The Anaheim Ducks have a prospect pool rivals should envy, particularly up front. Their foundation of Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier and Beckett Sennecke gives them legit top-of-the-lineup forwards with premium offensive traits. It’s a deep, highly skilled system with an abundance of promising youth that project to play meaningful NHL minutes.

2025 ranking: 4

2026 NHL Draft grade: B-

Player Ranking1. Leo Carlsson, C

Dec. 26, 2004 | 6-foot-3 | 208 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 2 in 2023
Tier: Bubble NHL star and top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: High-end
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Carlsson had a great season as a critical part of Anaheim’s resurgence. His tools are elite. He’s a big center with a ton of skill and hockey sense who routinely makes difficult plays with the puck. He sees the ice at a very high level and hits a ton of seams. The plays he makes for a big man stand out, especially at the pace he can do them. He’s not going to run over opponents, but he competes hard and gets to the tough areas to create offense. He can run a first power-play unit, while also being able to drive offense at a top level at even strength. He projects as a No. 1 center.

2. Beckett Sennecke, RW

Jan. 28, 2006 | 6-foot-3 | 206 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 3 in 2024
Tier: Bubble NHL star and top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: High-end
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Sennecke was fantastic as a rookie NHL player last season. His toolkit is very exciting as a tall winger who skates quite well for his size and has game-breaking skill. He’s a highly creative puck handler who beats players one-on-one often, and that he can make those difficult plays at full speed makes him highly intriguing. He sees the ice well and is creative as a passer with a high-end offensive brain overall. There have been times when I’ve questioned his compete and consistency, but that aspect has been better in recent years. Sennecke is a budding star who should be a top scorer in the league in due time.

3. Cutter Gauthier, LW

Jan. 19, 2004 | 6-foot-2 | 200 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 5 in 2022
Tier: Top of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: High-end
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Gauthier was one of the best young wingers in the league last season as a critical part of Anaheim’s rebound as a team. He has all the tools you want in a premier forward as a big, fast, highly skilled forward with a natural offensive touch. He has tremendous hands and can create chances through defenders off the rush very well. He has an elite shot and is often a threat to score from the dots. He can make tough plays to teammates, but he’s a shoot-first player. He plays on the perimeter a bit too much, leaning on his shot like a lot of goal-scorers tend to do. He works hard enough, but for a big man he can get pushed around more than you’d like. Gauthier projects as a longtime top-line winger who will be a regular threat to score 30-plus goals.

4. Roger McQueen, C

Oct. 2, 2006 | 6-foot-6 | 198 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 10 in 2025
Tier: Bubble top and middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: McQueen didn’t have a huge year, but given his missed time from injury, he was quite impressive, especially in the second half. He’s a big center who can skate and has high-end offensive skills. His reach and hands can allow him to break shifts open, especially when he’s attacking with tempo. I wouldn’t call McQueen a truly high-end playmaker, but he sees the ice well and can make tough plays. McQueen is big, but what scouts will love is that he uses his frame. He has an edge in his play, and he projects as a top-six two-way center.

5. Stian Solberg, D

Dec. 29, 2005 | 6-foot-2 | 205 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 23 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: High-end
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Solberg’s pure talent won’t stand out, but the way he plays is quite likable. He’s a hyper-physical defenseman who plays with an edge and wins a lot of pucks. He closes on gaps well and breaks up a good number of plays. He’s a very good defender due to his combination of size, mobility and compete. Offensively, I don’t see top-end puck play, but he can transition enough pucks with his skating and first pass, and he has a great shot. He has just enough offense to go with high-end defense to be a potential No. 4 defenseman.

6. Nikita Klepov, RW

June 27, 2008 | 6-foot-0 | 180 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 15 in 2026
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Klepov is a highly skilled and intelligent winger. He has the ability to run a power play and make difficult plays consistently as a solid skater who can generate chances with pace. His effort level is fine, although he’s not that physically imposing and can be pushed to the outside. He’s talented, with power-play and scoring ability, but I’m not sold that his talent is special enough for his average athleticism and effort level to be a full-time player, although he’s on the bubble.

7. Tristan Luneau, D

Jan. 12, 2004 | 6-foot-1 | 211 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 53 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Above NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Luneau has been very good in the AHL over the past two years. He can create with his brain, hands and point shot. Luneau sees the ice very well and makes a lot of tough plays. He can walk the blue line and play on a power play, especially due to his shot and the offense he generates off it. The question will be his defense. He has the size for the NHL, but his mobility is just OK, and his defensive effort isn’t always the best. He’s progressed enough in that area as a pro where I think he can be OK, though. The question will be whether that will be in Anaheim or not, given they don’t need a true power-play type currently. Luneau has the tools to be an NHL defenseman.

8. Marcus Nordmark, LW

May 4, 2008 | 6-foot-2 | 180 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 28 in 2026
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Nordmark has a lot of good traits. He skates well, is a highly gifted puck handler and can both pass and shoot the puck like an NHLer. He’s a flashy forward who can break open a shift. His effort level is just OK, though. He’s not soft, but he’s certainly not hard to play against and fades into the background for stretches and has a lot of bad habits. He has top-six winger tools, but there are a lot of holes in his game he will need to work on.

9. Rian Chudzinski, RW

Dec. 30, 2007 | 6-foot-1 | 191 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 82 in 2026
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: High-end

Analysis: Chudzinski wasn’t a top scorer on a deep Moncton team, but he had a good season, including a great playoff run. His talent base is decent. He’s a strong skater with good hands who can beat defenders one-on-one. He’s not a strong playmaker, but his effort level is what makes him interesting. Chudzinski is highly physical, gets to the net to create offense and can be a pain in the ass to play against. I think he has just enough skill to go with his tenacity and edge to be a middle-six winger.

10. Pavel Mintyukov, D

Nov. 25, 2003 | 6-foot-1 | 207 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 10 in 2022
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Mintyukov has been searching for a clear role in Anaheim over the last few years. He’s an NHL-level skater and puck handler, and when he’s rushing the puck or activating off the point, he can be quite dangerous. He isn’t a great playmaker or physically intimidating. He has become a better defender and took on regular PK duty for the Ducks. He’s an NHL defenseman due to his traits; whether the top-end potential that made him a top-10 pick ever comes will mostly come down to his hockey sense and if he can create more as a passer.

11. Nathan Gaucher, C

Nov. 6, 2003 | 6-foot-3 | 207 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 22 in 2022
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Gaucher is a big center who plays hard and has been a quality two-way pivot for a while. He has some skill, but he lacks offensive sense and overall doesn’t make many plays with the puck. He skates fine for his size, but his game can lack pace. His value comes down to the fact he’s a physical center who is quite good defensively. He can play tough minutes and kills penalties very well. He projects as a bottom-six forward or a fourth-line center.

12. Ethan Procyszyn, C

July 11, 2006 | 6-foot-3 | 190 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 68 in 2024
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Procyszyn is a highly likable forward despite moderate point production in junior. He skates well for a guy his size. He has good puck skills and can beat defensemen on the move with his skill. Procyszyn plays hard as well. He can PK effectively, he’s very physical and attacks the net to create offense. His pure hockey sense and playmaking underwhelm, and I don’t see a true natural scorer, but the combination of traits could lead to him being a bottom-six winger or a fourth-line center.

13. Noah Warren, D

July 15, 2004 | 6-foot-5 | 224 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 42 in 2022
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: Below NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Warren is a player I’ve gone back and forth on. He’s been just OK in the AHL. The offense hasn’t been there, but that was always the case in junior either. The idea for Warren as a pro was this huge right-shot who skates good enough for his size, is highly physical and can make a lot of stops. He’s been that to a degree, although he hasn’t been a prolific stopper. He could just be an AHLer, but the tools remain so intriguing that if his development goes better next season, an NHL coach will find minutes for him.

14. Tarin Smith, D

March 24, 2006 | 6-foot-2 | 187 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 79 in 2024
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Smith was one of the top defensemen in the WHL and a leader for a dominant Everett team last season. His skill level is quite high. He makes a ton of difficult dekes and plays with the puck routinely, and has the skill to run a power play. In the past, I’ve questioned his play without the puck and mobility, but he seems sharper in those respects. He still lacks a clear role, but the sum of the parts may be too good, and he looks on track to play games.

15. Mathis Preston, RW

July 21, 2008 | 5-foot-11 | 176 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 50 in 2026
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

Analysis: Preston is a very talented winger. His skating is very good, showing the quick-twitch first step and speed of top NHL forwards. He has excellent hands and can score from range. His playmaking is good, but not great. He’s also a small winger who plays on the outside too much. On his best shifts, he looks like a top-six winger, but he’s inconsistent. His talent probably gets him NHL games, but he’ll need to round out his game to become a legit player.

16. Drew Schock, D

Feb. 7, 2007 | 6-foot-0 | 178 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 101 in 2025
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: Above NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Schock is an excellent skater. He has a smooth, powerful stride with top-tier edge work for the pro level. He’s got the ability to evade pressure in his own end and at the blue line very well due to his skating and skill. On his best shifts, Schock shows power-play potential at the next level. His pure playmaking, though, is average. Despite his tools, the offense hasn’t come in major numbers for Schock, either. You combine that with the fact he’s a smaller defenseman who isn’t overly physical and it’s unclear how he will defend as a pro other than using his feet. He works hard enough and the skating is high-end enough that he could be a useful depth defenseman.

17. Anton Wahlberg, LW

July 4, 2005 | 6-foot-4 | 205 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 39 in 2023
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average

Analysis: Wahlberg is a very talented but also at times frustrating prospect. He can move very well for his size and has legit offensive skills. The way he can pull pucks by opposing defensemen while moving at a fast pace looks like an NHL forward. In his best shifts and games, he looks like a middle-six forward. Despite his hands, I don’t think he creates a ton of chances for others, and his effort level can be inconsistent, too.

18. Jayden Kurtz, D

Dec. 30, 2007 | 6-foot-3 | 194 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 45 in 2026
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: NHL average

Analysis: Kurtz has legit athletic tools. He’s a tall, mobile defenseman. He can transition pucks well and makes an effective first pass. He’s not a highly physical defender, but he closes gaps well and makes stops. He has a legit chance to play games due to his tools.

19. Konnor Smith, D

Nov. 6, 2004 | 6-foot-6 | 234 pounds | Shoots left

Drafted: No. 97 in 2023
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: Poor
Puck skills: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Above NHL average

Analysis: Smith is a bit of a long shot; not many full-time ECHL players make it to the big leagues, but he has a chance. He’s huge and highly physical, and it’s easy to see a coach playing him for a specific role if his first pass is good enough. Will it be? It’s questionable. He’s certainly not a guy who screams talent, but I’ve seen enough flashes of puck-moving to think he could make it.

20. Herman Träff, RW

Dec. 31, 2005 | 6-foot-3 | 216 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 91 in 2024
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: High-end

Analysis: Träff is a tall forward who scored at a high clip in the Allsvenskan. He skates and handles the puck quite well for a big guy, and on his best shifts where he’s playing direct and with pace, he can create a lot of controlled entries and scoring chances. He has a great shot and is a legit threat to score from the dots. Like a lot of shooters, he plays on the outside too much, and he does take games off too many times, but last season he did play with more bite.

21. Damian Clara, G

Jan. 13, 2005 | 6-foot-6 | 214 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 60 in 2023
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: NHL average
Hockey sense: Below NHL average

Analysis: Clara has been inconsistent as a pro the last few years, but when he’s dialed in, he looks like an NHL goaltender. He’s huge and has the quick-twitch in his lower half of a smaller goaltender. He makes a lot of NHL-caliber saves moving laterally. The issue in his game is his reads, inefficient movements and lack of consistency.

22. Elijah Neuenschwander, G

Oct. 17, 2006 | 6-foot-5 | 199 pounds | Catches left

Drafted: No. 104 in 2025
Tier: NHL prospect

Skating: Below NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average

Analysis: Neuenschwander is a big goalie who moves decently well and can make tough stops versus pros already. He’s smart, reads the play well and squares up a lot of pucks. He competes hard on second-chance opportunities and is aggressive using his big frame. He’s reasonably quick, but whether Neuenschwander has the side-to-side quickness needed to make NHL stops is debatable.

Player eligibility: All skaters who are 22 years old or younger as of Sept. 15, 2026, regardless of how many NHL games they’ve played, are eligible. Player heights and weights are taken from the NHL.

Tool grades: Tool grades are based on a scale with six separate levels, with an eye toward how this attribute would grade in the NHL (poor, below-average, average, above-average, high-end and elite). “Average” on this scale means the tool projects as NHL average, which is meant as a positive, not a criticism. Skating, puck skills, hockey sense and compete for every projected NHL player are graded. Shot grades are only included if a shot is notably good or poor.

Tier definitions: Tiers are meant to show roughly where in an average NHL lineup a player projects to slot in.