DUCKS: Prospect spotlight: Rodwin Dionicio

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Left unpicked through four rounds, the Anaheim Ducks took a chance on Swiss defenseman Rodwin Dionicio with the 129th overall selection last year. Not only was he a later pick, but he was actually a re-entry player—someone who NHL teams had overlooked the year prior.

This season, in the Ontario Hockey League, Dionicio has posted 60 points with a plus-11 rating in 49 games, spending time with both the Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit. Dionicio was named OHL Player of the Week on Feb. 19 and has been a catalyst for Saginaw this season. The Spirit acquired him back in November via trade, after he posted 20 points in 16 games with Windsor.

On the ice, Dionicio is a Swiss Army knife. He’s unpredictable, deceptive and crafty in all three zones and is an elite playmaker with his stick. Although his skating and agility could be improved, his handling skills compensate for his subpar mobility, allowing him to generate offense. He knows how to set up offense with ease and can locate teammates with precise passing.

As an offensive-minded defenseman, his defense could certainly use some improvement. For example, he’s had trouble with preventing opponents from entering the defensive zone and his skating struggles have hindered him from retrieving the puck more quickly than opponents. Dionicio plays like a winger, which isn’t a bad thing, but he’ll need to bring his defensive abilities up to the pro standards if he wants to make it as an NHL blueliner.

Critically, despite his shortcomings, Dionicio has shown vast improvement over his young career. As a member of the Niagara Ice Hogs, in 2021-22, for example, he only posted 31 points in 57 games while posting an inefficient minus-22 rating. Now, he’s making a case to be a full-time Anaheim Duck with his exceptional performances this season.

Dionicio might be considered second fiddle to Spirit blueliner Zayne Parekh—who leads the team in points and all OHL defenseman with 81—but Dionicio is still a top-five point-generator among all OHL defensemen this season and has shown that despite his previously looked-over potential, he can still ride with some of the most highly touted players.

Parekh is expected to be an early draft selection this year, and could even find himself selected in the lottery. While he does have 21 more points than Dionicio, in the grand scheme of things, the fact that a team will likely take Parekh in the first round highlights the true steal that Anaheim found in the fifth round in Dionicio. Dionicio scores almost as frequently as Parekh with 22 goals to the latter’s 28, so Parekh’s stout assist numbers are what make him such a desirable prospect.

Dionicio was also an impact player for Switzerland in the 2024 World Juniors. His two-goal performance against Norway helped the Swiss advance to the quarterfinals. Even at just 19 years old, Dionicio has loads of experience in international play as well as in North America.

Dionicio is the textbook definition of a diamond in the rough. He’s a part of Anaheim’s star-studded defenseman prospect pool that includes current Duck Pavel Mintyukov and American Hockey League stud Olen Zellweger. The Ducks’ 2023 draft might be remembered primarily for No. 2 overall pick Leo Carlsson, but general manager Pat Verbeek’s best work might’ve been selecting an under-the-radar future star that could bolster Anaheim’s blue line depth for years to come. At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, Dionicio has the build to hold his own in the big leagues, he’ll just need to keep developing as a skater to earn a future callup.

Dionicio is a unique player with a variety of skills, room for improvement in the defensive zone and an unconventional draft story. It might take some time before he’s an everyday Duck, but when the moment comes, his extensive development and experience will more than likely pay off.