The Anaheim Ducks have been actively reconstructing their roster for several years. Regular participants in the annual draft lottery, the Ducks have missed the playoffs for six consecutive seasons, including a dismal 27-50-5 record in the 2023-24 season that saw them finish 30th overall. Despite these on-ice struggles, the Ducks have one of the most promising futures in the NHL. Their lottery picks have accumulated a wealth of young talent, and they’ve had success with later-round selections, creating what is widely regarded as one of the best prospect pools in the league. As with last year, we’ll delve into the top 10 prospects from this talented group.
For clarity, I define “prospect” using Calder Trophy eligibility. To be Calder-eligible, a player must have fewer than 25 NHL games in a season and no more than six games in any previous two years in a major league. This criterion excludes many of Anaheim’s future core, such as 19-year-old Leo Carlsson, who played 55 games last season. Notably, five players from last year’s top prospect list have graduated, and a sixth, Jacob Perreault, has been traded.
10. Yegor Sidorov
Yegor Sidorov is a challenging prospect to evaluate. On the one hand, he is a creative and talented goal-scorer, having netted 65 goals in 82 games for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League (WHL) last season. However, his production came as a 19-year-old in a league where some opponents can be up to four years younger. He signed an entry-level contract (ELC) in April and is expected to play for the San Diego Gulls, Anaheim’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, this season.
Sidorov has the potential to be a game-changer at the NHL level, but he needs to develop a more complete game before coaches will feel comfortable playing him at the highest level. The more age-appropriate competition in the AHL will force him to rely more on his teammates and will test how well his high-end production translates to the professional level.
9. Sasha Pastujov
Sasha Pastujov, one of three returning prospects from last year’s list, completed his first full professional season with the Gulls. The 20-year-old right wing was hampered by a lower-body injury, limiting him to 23 points in 46 games. As a highly talented playmaker with a slight hitch in his skating, he is one of the organization’s more high-risk, high-reward prospects. He needs more time in the AHL, but his highlight-reel plays could eventually be a significant asset for Anaheim’s top-six forwards.
8. Rodwin Dionicio
Rodwin Dionicio is a promising addition to the Ducks’ already well-regarded defensive prospect pool. A fifth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Dionicio had a highly productive 2023-24 season in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he was one of nine defensemen in the past decade to score 25 goals in an OHL season. He amassed 90 points in 77 games, split between the Windsor Spitfires and Saginaw Spirit.
Dionicio’s biggest challenge in reaching the NHL will be navigating the logjam of left-handed defensemen that the Ducks are developing. Olen Zellweger, Pavel Mintyukov, and Jackson LaCombe have graduated from last year’s top prospect list, and Tyson Hinds completed his first professional season in San Diego. Dionicio will turn pro this season, but he’ll be doing so in Switzerland with EHC Biel. Although he signed an ELC with Anaheim, it’s uncertain when or if he will return to North America, given the depth ahead of him on the Ducks’ depth chart.
7. Damian Clara
Nineteen-year-old Damian Clara, the first Italian-born player drafted in NHL history, has been one of the top goaltenders in Sweden’s second league. His .913 save percentage (SV%) helped Brynas achieve a 25-8-0 record with him in goal. Clara was even more dominant in the postseason, improving his SV% to .931 and posting a 10-1 record, leading the team to promotion from HockeyAllsvenskan to the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). He is the youngest goaltender ever to lead his team to Sweden’s top league.
In June, Clara signed a three-year ELC with the Ducks, but he is expected to remain in Sweden for now. Evaluating goaltending prospects can be difficult, but Anaheim has several promising netminders in the system. Lukas Dostal has graduated from last year’s list, while Calle Clang, Tomas Suchanek, and Vyacheslav Buteyets are older and further along in their development. However, the towering 6-foot-6 Clara has the talent to quickly climb the depth chart. The Ducks might eventually feature a tandem of Dostal and Clara after the John Gibson era.
6. Lucas Pettersson
Lucas Pettersson, a second-round pick in last month’s NHL Draft, is a solid two-way center prospect. Offensively, he leans more towards goal-scoring, but he is a good skater with excellent hockey sense, fostering his development as a playmaker. He scored 57 points in 44 games in the J20 Nationell, Sweden’s top junior league. Shortly after being drafted by the Ducks, Pettersson was selected by the Saginaw Spirit in the 2024 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.
Pettersson’s versatility makes him an exciting prospect. While not elite in any one area, he plays a complete game for a player his age. He describes himself as a “mature two-way center,” which will facilitate his path to the NHL. Although he is unlikely to break into Anaheim’s top-six given the current depth, if he continues to develop a responsible 200-foot game, he could become a reliable third-line option with penalty-killing responsibilities.
5. Stian Solberg
The Ducks traded up last month to select defenseman Stian Solberg 23rd overall. The 6-foot-2 Norwegian blueliner is a throwback defender and adds a gritty element to Anaheim’s prospect pool. Ducks general manager Pat Verbeek likened him to Radko Gudas but three inches taller. Given the impact Gudas made in his first season in Anaheim, a younger, taller version of him is a tantalizing prospect.
Solberg isn’t a major offensive driver, but this is not a concern given the Ducks’ roster composition, which includes several puck-moving defensemen. As a left-handed defenseman, Solberg could form a dynamic pairing with Tristan Luneau. Solberg has signed his ELC with the Ducks but will play for Färjestad BK in the SHL this upcoming season.
4. Nathan Gaucher
Nathan Gaucher, one of the three returning players on this list, is among the Ducks’ most NHL-ready prospects. The 6-foot-3 center completed his first professional season with the Gulls, tallying 25 points in 72 games. Transitioning to the professional level can be challenging for power forwards, as they are more likely to dominate lower levels using their size. Gaucher, who was nearly a point-per-game player in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (134 points in 140 games), saw a dip in production against full-grown adults in the AHL.
Gaucher’s path to the NHL doesn’t hinge on his scoring but on the depth he can add to the roster. His size is rare among Anaheim’s depth players, and his ability to play both center and wing should make him a strong candidate for injury call-ups this season. If he makes it to the NHL, it will likely be in a bottom-six role with penalty-killing duties.
3. Tristan Luneau
Tristan Luneau, the last returning entrant to this year’s list, has become the Ducks’ top right-handed defensive prospect. The offensively-minded defender surprised many by making Anaheim’s roster out of camp last season. However, he played only seven games before a knee infection sidelined him for the rest of the season.
The Ducks’ front office and coaching staff must have been impressed with Luneau’s limited performance, as they traded their most developed right-handed defensive prospect, Jamie Drysdale, knowing Luneau would be out for the year. Consequently, Luneau will take on a much more significant role this season.
2. Beckett Sennecke
Anaheim’s tradition of surprising first-round picks continued this year with Beckett Sennecke, who was taken third overall. The Toronto native is an intriguing prospect who could fill a key need for the Ducks as they grow more competitive. Right wing is Anaheim’s weakest forward position, and Sennecke is expected to be a top option in the coming years.
Sennecke, who stands 6-foot-4, experienced a five-inch growth spurt since joining the OHL. This growth spurt allowed him to develop the puck skills of a smaller playmaker, which he has successfully adapted to his larger frame. Last season, he recorded 68 points in 63 regular-season games for the Oshawa Generals and added 22 points in 16 postseason games.
Sennecke is a high-risk, high-reward pick for the Ducks. His upside merits his ranking as the number two prospect, but he needs to continue filling out his frame and rounding out his game to reach his full potential. His upcoming season in Oshawa will be closely watched.
1. Cutter Gauthier
The top prospect in Anaheim is Cutter Gauthier, who arrived in the trade involving Jamie Drysdale.
