Part Two: Defense

My apologies for the lack of coverage at the tail end of the Gulls Calder Cup run. I couldn’t watch some of the games live and well – with the way things ended, I didn’t quite have the motivation to get writing again so soon after.

But it was a great season, a great year and things can and only will get better. Let us look back on the year that was one player at a time.

Troy Terry (19) Jake Dotchin (2) and Jaycob Megna (24) celebrate a goal against the Colorado Eagles. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#2 – Jake Dotchin: C

Dotchin was a low-risk gamble the Ducks took on a once-promising Tampa defender who had fallen out of favor with his club. He started the year as a steady presence on the back-end, earning a call-up to the Ducks in late November where he stayed with the big club until mid January assisting on one goal through 20 games. When he came back to the Gulls he had two points in three games before going down with injury – when he eventually returned from that in mid March he had a memorable two goal night against the Moose in which he was subjected to body-shaming taunts referencing his allegedly being too out of shape for the Lightning.

On the year he had 7 points in 20 games and a further 2 points in 6 games in the playoffs where he fought for a spot in the final rounds, eventually losing it to Trevor Murphy and/or Josh Mahura.

He was not offered a qualifying offer and will become an Unrestricted Free Agent July 1st.

Andy Welinski (3) releases a shot during action against the Reign. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#3 – Andy Welinski: B+

In what you could I guess technically call a break-out year for the Ducks 2011 third rounder, he ended the year setting career highs in NHL games played (26), goals (1), assists (3) and points (4). With San Diego he completed the year with 19 points in 27 games, adding a further 10 points 16 playoff games.

Welinski isnt getting any younger, at 28 he is nearing career-AHLer status but he most definitely did improve his defensive and physical game this year. Noticeably looking more experienced in his time with the Ducks and clearly above his peers come the tail-end of the AHL season.

Like Kossila and Roy, he is a Group 6 Unrestricted Free Agent and I earlier speculated that he is likely to test the market given how rare right-shooting defensemen seem to be nowadays and given his uncanny ability to get a point shot through traffic. I would love him back for the Gulls but I dont begrudge him for wanting to further his career elsewhere, after-all as I said earlier, the clock is starting to tick on his prime years.

Keaton Thompson (4) poses with a fan. Credit Sand Diego Gulls.

#4 – Keaton Thompson: D-

In his third full year with the Gulls, Thompson failed to surpass any career totals and struggled to stay in the line-up come seasons end. The 2013 third round pick ended the year with 7 points in 53 games, 9 points less than his previous two seasons.

He had a brutal start to the year, paired with Steve Oleksy – the duo were often trapped in their own zone by opposing teams and usually the cause of many a goal scored by turnover. When Oleksy was moved he settled down somewhat and added a further physical element to his game as the year wore on. He did not play in any of the Gulls postseason run.

He was not qualified by the Ducks and is an unrestricted free agent, given the incoming talent I dont see the Gulls offering him an AHL deal unless it is for depth cover.

Simon Benoit (5) carries the puck in action against the Manitoba Moose. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#5 – Simon Benoit: A

Quite possibly the second biggest and most pleasurable surprise of the season, Benoit started the year as an undrafted invite at the 2018 Ducks development camp. He was then invited back to the Prospect camp in September, impressed at the Rookie Tournament and hung around until one of the very last rounds of cuts – earning a contract with the Gulls but after proving himself worthy; signing a three year entry level contract with the Ducks in March.

He finished the year with 16 points – in 65 games, missing just 3 on the year due to injury. He kept up his strong play in the postseason, playing in all 16 games and earning his first 3 professional postseason points. He also co-led the Gulls in +/- with Chase De Leo and was tied for 10th overall among rookies league-wide with a +16.

A reliable, smart and physical defender with a deceptively fast first step – Benoit plays a game similar to Josh Manson. I for one; am very excited to see what he will do in his second pro year and how is development progresses. I can see him possibly challenging for a spot on the Ducks out of camp but at the very least being recalled as injury cover during the year as the perfect replacement for Manson.

Josh Mahura (6) defends against the Manitoba Moose. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#6 – Josh Mahura: B

It is hard to quantitate a fair grade for Mahura in his first pro season. The 2016 3nd round pick – like his Regina Pats teammate Sam Steel – arrived with high expectations. He had great start to the year – scoring 11 points in his first 16 games including multiple multi-point games; but the Ducks injury woes disrupted that run and he was called up at the end of November to play in his first 17 NHL games at the tender age of 20.

He put up 5 points including his first NHL goal in that span but once returned to the Gulls in January – he either struggled to re-adjust, was battling an ailment, suffered from under-confidence or all of the above; he was not the same player that had 11 points in his first 16 games.

He missed time at the end of the season as well as the majority of the second round series against the Condors with various upper body ailments; on the year he finished with 19 points in 40 games and failed to get on the scoresheet in 9 playoff games.

I had high hopes for him to start the year and at first it felt those aspirations were well founded but perhaps getting called into NHL action in his first year was likely not the best for his development, here is hoping he can get back on track this year and stay healthy – the Gulls will be relying on his puck moving and prowess on the man advantage.

Patrick Sieloff (13) defends against the Stockton Heat. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#13 – Patrick Sieloff: C

Acquired at the deadline; Sieloff served as a depth defensemen with a physical edge to his game that gave Eakins the luxury of being able to interchange Dotchin or Thompson should either of them falter.

He played in 14 games to close out the year for the Gulls, getting 1 assist. He also managed to get into there postseason games, the final two games of the Bakersfield series and the first game of the Conference Finals against Chicago.

He has one year left on a two year deal he signed with the Sens after this entry level deal expired, the Gulls will be looking to rely on his experience to help guide newcomers such as Hunter Drew.

San Diego Gulls Captain Jaycob Megna (24) skates in action against the Tuscon Roadrunners. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#24 – Jaycob Megna: A-

It was another momentous year for Megna. The 2012 7th round pick was named the Gulls second captain in rebooted-franshise history and then went on to break career numbers in NHL games (28), goals (1), assists (3) and points (4) when he was called up at the end of January.

I was initially concerned that he would not be able to clear waivers to return for the Gulls postseason run at seasons end but failed to realise that once a players parent club has been eliminated from postseason contention, waivers no longer matter.

On the year he had 13 points in 38 games for the Gulls and contributed a further 2 assists in 16 games in the playoffs, leading the team in +/- with +11.

Like Roy, Kossila and Welinski he is a Group 6 Unrestricted Free Agent and I initially speculated he might stay given him being named team Captain – but ultimately Megna – like Welinski – needs to look at his career path and see if he might be better suited signing with an organisation that has less defensive depth or if he is happy staying in San Diego mentoring future Ducks prospects as the club Captain for years to come.

Trevor Murphy and the Gulls celebrate a Game Three victory. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#29 – Trevor Murphy: A

It hurts to write this one. Murphy recently signed (along with Andrej Sustr) with the Kunlun Red Star for their fourth year in the KHL.

He was acquired by the Gulls in December in exchange for Giovanni Fiore. At the time he was struggling for ice time among a crop of talented defensemen on the Tuscon blue-line. The trade proved to be move of the year and possibly the best in franchise history as Murphy turned the sputtering Gulls power-play into an instant threat, and became a huge part of their top four down the stretch. By years end he had 18 points in 37 games for the Gulls – scoring a further 6 points in 16 games in the playoffs including one game winning goal.

His departure leaves a huge hole on the San Diego blue line and leaves one less option on the man advantage, the Gulls will have to hope that Josh Mahura is ready to step up to take that responsibility this year.

Jacob Larsson in action against the Ontario Reign October 1st 2018. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#34 – Jacob Larsson: A

The Ducks 2015 first round pick made further steps in his development, surpassing career totals in NHL games played (49) and points (5). He is entering the third and final year of his entry level contract with a view to earning a full time position in Anaheim and the parent club appears ready to give him that.

The story to start last season was the battle between Larsson and Pettersson for who would move ahead in their development curve – the writing was on the wall that were wasnt room enough for both of them in Anaheim. It appeared the Ducks made their call as to which Swedish defender they would go with then they dealt Pettersson to the Penguins in early December.

Larsson spent the majority of the year in Anaheim, totaling 5 points in 22 games with the Gulls through sporadic stints across October, December, February and March. Joining San Diego for their postseason run he contributed 7 points in 16 games, finishing second on the team in +/- with +7. He was by far and away the best defencemen on the Gulls during the postseason and seemingly lifted his game with each series win. If he can continue that play through to this year – I do not think we will see him in San Diego this season.

Andrej Sustr (36) defends against the Stockton Heat. Credit San Diego Gulls.

#36 – Andrej Sustr: D

There isn’t a heck of a lot to say about Sustrs wayward year with the Ducks organisation. He was demoted (along with fellow offseason signing Luke Schenn) to the Gulls at the end of October, lasting all of one month in Anaheim.

He finished the year in San Diego having played in 39 games and providing 3 assists on the season. He did not appear in any postseason games. Among defenders he was a team worst -8.

As stated – he has joined Trevor Murphy in signing with Kunlun in the KHL.