Ducks Make First Round of Roster Cuts

Photo: Anaheim Ducks

By Thomas Harrington

On Tuesday, the Anaheim Ducks announced their first round of roster cuts, reducing the size of the training camp roster to 55. Forward Connor Hvidston was assigned to Swift Current of the WHL, forward Nico Myatovic was assigned to Seattle of the WHL, forward Carey Terrance was assigned to Erie of the OHL, forward Coulson Pitre was assigned to Flint of the OHL, forward Yegor Sidorov was assigned to Saskatoon of the WHL, defenseman Konnor Smith was assigned to Peterborough of the OHL, defenseman Rodwin Dionicio was assigned to Windsor of the OHL, and defenseman Vojtech Port was assigned to Edmonton of the OHL. All of these moves were expected.

Hvidston was a fifth round pick from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. He did not appear in Anaheim’s lone preseason game before going back to juniors, and did not play at all in the rookie tournament. He was going to, but was held out for precautionary reasons. He was also among Anaheim’s first cuts at last year’s training camp. Despite being a 2022 draft pick, he’s still among Anaheim’s youngest prospects, as he was one of the youngest players chosen in that draft.

Myatovic was the first player Anaheim selected in the second round this past June. He played in all three rookie tournament games and was scoreless. He did play in Anaheim’s first preseason game and was scoreless in it as well. Terrance was Anaheim’s second pick from the second round this past June. He also played in all three rookie tournament games, and led the team in assists with three and points with four. He was particularly noticeable in game two against Colorado. He played in the Ducks’ first preseason game and was scoreless.

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Pitre was Anaheim’s first pick of the third round this past June and scored one goal in three games at the rookie tournament. He did not play in Anaheim’s first preseason game. Sidorov was Anaheim’s second third round pick from the June draft and scored a goal in three games at the rookie tournament. He played in Anaheim’s first preseason game and was scoreless.

Anaheim chose Smith in the fourth round, Dionicio in the fifth round, and Port in the sixth round of the 2023 draft. All three of them played in two games at the rookie tournament, with Dionicio picking up a goal. Smith was injured at the tournament, and none of them played in Anaheim’s first preseason game.

None of these players were going to play in Anaheim this year. They have all yet to sign their entry-level deal with the Ducks and will spend at least another year or two in juniors before they have a realistic chance of playing in the NHL or AHL. The plan for these players was always for them to return to their junior teams, and getting them there sooner rather than later should actually help them in the long run. They’ll be able to join their respective junior teams and play important minutes for them. It also helps the Ducks. With less bodies at training camp, it will be easier for the coaching staff to evaluate who is left. The Ducks have a long way to go to get the size of their roster down to 23, but most positions are already decided. It’s just about getting some of the younger players a game or two in the preseason before sending them back to junior hockey or the AHL.

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September 27th, 2023