Only four days remain until the 2025 NHL Draft, and multiple franchises are looking to find the next big thing to build their teams around. But not all teams have it the same. While teams like the Nashville Predators have multiple first-round picks, others have none.
One team that has been fortunate when it comes to the draft is the Anaheim Ducks. The California outfit has nine picks across the seven rounds of the draft. Not to mention, they have the 10th overall pick of the first round.
With such an early pick, the Ducks have the chance to bag a first-class prospect, and with the Californians wanting to rebuild their team, it could prove to be a catalyst for it. But among all the prospects, they are urged to pick a high-reward talent next.
Anaheim Ducks Should Take a Big Risk on a New Prospect for Maximum Impact
The Ducks will receive their seventh consecutive top-10 pick on June 27. This is bad news for them because they have missed the playoffs for the seventh consecutive season, something they wish to change this year.
But for the Ducks, this draft will be confusing, as there aren’t many consensus top prospects, with a few big names and multiple dark horses. The Ducks already have one of the deepest young rosters across the league, with names like Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, and Lukas Dostal.
With them already on the team, the Ducks would be looking forward to bagging another newcomer to complete their squad. One name that pops up with chances to come up in the top 10, whom the Ducks can go for, is Roger McQueen.
If Roger McQueen played the whole year, he would be going 1st overall. pic.twitter.com/2Osl2v0857
— World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) March 23, 2025
While many predicted McQueen to be one of the top five picks for the draft, a spinal stress fracture put him on the shelf and took him off the top prospects list. But despite his injury, he still scored 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) across 17 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.
While McQueen is said to be 100% recovered, just a few days ago, he had to pull out of the playoffs for the Wheat Kings, similarly putting his situation to 2024 No. 4 pick Cayden Lindstrom, who had to miss the whole post-draft season due to his injuries.
But with his 6-foot-5, 192-pound frame, McQueen has really impressed the Ducks’ management with his control on the ice and his movement of the puck, drawing comparisons to their legend, Ryan Getzlaf.
Moreover, McQueen has shown the willingness to find open ice on-puck and his teammates off-puck to create rush plays and get the 200-foot impacts. He is one of the biggest high-risk, high-reward prospects.
But if the Ducks secure him, they’ll get a trio of centers along with McTavish and Carlsson, who can fit between wingers.
