Who are those guys?

The Ducks have announced the roster for the upcoming Rookie Faceoff tournament, the most wonderful time of the year for those that are Ducks future-talent-inclined. Among the usual recent draft picks and returning draft picks, there are always a smattering of try-outs. Those that the Ducks scouting staff likely had their eye on but did were ultimately passed over in the draft. This year there is much more than just a smattering, with the main reason in all probability being that the Ducks have a LOT of College committed prospects that cannot attend these tournaments until they turn pro. Another small reason for this large group of unknowns might also be the Gulls new head coach – Joël Bouchard; who probably has is own “hand picked” group of names that he would like to help pad out the rest of his Gulls roster with. So let’s explore these new faces shall we?

Forwards

#40 – Logan Nijhoff – C/LW – 5’11” – 179lbs – 20 years old – Regina Pats (WHL)

Playing at the old stomping ground for Sam Steel and Josh Mahura, Nijhoff played his final under-age year this past pandemic-shortened season, putting up 17 points in 24 games as the Pats Captain. He had 34 points in 61 games the year before and 17 points in 59 games as a 17 year old. Those numbers aren’t really that impressive for the WHL and are more than likely why we went undrafted. He reads as an expert penalty killer type with some leadership qualities and smarts.

#45 – Vincent Marleau – C – 6’2″ – 187lbs – 22 years old – Tulsa Oilers (ECHL)

Coming up from the Ducks ECHL affiliate, Marleau had 15 points in 40 games as a rookie for the Oilers last season. He had decent numbers for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies over three seasons – totaling 114 points over 192 games, finishing his final season with a 57 points in 63 games campaign. He won the Memorial Cup and Presidents Cup with the Huskies in 2018-2019. He reads like a clutch playoff performer and is a “big, right-handed center” as put by Oilers coach Rob Murray. He tried out with the Habs in 2019 after his Memorial Cup winning run, so was likely still on Bouchards radar.

That rounds out the forwards as the Ducks bring back a strong mix of experienced players (Zegras, Groulx, Limoges, Kindopp) and recent picks (McTavish, Pastujov and Tschigerl). Most surprising and satisfying for me – they have included Hunter Drew as a forward on this list, indicating to me that they are serious about converting him long term.

Defense

#84 – Miguel Tourigny – RD – 5’8″ – 165lbs – 19 years old – Blainville-Broisbiand Armada (QMJHL)

Here is another Bouchard connection, Tourigny spent the last three seasons with the Armada, the former club for which Bouchard is still a part owner. He has been over-looked for two straight drafts now despite putting up 36 points in 32 games in his most recent pandemic-season-shortened campaign. Described as an offensive defenseman that possesses good passing, compete and skating ability – he reads like a Power Play specialist, 15 of his 36 points were scored with the man advantage. The highlight clips I have seen of him remind me of a smaller Scott Neidermayer with how low he gets in the offensive zone looking for a pass or loose puck. This kid will be one to watch.

#87 – Mikael Diotte – RD – 6’3″ – 201lbs – 18 years old – Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)

Another defender from the Q and another right-shot. Diotte appears to be a late-bloomer, having only played his first “full” season in the Q last year as a 17 year old. He was eligible to be selected in this most recent entry draft but his 9 points in 33 games were not enough to garner any attention. I cannot find much on him but based on his size and numbers I am guessing he is in the vein of a pure shutdown defensemen and other than perhaps Will Francis, the Ducks don’t really have any of those coming up through the system.

#89 – Louka Henault – LD – 6’0″ – 181lbs – 20 years old – Kiekko-Espoo (Mestis)

Born in Montreal but brought up in Ontario, Henault played his Junior career in the OHL for the Windsor Spitfires. With the OHL shutdown last year he went to Finland where he found a spot with Kiekko-Espoo playing out of the Finnish Mestis league – basically the Finnish AHL. He had 4 points in 12 games playing against a mix of ages and another 3 points in 5 games for their Junior club in the Under-20 league. In the OHL he had 63 points in 170 games. He is described as a mobile two-way defender with good poise and vision, his ability to create rebounds with his shot is a noted facet of his game. He sounds a little like Kodie Curran to me.

#90 – Nathan Larose – RD – 6’2″ – 194lbs – 20 years old – Cape Breton Eagles (QMJHL)

Larose is possibly the most experienced of this defensive group having tried out with the St Louis Blues already in 2019, he was used in heavy minutes as top-pairing defender as an over-ager for the Cape Breton Eagles last season. He had a career year last season, leading his team in scoring 33 points in 31 games and is committed to the University of New Brunswick this year but is perhaps giving the pro hockey career one last shot with the Ducks. He is described as a smooth-skating all around defenseman that can be relied in all situations and loves to skate the puck out under pressure. He can also thrown-down. So with all that said, he is reminding me a lot of Simon Benoit.

The Ducks have matched this group of four defensive try-outs with four draft picks from the last two drafts in Jamie Drysdale, Olen Zellweger, Tyson Hinds and (Ok maybe not the last two drafts) Axel Andersson.

In net they are going with Roman Durny and recent draft selection Gage Alexander, giving Dostal and Eriksson Ek a rest.