Ducks Pick Mitera in NHL Draft

A Michigan kid through and through, Mark Mitera was often a spectator at Wolverine football games and regularly went to Joe Louis Arena to watch his hometown Detroit Red Wings.

Mitera remembers the pain he felt when those star-studded Red Wings were swept by the Mighty Ducks in the first round of the 2003 Stanley Cup playoffs. Then Saturday, the 18-year-old defenseman ended up being the Ducks’ first pick in the NHL entry draft at Vancouver, Canada.

“I’m sure no one wants to hear that,” the soon-to-be Michigan sophomore said of his old favorites.

As a freshman, Mitera had no goals and 10 assists in 39 games with the Wolverines. At 6 feet 3 and 202 pounds, his main role is to keep others from scoring.

“I pride myself on not getting beat one on one and handling myself in the corners,” said Mitera, who also had 59 penalty minutes.

Ducks General Manager Brian Burke said he was impressed with Mitera’s play for the United States at the world junior championships.

“We project him to play at 6-4, 230,” Burke said. “He’s a stay-at-home defenseman, but he makes a good first pass. He’s big, physical and highly intelligent.”

Meanwhile, Burke said no new inquiries were made about goaltenders Jean-Sebastien Giguere and Ilya Bryzgalov, though one of them figures to be traded to clear the starting job for the other. Burke says he has spoken with Bryzgalov and left a long message with Giguere.

“There was very little goalie movement other than [Roberto] Luongo,” Burke said. “The whole league might be waiting until July 1,” when free agency begins.

The Ducks took right wing Bryce Swan of Halifax, which plays in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, with a second-round pick that they acquired from the Vancouver Canucks in the Keith Carney deal. Swan had 14 goals and 11 assists for Halifax in an injury-plagued season.

The Ducks’ other picks were defenseman John DeGray of Brampton in the Ontario Hockey League, left wing Matt Beleskey of Belleville in the OHL and center Petteri Wirtanen of Finland.