Starting your rookie season in the NHL at the ripe age of 19 is an extremely difficult challenge – in fact most coaches would tell you that it’s “not ideal.” The speed of the game is something so different than anything these first year players have ever seen in their young careers and it truly takes a special player to enjoy success right off the bat. But Anaheim Ducks prospect Pavel Mintyukov won’t hear any of that. While it’s a small sample size, the 2022 first-round pick is quickly proving that age doesn’t matter.
In just five games with Anaheim, Mintyukov has shown he has what it takes to make an immediate impact on the Ducks blue line. With a goal and an assist, the 6-foot-1 rearguard has had an encouraging start to his NHL career. He has also added eight shots on goal, 12 hits, and six blocked shots all while maintaining a steady plus-1 rating. What’s even more impressive is that he is averaging the third most minutes on the team among defensemen with 19:47 time on ice, and has displayed the confidence of a seasoned veteran. Not bad for a 19-year-old getting his first taste of life in the NHL.
The Ducks have not held back the reins with Mintyukov. He saw time on the team’s first power-play unit during Anaheim’s 3-2 loss on Oct. 19 against the Dallas Stars, spending close to four minutes on the ice with the man advantage – more than any other Ducks blueliner. Most scouts will tell you that’s not common for first-year defenders, but Mintyukov appears to be anything but. He has the tools and the makeup to be something special for this team; an elite puck moving defenseman with size and skill, an asset the Ducks sorely lacked as they finished the 2022-23 season with a league-worst 58 points.
Mintyukov has elite hands and vision and excels at jumping into the rush in the attacking zone which he displayed on his first career goal. He can protect the puck with his big frame, as his size and strength can overpower a defender, helping him beat the opposition off the edge. But it’s his poise with the puck and his decision-making that earned him time on the top power play unit – just three games into his rookie season. Yes folks, he’s that good, and he’s only going to get better as the season unfolds. Last season, stopping the puck was a major problem in Orange County as Ducks goalies saw an average of 39 shots per game — a record high in the salary cap era. The club also allowed a league-high 4.09 goals-against per game, and their penalty-killing percentage ranked second to last at 72.14 percent. The 198-pound prospect should help in that regard this season.
A Star Is Born
I got an up-close look at Mintyukov at the team’s practice facilities in Irvine during the Ducks’ rookie camp this past summer. While watching the three-on-three drills, I was blown away by his high-end skating and puck handling skills. I remember thinking, “Wow, this kid could be an effective scoring winger in today’s NHL.” He was flat-out manhandling his fellow prospects during the half-ice wall drills, lowering his shoulder as he gained the edge to dish off no-look passes to his teammates. In my mind, I couldn’t come up with a comparable player at the time and to this day, I still can’t. He appears to be the prototype for the next generation of NHL star defensemen; a two-way player who can dominate on both ends of the ice with his elite speed and skill.
When training camp opened in September, there didn’t appear to be any drop-off in Mintyukov’s game as he joined the veterans. He once again stood out among his peers, in a prospect pool that is considered to be one of the league’s best. But it was still uncertain if he fit into the team’s plans for the 2023-24 season. An impressive summer led to speculation that he would start the season in Anaheim and, to everyone’s surprise, he did just that by making the opening night roster.
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But make no mistake, Anaheim knows what they have in this highly touted prospect and that’s why general manager Pat Verbeek selected him at 10th overall in that 2022 Draft. Mintyukov exploded offensively during his draft-plus-one year while splitting time between the Saginaw Spirit and the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), registering 24 goals and 64 assists between the two clubs while continuing to improve his defensive game, finishing with an eye-popping plus-33. To top it off he also took home the OHL Defenseman of the Year Trophy. His game has continued to progress at every level and Ducks management couldn’t be happier with their prized prospect.
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So far he has lived up to all the preseason hype through his first five games, but will the Ducks let him play past the nine-game trial for first-year players and burn a year off his entry-level contract? When you’re playing the minutes he is you would expect him to stay, especially when you factor in that he’s already taking on valuable power-play time. Verbeek and head coach Greg Cronin have some tough decisions to make in the near future as the Ducks roster four defensemen under the age of 23 with Jamie Drysdale (21), Tristan Luneau (19), Jackson Lacombe (22), and Mintyukov. This is not exactly a winning recipe in today’s NHL, but Anaheim is not expected to compete just yet as Verbeek and his staff continue to build for sustained success.
The Kid Is Alright
The Ducks have a good problem here to work with but these young defensemen will go through the growing pains together in what appears to be a pivotal year for their development. These young prospects will gain some much-needed experience as their journey in the NHL gets underway. Mintyukov looks to be a fixture on the Anaheim blue line for years to come – and that’s a good thing. He will be a key asset as the Ducks continue to identify their core players and I do expect them to compete for a playoff spot as early as the 2024-25 season. Fans in Southern California should be excited for the future because “Minty” – that’s apparently what his teammates call him – is a real gem.