ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Anaheim Ducks have selected Swedish defenceman Hampus Lindholm with the sixth pick in the NHL draft, taking a big risk to land a player who could provide a major reward.
The Ducks picked Lindholm on Friday night, bypassing several higher-rated defence prospects to land a fast-rising prospect.
Anaheim's eventful evening began with the departure of high-scoring defenceman Lubomir Visnovsky, traded to the New York Islanders one year before his contract expired. Ducks forward Bobby Ryan also voiced his dissatisfaction with the club in a newspaper interview.
The Ducks then chose Lindholm, a smooth-skating defenceman with an all-around game. He caught the NHL's attention with impressive pre-draft fitness workouts, and Anaheim hopes he will be an heir to its tradition of high-scoring defencemen including Scott Niedermayer, Chris Pronger and Visnovsky.
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