needs to bulk up, lift weights, eat protein shakes and do whatever else is necessary to add some bulk to his frame.

If he does that, most scouts see a lot of potential in Pettersson, who already does a lot of things very well on the ice.

One scout told The Hockey News in their Draft Preview issue, "He's got everything, he's just missing strength, but if he stays like this, he has no chance."

Most observers like the way Pettersson thinks of the game positionally, and how he anticipates things both with and without the puck.

Before the draft, TSN's Craig Button added, "Needs physical maturing but with it, could be a top defenceman. Excellent thinker with poise, good feetwork, competes, reads play well and will assert himself. Could be a 'steal' in this draft."

Trent Klatt of the New York Islanders' scouting department praised Pettersson's subtle hockey smarts.

His hockey IQ and instincts are decent. He’s very tall, lanky and shy at times, yet typically makes the right play and has a lot of room for growth. You don’t notice him a lot, but when you pay attention you realize his hockey sense is pretty good. Like many Swedish defenders, he has very good skills and is very good on his skates.

Pettersson comes across as a hit-or-miss kind of prospect. If he bulks up and learns to use his size to his advantage, he could be a very good NHL defenseman. If he doesn't, he may never make it to the NHL, despite his obvious ability.

NHL Player Comparison

Pettersson is best compared to Thomas Hickey of the New York Islanders. Although Pettersson is taller than Hickey, they both play a similar style based more on intelligence and positioning rather than being overly physical. While you won't see either player make too many highlight-reel plays, they will use their subtle skills to prevent opponents from making them.

NHL Timetable

Pettersson has a lot of work to do before he's ready for the NHL. He needs to put on some muscle and weight, adjust to playing against men and to playing the more physical North American style in a smaller rink. The earliest we can expect Petterson in the NHL is 2016-17.

Top-End Potential

At his best, Pettersson projects as a second-pair defenseman, who coaches rely upon to play 22-24 minutes every night and help keep opposing teams off the scoreboard. It's not his style to be a banger or a big point producer, but Pettersson should be reliable, smart, steady and score five goals and 20 points each season.

Player: Nick Ritchie

Drafted By: Anaheim Ducks (10th overall)

Position: Left Wing/Right Wing

Final Central Scouting Ranking: No. 7 North American skater

Height/Weight: 6'3'', 229 lbs

DOB: December 5, 1995 (18 years old)

Most Recent Affiliation: OHL, Peterborough Petes

Background

After earning the reputation as one of the top forwards as a minor midget AAA player, Nick Ritchie was taken second overall in the OHL priority draft by the Peterborough Petes. During the 2011-12 season, he was one of the youngest players in the league.

That didn't stop him from scoring 16 goals and adding 23 assists through 62 games for the Petes. Ritchie was clearly an improved player as a sophomore, scoring 35 points in 41 games, despite missing a slate of time with a shoulder injury.

Ritchie continued to improve in his third season, posting 39 goals in 61 games as he started to show signs of the power forward he could evolve into at the NHL level.

Full Scouting Report

There are a handful of similarly talented players available in the 2014 draft. Numerous forwards seem to have slick hands and lean more towards the sniper or playmaker mold. Ritchie is a budding power forward through and through.

As Gare Joyce of Sportsnet.ca put it: "No need for a program if you’re looking for Nick Ritchie: At six-foot-three and 235 pounds, the only thing on the ice that’s as big as him cleans the ice between periods."

In fact, Ritchie might be a bit too big. His massive 229-pound frame prevents him from getting up and down the ice with much haste—a negative at the NHL level, but one that can be ironed out with some focus. There's plenty to like from the Orangeville, Ontario native despite his average wheels.

Ben Kerr from LastWordOnSports.com profiles Ritchie this way:

Nick Ritchie is a power forward prospect who finishes his checks, and plays a very straight line game, taking the puck right to the front of the net and not caring if he has to go through a defenceman to do it. He loves to stand in front of the net and has the quick, soft hands necessary to score on rebounds and deflections.  Ritchie might have the best wrist shot in this draft class.  It is tremendously powerful, and features a very good release.  It can be in the back of the net before the goaltender even knows that he’s shot the puck.  That wrist shot is already NHL ready.  He is powerful in board battles, overpowering defencemen and winning pucks.  While plenty of Draft Eligible prospects need to add muscle to their frames before going pro, Ritchie is already built like a truck.

You don't see many players compared to Cam Neely or Wendel Clark, but Kerr spoke to one scout who apparently thought that Ritchie was a "throwback" to those kinds of players.

NHL Player Comparison

There aren't a lot of forwards in the NHL these days that can score 20-plus goals, while racking up the PIMs. That limits the number of guys who make sense for Ritchie comparisons, but think Milan Lucic or Jamie Benn here.

NHL Timetable

For most forward prospects, the thing that is preventing them from making it to the NHL is a lack of muscle. As we've established, Ritchie has plenty of that. It's just a matter of whether or not he has the speed needed to hang at the NHL level.

If he gets into great shape over the summer and increases his quickness, then there's no reason Ritchie couldn't be in the NHL for the 2014-15 season.

Top-End Potential

Who wouldn't love to see the second coming of a guy like Neely or Clark? Lucic has that distinction locked down right now, but Ritchie could be the next great power forward to emerge. As a winger that loves to stand in front of the net, Ritchie has the skill set needed to make an impact as a top-six forward and on the power play.

With Jarome Iginla set to retire in a year or two, the torch needs to be passed to someone. Why not Ritchie?