With the Anaheim Ducks’ dreams of a potential playoff spot effectively dashed after their recent performance, it’s time for the team to set its eyes on the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. It is unlikely that the Ducks will get a top-three draft selection, as they currently sit at 25th in the league. However, they will be on target to get a solid young player in the first round, and 10 additional players through the following rounds. What does the team need most and who should they target to help them?
Offensive Firepower: Michael Misa, Carter Bear, Roger McQueen
It is no secret the Ducks are not a high-scoring team. The team has scored just 179 goals this season, averaging 2.6 per game. In a time where most elite players are reaching 30-plus goals a season, the Ducks’ highest scorer, Frank Vatrano, has lit the lamp 20 times. A huge piece the Ducks are missing is a high-powered, consistent scorer–someone who finds the back of the net night after night and can be counted on to make stellar plays in critical moments. There are too many playmakers on the team and not enough players to benefit from the ones who are skilled in racking up assists. For example, Troy Terry has 32 assists this season and is known to be a consistent and accurate passer. Paired with a high-scoring forward, Terry could easily improve on that number and help the team find more wins.
A player like Michael Misa, currently playing with the Ontario Hockey League’s (OHL) Saginaw Spirit, would be a phenomenal pickup to fill this gap. In his most recent season with the Spirit, he was almost a goal-per-game player (59 goals in 62 games) and tallied 67 assists. He would also help the Ducks improve their power play, which is ranked 31st in the league, as he has averaged 2.09 power-play goals. Misa is a physical, fast player, cracking open the defense and causing the opposition’s offense to trip up and make mistakes. He has an accurate shot and elite puck-handling ability, making him a top player for the Ducks to consider.
Carter Bear, currently playing with the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) Everett Silvertips, is another accurate, offensive forward to consider. He has played both center and left wing, and this flexibility would allow him to fit well into the current Ducks’ system, which shuffles lines often. Bear has scored 40 goals in 56 games with the Silvertips and tallied 42 assists. He is a high-energy team player who plays with a good level of aggression and stamina. His ability to read the puck–both offensively and defensively–makes him stand out among prospects as one who could be a huge asset to the rebuilding Ducks.
Roger McQueen of the WHL’s Brandon Wheat Kings averages more than a point-per-game (18 points in 14 games this season) and has totaled nine goals in his games played with the Wheat Kings this season. He was also an offensive weapon in Canada’s Hlinka Gretzky Cup appearance, scoring four goals in his five games played. Prior to an unfortunate injury in October 2024, he had eight goals in 8 games. While this injury may drop him lower on NHL team’s radars, the Ducks should not overlook him. His size is an advantage for him– he already stands at 6-foot-5. With some added weight and critical development of his skating skills, McQueen could easily become a power forward for the Ducks. “It’s a heavy top end of the draft, but if McQueen had stayed healthy all season, scouts would have stood on tables to argue at the draft meetings that he goes number one in June,” said an NHL Scout about him. McQueen could be a potential steal for the Ducks and anchor their middle six for years to come.
Strong, Offensive Defensemen: Cameron Reid, Kashawn Aitcheson
The Ducks’ defense is a big weak point. Besides the standout Jackson Lacombe (35 points in 61 games), they do not have many strong, reliable, offensive defensemen — something a low-scoring team so desperately needs. The Ducks defense has allowed their goaltenders to face a whopping 2,057 shots this season alone, and that number speaks to its weakness. Older defenseman like Radko Gudas and Jacob Trouba will more than likely continue to decline in performance. Younger defensemen, like Olen Zellweger and Pavel Mintyukov, have great potential, and adding another young defenseman with potential could bolster the team’s blue line and create a strong line of protection as well as more offensive chances.
Cameron Reid of the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers plays a two-way game, alternating between defense and offense to help drive his team to success. He has totaled 53 points in 66 games– a solid performance from a defenseman. Reid relies on his skating to shut down opponents and has a high defensive IQ that allows him to find good angles and limit the time and space opponents have to get around him. He is a fast skater and can lead a rush when he gets the puck in his possession. While his offensive game does still need some development, his defensive game would greatly benefit the Ducks’ efforts to shut down powerful lines, keep a solid protective barrier, and alleviate some of the pressure their goalie tandem faces.
Unlike Reid, Kashawn Aitcheson of the OHL’s Barrie Colts is a large, physical defenseman, at 6-foot-1 and 193 pounds. He uses his size and physicality to his advantage, laying out players to stop them in their tracks. While he used to be a bit erratic and undisciplined in his defense efforts, he has polished up his game and makes hits and checks with more discipline. He is skilled at shutting down rushes and skating lanes for opponents, a big skill the Ducks need to develop. His physical game would appeal to the organization as well, as they want to create a team that is intense, rough, and difficult to play against. Offensively, Aitcheson has shown improvement and is armed with a powerful, fast shot, especially from the point. He leads rushes, plays a 200-foot game, and is clutch on the power play. All of these skills would make him a huge asset to the Ducks.
The Ducks have great potential when it comes to their 2025 draft picks. This year’s prospect pool can help to fill in the gaps in their game and bolster the strong players they already have. This draft could effectively help create a stronger, more physical, and higher-scoring team in Anaheim as they finally begin to step out of the rebuild into an era of contending.
