We, too, are not immune to surprises in the National Hockey League draft. In recent history, the selection of Pierre-Luc Dubois for third place by the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2016 had shaped the mood.

What if the Anaheim Ducks surprised everyone on June 28th in Nashville? This is a theory shared by Jeff Marek on the latest episode of the popular 32 Thoughts podcast, which he co-hosts with Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman.

“I recently received an interesting text from someone who reminded me of Pat Verbeek [le directeur général des Ducks] I’ve worked with Steve Yzerman for a long time, Marek said. We know from Yzerman that he forms his own opinion and is not influenced by surrounding noise.

In that state of mind, the 2019 Detroit Red Wings GM voted Moritz Seider sixth overall, to everyone’s surprise. With that in mind, the mystery spokesman with whom Marek texted made a crazy prediction: The Ducks will win that Russian Matvei Michkov took second place.

It would be a very daring selection of the California formation. Instead, he is said to be aiming to recruit Canadian center Adam Fantilli as a runner-up.

However, the Ducks are in the process of rebuilding — and may be for a few more years. The deal that ties Michkov to SKA Saint Petersburg for another three years might be easier to accept under the circumstances.

Michkov’s selection in the second tier would have a significant domino effect; Fantilli could be third; Leo Carlsson, fourth; Will Smith, Fifth.