It appears that Ducks defenseman Drew Helleson will have a chance to make his NHL debut tonight against the team that drafted him. Per the AHL’s transactions log, Anaheim has recalled the blueliner from San Diego.
The 22-year-old was a second-round pick by the Avs (47th overall) back in 2019 but has certainly outperformed his draft stock. Helleson had a strong three-year career at Boston College while also representing Team USA internationally at both the World Juniors and the Olympics. That made him the key part of the trade that saw Anaheim send Josh Manson to Colorado last season.
Helleson signed soon after, getting his feet wet in the pros but this has been his first professional campaign. He hasn’t exactly lit it up like he did in college with just five goals and 13 assists in 63 games. However, it’s at least worth noting that the Gulls are the lowest-scoring team in the AHL and sit dead last in points with many of Anaheim’s top prospects still at the junior level.
Scott Harrington was a late scratch for Anaheim yesterday in their overtime loss to Arizona, forcing them to play with just five defensemen and 13 forwards while also resulting in Cam Fowler setting the NHL record for most ice time for a player in a regular season game at 38:55. If Harrington isn’t able to suit up against Colorado, Helleson will be in line to make his debut while allowing the Ducks to get back to a more traditional lineup in the process.
How can a club with so much cap scape only carry 6 D while being so far out of the playoffs?