The Anaheim Ducks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks] have missed the playoffs every year since 2017-18 and in doing so, have drafted in the top ten for seven consecutive seasons and procured one of the NHL’s deepest and most potent prospect pools. Despite several young players having graduated and become full-time NHLers, such as Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier, Mason McTavish, Pavel Mintyukov, and Olen Zellweger, the Ducks still have an impressive pipeline of potential impact and depth prospects yet to make the jump. Lukas Dostal: Increased Pressure, Journey from 'No-Name Goalie' to Paid Among NHL Elite [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/players/lukas-dostal-increased-pressure-journey-from-no-name-goalie-to-paid-among-nhl-elite] Ducks Sign Drew Helleson to Two-Year Extension [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-sign-drew-helleson-to-two-year-extension] Ducks Sign Lukas Dostal to Five-Year Extension [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-sign-lukas-dostal-to-five-year-extension] For this exercise, only players who haven’t lost rookie status are eligible for a ranking, and to be clear, these are my (Patrick Present) subjective rankings. Honorable Mentions: Yegor Sidorov, Herman Traff, Tarin Smith, Lasse Boelius, Calle Clang Sep 24, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Taylor Ward (52) plays for the puck against Anaheim Ducks center Nathan Gaucher (41) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/10c4386f-f6d1-4992-99c6-ff677dd17434.jpeg] Sep 24, 2023; Anaheim, California, USA; Los Angeles Kings right wing Taylor Ward (52) plays for the puck against Anaheim Ducks center Nathan Gaucher (41) during the second period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images 10. NATHAN GAUCHER, 21, C, SAN DIEGO GULLS (AHL) It was a difficult decision to cut Sidorov from the list and rank Gaucher in the tenth spot. Ultimately, it came down to path and projectability. Based on his position demand, brand of hockey, and draft pedigree. It’s a near-certainty that Gaucher will play NHL games, likely well over 100, in his career, beginning within the next couple of seasons. Though having shown more electricity and offensive upside to this point in their careers, the same cannot be said for Sidorov. Gaucher is a straight-line, tenacious, and defensively detailed right-shot center who plays a heavy brand and is difficult to play against on a shift-by-shift basis. He’s an explosive skater, which he uses to cover a great amount of ice to eliminate time and space, whether that’s in defensive zone coverage, on the backcheck in the neutral zone, or on the forecheck in the offensive zone. He utilizes his 6-foot-3, 207-pound frame to establish body position, protect pucks, and bully his way to the front of the opposing crease. The Ducks selected Gaucher (22nd overall in 2022) in the first round of the 2022 draft, Pat Verbeek’s first draft as GM of the franchise, with a pick acquired in the trade of Hampus Lindholm to the Boston Bruins at the 2022 trade deadline. Before his pro career, and in his four seasons playing in the CHL for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, he scored 158 points (80-78=158) in 199 regular season games and added 29 (11-18=29) in 36 playoff games, en route to QMJHL and Memorial Cup championships in 2023. Aug 20, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Team Canada forward Nathan Gaucher (21) and Team Finland defensemen Topi Niemela (7) chase a loose puck during the first period in the championship game during the IIHF U20 Ice Hockey World Championship at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/af92d970-f3ef-472f-bff8-517284844f01.jpeg] Aug 20, 2022; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Team Canada forward Nathan Gaucher (21) and Team Finland defensemen Topi Niemela (7) chase a loose puck during the first period in the championship game during the IIHF U20 Ice Hockey World Championship at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images He won two World Junior Championship gold medals with Canada in 2022 and 2023, playing a shutdown, checking role and totaling six points (2-4=6) in 14 games between the two tournaments. Offense has not been easy to come by since beginning his professional career in 2023-24 as a member of the San Diego Gulls, as he’s only produced 44 points (18-26=44) in 128 AHL games over the last two seasons. He is, however, making his trademark 200-foot impact on every game, and he quickly found his “B-game” when failing to find scoresheets. “Nathan has had to deal with a couple of really important injuries that have set him back a little bit since we drafted him. And unfortunately, he hurt himself right before camp, so it took him a while to get going this year because of that,” Ducks assistant general manager and director of amateur scouting Martin Madden told The Hockey News: Anaheim Ducks, when asked about Gaucher’s progression. “And then, unfortunately, ended the season with injury as well. “But he grew a lot in terms of his confidence with the puck, offensively. Overall, his offensive play grew as he gained confidence, establishing himself as a hard player to play against on the defensive side. They were using him in a checking role, PK. But as the season went on, his skating got better and better, and I think that helped with time and space, so he had more confidence in his hands. He had more confidence to look around and make plays.” The offense was coming around for Gaucher toward the final stretch of the 2024-25 season, as he scored 11 points (5-6=11) in his final 12 games before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. Unfortunately, Gaucher bookended his 2024-25 campaign with injuries: first, he missed a significant percentage of rookie and training camps with a lower body injury, and then sustained the aforementioned shoulder injury to end his season, requiring surgery. He was given an estimated recovery time of 4-6 months after sustaining the injury in March and is expected to be fully healthy by rookie and training camps in September. It’s plausible to believe Gaucher will rediscover what made him offensively successful at the end of last season, compound it with his defensive prowess, and hit the ground running in 2025-26, which will be his third season in the AHL. If he can continue to polish his two-way game and explore the reaches of his offensive capabilities, he will likely be playing NHL games within the next two seasons. Projecting Future Extensions for Leo Carlsson, Cutter Gauthier [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/players/projecting-future-extensions-for-leo-carlsson-cutter-gauthier] Ducks Sign Clang, Myšák to One-Year Deals [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-sign-clang-mysak-to-one-year-deals] Ducks Prospect Uljanskis Chooses CHL for 2025-26 Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/anaheim-ducks/latest-news/ducks-prospect-uljanskis-chooses-chl-for-2025-26-season] Photo Credit: Stan Szeto-Imagn Images
