Anaheim, CA (AP) - The Anaheim Ducks' season is over, but the work is just beginning for the team's GM and its scouting staff.  Finishing near the bottom of the standings places the Ducks in the envious position of holding the fourth overall pick in the BRHL2 entry draft.  In addition, the team has the tenth (Tyutin) and eighteenth (Couture) picks overall that were acquired in trades over the course of the season.

The Ducks are rumoured to be talking to several players who are expected to be available when the team makes its first choice.  Luke Schenn, Zach Bogosian, Cody Hodgson and Nikita Filatov have all been contacted by the Ducks scouts in recent days.  It is without a doubt that Steven Stamkos and Drew Doughty will be selected in the top three, thus justifying their exclusion from the team's short-list.

While the Ducks contract potential draft choices, other teams are contact the Ducks about the possibility of moving up, or down, in the upcoming draft.  The Ducks would very much like to move the 10th and 18th picks for the 2nd or 3rd choice overall, however, other GMs are thus far keeping their cards close to their chest.  It is rumoured that Anaheim has received several offers that they are carefully considering.  Team sources indicate that one deal would guarantee the Ducks two of the players that they are said to be pursuing (Schenn, Bogosian, Hodgson, Filatov).  Adding the likes of Schenn or Bogosian and Hodgson or Filatov to a line-up that already boasts the likes of future stars like Jakub Voracek, Kyle Turris, Fabian Brunnstrom, Mikhail Grabovski, Andrej Sekera, Matt Lashoff and Cory Schneider should allow the Ducks to produce some exciting hockey in the years to come.     



-- Edited by Anaheim GM on Tuesday 21st of April 2009 03:44:47 PM