Lottery Draft Results: The Anaheim Ducks Will Pick 2nd in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft

The NHL Draft Lottery concluded Monday evening and the Anaheim Ducks now own the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. After a tumultuous season that saw the Ducks finish with franchise worsts in just about every on-ice category and dead last in the NHL standings, they were unable to strike gold in the lottery to land superstar prospect Connor Bedard and the first overall pick for the first time in franchise history.

So what now?

The pick will likely end up being Adam Fantilli, a University of Michigan prospect who won the Hobey Baker Trophy (awarded to the NCAA player who best “exhibits strength of character both on and off the ice and contributes to the integrity of the team and displays outstanding skills in all phases of the game”), the first freshman to do so since Jack Eichel in 2015 and Paul Kariya in 1993. The disappointment of missing out on a generational talent like Connor Bedard will sting for a while, but the Ducks are certainly getting significantly better with Adam Fantilli.

Adam Fantilli is a 6’2”, 187lb center who will turn 19 years old right around the time the NHL season starts in October. He finished his freshman season at the University of Michigan with 30 goals and 35 assists in 36 games played. I consider myself to be fairly good with numbers, but someone will have to tell me if averaging 1.81 points per game in your first season at the collegiate level is good.

There is still the chance that Fantilli could choose to return to Michigan for a sophomore season, but many get the feeling that he has nothing left to prove at that level and can make an immediate impact in the NHL. His quote on the subject from his NHL.com Diary entry last month was this:

“As far as my plan for next year, everything is completely up in the air right now. I don't know what team is picking where and I don't know where I'm going to get picked, so it's completely up in the air. I know there are still areas of my game I have to polish and living on a college campus for another year helps you grow as a person, helps you grow as a man, and helps you mature. There's absolutely positives to both sides of it, but I haven't made a decision yet.”

The full diary entry can be found here - Adam Fantilli NHL Diary

Adam Fantilli is an extremely well-rounded center without any obvious flaws in his game. Most scouts agree that he is the caliber of player that would traditionally go first overall in most other drafts but is simply unlucky to be eligible at the same time as Connor Bedard (see also: Jack Eichel being eligible at the same time as Connor McDavid). His game in the defensive zone could use work, but that’s a normal criticism for a young center playing at a higher level for the first time. However, there are arguments that could be made that Fantilli is a slightly better version of Jack Eichel, with the added bonus of not having the neck injury that Eichel dealt with and ultimately led to his departure from the Buffalo Sabres.

Fantilli’s skating is his strongest attribute and combined with his seemingly endless high energy, he can find himself in just about any area on the ice in a flash and is rarely found out of position. He also possesses a strong frame and a very high hockey IQ, meaning he can protect the puck when it’s on his stick and make the best decisions with it as plays develop. Sounds to me like someone that would thrive with guys like Trevor Zegras and Troy Terry on his wings, and also brings back a shining image of our beloved retired Captain Dad, Ryan Getzlaf.

Now, all that being said, the draft is still the draft and anything can happen. Maybe GM Pat Verbeek sees more upside long-term in taking someone like Matvei Michkov, a generational talent that could easily be compared to Connor Bedard, but just with risk factors attached regarding his contract status in Russia for the next few years and the world’s overall political climate. There is also the chance that the Chicago Blackhawks galaxy brain themselves into taking someone like Adam Fantilli or Matvei Michkov first overall and Connor Bedard ends up in Anaheim anyway (probably not, but hey, rumors have to start somewhere).

At the end of the day, if you’re feeling bummed out and disappointed by the Ducks falling a spot in the draft lottery yet again, I hear you. It’s frustrating and especially annoying that a franchise with so much negative attention for lack of moral compass and ethics is going to likely end up with the best prospect since Connor McDavid. I let it bother me yesterday, but today woke up with a different mindset.

I won’t spend energy worrying about the Chicago Blackhawks rebuild with Connor Bedard in the pipeline. I’m worrying about the Anaheim Ducks rebuild with Adam Fantilli in the pipeline, and I’ll be damned if this team isn’t looking like they’ll be a very exciting contender within a couple of years. (Also, CJ’s article was wrong and the lottery was rigged).