Advertisement

NOW YOU KNOW

Share

The Mighty Ducks’ No. 1 draft picks the last 10 years. On Saturday, the Ducks used the ninth overall selection to pick defenseman Ladislav Smid:

Year: 1994

Player, Pos. (Overall): OLEG TVERDOVSKY, defenseman (2)

Comment: Supremely talented, but his work ethic has seen him bounce around the league. Spent last season in Russia.

*

Year: 1995

Player, Pos. (Overall): CHAD KILGER, center (4)

Comment: Marginal player who never fulfilled his potential. Has played for six NHL teams.

*

Year: 1996

Player, Pos. (Overall): RUSLAN SALEI, defenseman (9)

Comment: Has shed reputation as a dirty player and become a solid defender.

*

Year: 1997

Player, Pos. (Overall): MICHAEL HOLMQVIST, center (18)

Comment: Still struggling, 25-year-old won’t get many more chances at securing a regular spot on the roster.

Advertisement

*

Year: 1998

Player, Pos. (Overall): VITALI VISHNEVSKI, defenseman (5)

Comment: Reliable defender as well as a feared hitter.

*

Year: 1999

Player, Pos. (Overall): JORDAN LEOPOLD, defenseman (44)

Comment: Traded to Calgary, where he has blossomed into a future All-Star defenseman.

*

Year: 2000

Player, Pos. (Overall): ALEXEI SMIRNOV, left wing, (12)

Comment: Has all the physical tools, still waiting for him to mature into an NHL regular.

*

Year: 2001

Player, Pos. (Overall): STANISLAV CHISTOV, left wing (5)

Comment: Followed a promising rookie season with a sophomore slump.

*

Year: 2002

Player, Pos. (Overall): JOFFREY LUPUL, center (7)

Comment: Mature beyond his years, team’s fifth-leading scorer with 34 points during his rookie year.

*

Year: 2003

Player, Pos. (Overall): RYAN GETZLAFF, right wing (19)

Comment: Looking to find a roster spot after scoring 75 points in 49 games in Western Hockey League last season.

*

Diamonds in the rough (overall choice): 1995: LW Mike LeClerc (55); 1999: D Niclas Havelid (83); 2001: G Martin Gerber (232).

-- Roy Jurgens

Advertisement