Anaheim Ducks Select Tristan Luneau with the 53rd Overall Pick

With their second 2nd round selection of the 2022 NHL Draft at #53 overall, the Anaheim Ducks selected right hand shot defenseman Tristan Lunea from the Gatineau Olympiques.

Elite Prospects had him ranked 69th and had the following to say about him:

“We had high expectations for Tristan Luneau coming into the season, hoping that we would see nothing short of offensive dominance at the QMJHL level.To some degree, we got that from the Gatineau Olympiques defenceman. He continued to show he same agility and ability to feint and pass around opponents this season. His elusive skating moves were especially effective on regroups and at the point in the offensive zone, where opponents came at him with speed. With heel-to-heels and spins, Luneau easily outmaneuvered them to attack or pass down the ice. Much of his production came from his ability to create offensive zone entries and passes to teammates around the net. That said, his breakout game left us wanting more. His offensive zone playmaking never translated to that aspect of the game. With his back turned to forechecking pressure, as he retrieved a puck, Luneau seemed to lose his composure. Quite often, he defaulted to rims and chips off the glass, even with open teammates ready for a pass in the middle of the ice.”

Scott Wheeler of the Athletic had him ranked 31st and had the following to say about him:

“Luneau was the first pick in the 2020 QMJHL draft and looked like a surefire first-rounder through the Youth Olympics (where he was an alternate captain) and into his strong rookie season in the QMJHL (where he won the league’s defensive rookie of the year award). And while it took him some time to get back to that status after a knee procedure cost him his summer, his preseason, and the first three games of the regular season, he hit his stride in the second half and into Gatineau’s two-round playoff run, logging huge all situations minutes and contributing offensively while playing a matchup role against the opposition’s best. Luneau’s game isn’t dynamic, but he’s a smooth-skating (without being explosive, something some scouts worry about) right-shot defenceman who can competently run a power play, is a plus-level passer, has developed his shot into more of a weapon, and reads the play at as high a level as just about any defenceman in the draft (with and without the puck at both ends). He plays a cerebral two-way game that lends itself to driving play. And while he’s a high-floor, low-ceiling type, his size, maturity, roundedness and discreet offensive game and skating (both of which I expect will show themselves more next season with full health and a summer of steady training) should make him an efficient, all-purpose guy. ”

Luneau is the third defenseman that Verbeek has taken in this draft, but all three are very different players that will provide a unique blueline makeup in the years to come.