Top prospects Roger McQueen and Nikita Klepov flashed elite skill in San Jose, offering a promising glimpse into Anaheim’s future despite tough losses against older, physical rosters.
The very first hockey of the 2026-27 season has been played. The Anaheim Ducks hosted their one-day 2026 rookie camp on Friday in Irvine before heading to San Jose for a pair of games in the Sharks-hosted 2026 Rookie Faceoff.
The Ducks invited 13 forwards, 7 defensemen, and two goaltenders from their pipeline to participate. Prospects projected to play in the NCAA this season and prospects playing in Europe this season were omitted from participation.
The Ducks rookies faced off against the rookies from the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday and the rookies from the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday. The Ducks lost to the Avs by a score of 7-2 and to the Kings by a score of 4-1.
Rushing to judgment, one way or another, based on a practice and two exhibition games is a fool’s errand. Each participating roster has varying experience at varying levels. The Ducks roster included talented prospects like Roger McQueen (19) and Nikita Klepov (18), along with 14 other prospects selected in the previous three drafts. Both the Kings’ and Avs rosters were older on average.
Traditionally, the Ducks’ rookies haven’t fared the greatest at these events, both in terms of individual performance and team performance. Leo Carlsson in 2023 and Beckett Sennecke a year ago left much to be desired in their respective rookie tournaments, only to make the Ducks’ opening-night roster that season and submit quality rookie campaigns
All that said, several elements can be evaluated, and takeaways can be had from these events, given the context.
Notes
Roger McQueen: McQueen is as toolsy as they come, but his production during his freshman season in the NCAA was lacking in 2025-26. To date, at any level he’d played, he coasted and was reactionary without the puck while struggling to transport pucks through multiple zones of the ice. His bread and butter was always his small area and cycle play.
This weekend painted a completely different picture for the 6-foot-6 center and 10th overall pick in 2025. He not only displayed every detail learned at Providence last year, playing the premium position he does, but he was also putting himself in positions to catch outlets at full speed, transition pucks through neutral, and navigate traffic after entry and off walls. From skating to hands to change-of-pace attacks, McQueen was able to implement his skill in effective ways he previously hadn’t. This was an encouraging start in his campaign to make Anaheim’s opening night roster.
Nikita Klepov: From the moment Klepov touches a puck, his elite skill is as obvious as can be. The hands are lightning quick, he utilizes a mohawk stride to freeze defenders and afford himself a better angle to make plays, and his release is surprisingly zippy. On a handful of occasions, he displayed what makes his cycle game so lethal: his confidence and IQ to skate pucks from low to high and across the top of the zone, manipulating and spinning off defenders.
The unfamiliarity with teammates and a vanilla system didn’t render the best environment for him to completely unleash his talents, and he wasn’t able to turn the looks he created into much. However, with a more consistent infrastructure, one could see how his game could immediately translate to the NHL level. The Ducks may need it to, in fact.
Forwards: Other standout forwards included Cruz Lucius (124th overall in 2022), which is unsurprising considering his age and experience relative to his teammates. He was poised under pressure, smart and calculating with his decision-making, and didn’t waste any strides.
Noah Kosick 192nd in ’26) was a surprise standout, specifically in Saturday’s game against Colorado. He, much like Lucius, made polished plays under pressure that led to quality chances, as well as displaying a surprising tenacity when chasing pucks down or winning them back. This was a good weekend for a sixth-round pick who turned 18 years old less than one month ago.
Lucas Pettersson (35th in ’24) was another standout up front for the Ducks, as after his second full professional season, he was precise in his decisions, disruptive on the forecheck, and showcased a high hockey IQ.
Defense: This was one of the least experienced and high-profile bluelines the Ducks have had at this tournament in several years. Their timing was inconsistent as a group, and they struggled to clear and protect the net front as a whole.
Matt Basgall (undrafted) was the most effective blueliner, both offensively and defensively in transition. Jayden Kurtz (45th in 2026) showed he has the brain to make a positive impact, but the speed was often too much for him to handle. The same can be said for Eric Frossard (146th in ’26) and Alexis Mathieu (136th in ’26).
Konnor Smith (97th in ’23) was high-event, to say the least, but the negative events outweighed the positive ones this past weekend for the 6-foot-6 stay-at-home defender. A mistimed pinch or blocked point shot can be expected on occasion, but he’s relied on to win battles in the small areas of the ice, and he wasn’t able to accomplish that to a high enough degree.
Goaltending: Damian Clara (60th in ’23) got the start in the first game, and while defensive breakdowns in front of him caused several of the goals he allowed, he allowed a few from distance and without heavy traffic to get by him. He’s long and athletic, but remains quite raw, and now he’ll need to adapt to yet another level of hockey and different rink dimensions in the upcoming season.
Tomas Suchanek started the second game for the Ducks rookies, and his higher comfort level was more apparent. He managed the game well and gave his team a chance to win while playing a calm and steady brand of goaltending. He’ll aim to get a once-promising career that hit an injury speed bump back on track this season.
Many of these prospects will likely be sent back to their junior teams before the Ducks’ NHL training camp commences on Thursday. However, the few who have a chance to make the opening night roster or play an impact role in the AHL with the San Diego Gulls didn’t alter their chances of doing so one way or the other.
