Since the 2017-18 season, the Anaheim Ducks have failed to qualify for the playoffs, which has resulted in them securing a top 10 draft pick for seven consecutive years, building one of the NHL’s deepest and most promising prospect pools. Despite several young talents like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gautier, Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, and Oren Zelweger progressing into full-time NHL players, the Ducks still boast an impressive developmental pipeline filled with potential impact players and depth.
The question remains: will the so-called "Rangers West" help the Ducks return to playoff contention? One player to watch is Lucas Dostal, who has evolved from an overlooked goalie to one considered among the NHL’s elite.
For this ranking exercise, only rookie-eligible players are considered, with a subjective list presented by Patrick.
Honorable Mentions: Yegor Sidorov, Herman Met, Tarin Smith, Lasse Boelius, Calle Clang
Top 10 Prospects:
- Nathan Gaucher, 21, Center, San Diego Gulls (AHL)
- Ian Moore, 23, Right Defense, San Diego Gulls (AHL)
- Sasha Pastujov, 22, Wing, San Diego Gulls (AHL)
- Tomas Suchanek, 22, Goalie, San Diego Gulls (AHL)
- Eric Nilsson, 18, Center, Michigan State University (NCAA)
Eric Nilsson, drafted 45th overall in 2025, is the 6th-ranked Ducks prospect. A true two-way center, Nilsson comes from a hockey lineage—his father, Marcus Nilsson, was a first-round pick with an extensive career touching the NHL, AHL, SHL, and KHL. Martin Madden, assistant GM and director of amateur scouting, compares Eric Nilsson to William Carlson at a similar age, highlighting his intelligence, competitiveness, skills, and determination. Despite being 165 pounds and 6 feet tall, Nilsson’s combination of technique, skating, hockey IQ, and defensive responsibility makes him an exciting prospect.
Nilsson spent much of the past two seasons in Sweden’s J20 Nationell league, posting notable stats with Djurgardens IF, and transitioned to the NCAA’s Michigan State in 2025-26 to take advantage of both competitive play and development opportunities.
While Nilsson’s physical development is ongoing, his strong defensive habits and work ethic project him to reach at least 100 NHL games, with the potential to become an effective two-way forward and penalty killer.
In other Ducks news, Drew Helleson recently signed a two-year extension, Lucas Dostal agreed to a five-year extension, and the Ducks inked one-year deals with players Clan and Myshark.
Photo credit: Anaheim Ducks PR / Derek Lee – The Hockey News
Fan Take: This surge in young talent and key contract extensions could mark the turning point for the Anaheim Ducks, signaling a return to competitiveness and playoffs. For hockey fans, it’s exciting to watch a franchise build through youth and smart drafting, which ultimately helps sustain the sport’s competitive balance and overall growth.
