Ducks Select Seven Players in 2018 NHL Draft

DALLAS - The Ducks concluded the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas with seven selections in Rounds 1-7.
"Really happy with our selections yesterday and today," said Ducks Director of Professional/Amateur Scouting Martin Madden. "We're definitely much deeper down the middle now. We're really happy with Benoit-Olivier [Groulx] in the second round. We added two really skilled kids in the third [round]. We missed on a defenseman we were really looking forward to, but that's all right. We got two longer term development guys there, but really talented, skilled players. We're really happy."
Madden adds, "Two goalies, obviously. We wanted to add some depth in net. Still very happy with our selection last year, but we still needed some depth there. Both kids are legitimate prospects. Two really good athletes who have performed really well on the international stage."
Their selections began on Friday when they took center Isac Lundestrom with the 23rd overall pick in the first round. The 18-year-old native of Gallivare, Sweden recorded 15 points (6g/9a) in 42 games with Lulea HF in the Swedish Hockey League during the 2017-18 regular season.

"I was really emotional when I heard my name," Lundestrom said. "Huge honor to be a part of the Anaheim Ducks organization. A lot of good Swedish players there. I've also heard good things about Anaheim."
On the international stage, Lundestrom earned a silver medal with Team Sweden at the 2018 World Junior Championship where he recorded two goals in seven games. He also earned a bronze medal with Team Sweden at the 2015 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and a silver medal at the 2016 Under-18 World Championship.

"He's a real good, solid hockey player," said Ducks Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. "He plays the right way, a solid two-way player. He had a great World Junior tournament and that's saying something. Very bright. We are really happy with him."
The 6-foot, 183-pound center was ranked eighth among European skaters in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings.

With the 54th overall pick, the Ducks selected center Benoit-Olivier Groulx from the Halifax Mooseheads of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Groulx, 18 (2/6/2000), ranked fifth on the Mooseheads in scoring with 55 points (28g/27a) in 68 games during the 2017-18 regular season. The Gatineau, Quebec native also added eight points (2g/6a) in nine playoff games.
"When I look at [Anaheim], they're first at developing young guys," said Groulx. "It's going to be great for me to go to an organization that I know will develop me into an NHL player. I couldn't be more excited."
On the international stage, the 6-foot-1, 193-pound center earned a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial, earning three points (2g/1a) in five games, and was a member of Canada Red at the 2016 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.
"I was with my family in the stands, and they were all crying," he said. "I contained myself, but I was pretty close. It was a lot of emotion. I'm proud to be drafted by Anaheim. It was one of my best teams. I'm really excited."
Born in Rouen, France, Groulx tallied 31 points (17g/14a) in 62 games during his rookie campaign with the Mooseheads in 2016-17 after being selected first overall by the club in the 2016 QMJHL Entry Draft.
In his player profile on NHL.com, Groulx models his style of play after Stars forward Jamie Benn. "I'm a power forward with talent," said Groulx. "I like to play offensively, but I'm even better defensively. I think that's going to be a huge part for me in the NHL."
Groulx was the 20th ranked North American skater in Central Scouting's final rankings.

With the 79th overall pick, the Ducks selected left wing Blake McLaughlin from the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
McLaughlin, 18 (2/14/2000), earned 52 points (23g/29a) in 54 games with the Steel during the 2017-18 regular season and added seven points (3g/4a) in seven playoff games. The Grand Rapids, Minnesota native has represented the United States at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial and the 2017 World Junior A Challenge, where he earned a silver medal.
McLaughlin is committed to the University of Minnesota for the 2018-19 season, where his stepfather, Grant Bischoff, served as captain in 1990-91.
In his player profile on NHL.com, McLaughlin says he models game after Minnesota Wild forward Zach Parise and Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane.
McLaughlin was ranked 24th among North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings.

With the 85th overall pick, the Ducks selected goaltender Lukas Dostal from Trebic in the Czech Republic.
Dostal, 18 (6/22/2000), made his professional debut during the 2017-18 season, appearing in 20 games with Trebic. He posted a 10-10 record with a 2.43 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and two shutouts. A native of Brno, Czech Republic, Dostal led Brno's Under-20 team to a league championship last season, leading all netminders with a 1.40 GAA and .959 SV% in the playoffs (seven games).
Dostal represented the Czech Republic at the 2018 Under-18 World Championship and earned a silver medal for his country at the 2017 Ivan Hlinka Memorial.
He was the top-ranked European goaltender in Central Scouting's final rankings.

With the 116th overall pick, the Ducks selected right wing Jackson Perbix from Elk River High (HIGH-MN).
Perbix, 17 (9/13/2000), split the 2017-18 season with Elk River High School (HIGH-MN) and Green Bay (USHL), combining for 65 points (20g/45a) in 42 games. He paced the club in scoring and assists, and ranked second in goals. Perbix added a team-high seven points (2g/5a) in two playoff games for Elk River.
The 6-foot-1, 176-pound right wing was ranked 96th among North American skaters in Central Scouting's final rankings.

With the 147th overall pick, the Ducks selected goaltender Roman Durny from the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League (USHL).
Durny, 20 (5/28/98), went 8-10-4 with a 2.38 goals-against average, .920 save percentage and two shutouts in 25 games with the Buccaneers during the 2017-18 season. The Liptovsky Mikulas, Slovakia native represented his country at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship, posting a 2-2-0 record with a 2.75 GAA and .925 SV%.
The 6-foot-2, 201-pound netminder was the ninth ranked European goaltender in Central Scouting's final rankings.

With the 178th overall pick, the Ducks selected defenseman Hunter Drew from the Charlottetown Islanders of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL).
Drew, 19 (10/21/98), ranked second among Islanders defensemen and fourth overall in scoring with 39 points (8g/31a) in 64 regular season games. He also racked up a league-high 159 penalty minutes over that span. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound blueliner added 11 points (2g/9a) in 18 QMJHL playoff games. [The Islanders were defeated by Blainville-Boisbriand in Game 7 of the third round.]
A native of Kingston, Ontario, Drew began his QMJHL career during the 2016-17 season with the Islanders, earning three points (all assists) and 69 penalty minutes in 42 games.