The Anaheim Ducks had a wildly successful 2025 NHL Entry Draft, amassing 10 picks across seven rounds. They ended up drafting five forwards, four defensemen, and one goalie, adding to their already stacked pipeline of talent. Let’s check in on the team’s draft picks from this past year and see how their seasons are going as they come to a close.
Roger McQueen
Roger McQueen, a Canadian center, was drafted by the team in the first round, 10th overall. Excitement quickly built around the forward due to his elite offensive abilities and his namesake connection to the beloved Disney franchise, Cars. Fans were excited to see another young and skillful forward be drafted after Beckett Sennecke, and mused about the future of the team with those two working in tandem.
McQueen played at Providence College this season as an NCAA rookie. Across 35 games, he tallied 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. Providence appeared in the NCAA Men’s Tournament, but was eliminated in the first round of the regionals.
Roger McQueen, Anaheim Ducks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)
He is not signed to an NHL contract, so his future is still up in the air. However, it would not be surprising to see the Ducks take a chance on another young forward after the success of Beckett Sennecke, Cutter Gauthier, and the like this season. We could see McQueen at training camp in the fall, but it is still to be determined.
Eric Nilson
In the second round, the Ducks drafted Eric Nilson 45th overall. The Swedish center has played for Michigan State University this season, where he has amassed 11 points (three goals, eight assists) in 33 games. He also appeared with his home country in the World Junior Championship (WJC) and helped them win gold with three points in seven games. Michigan State will also be playing in the NCAA Tournament, so fans will get to see more from Nilson before the end of the season.
Nilson’s performance in North America has not been up to the same standard as with his Swedish teams. In 2024-25, he had a very impressive 38 points in 37 games with Djurgardens IF. He will likely need more time to develop his game and adjust to North American-style hockey before he is ready to join the NHL. Whether or not he stays with Michigan State or signs a contract to play in the American Hockey League (AHL) is unclear.
Lasse Boelius
Lasse Boelius was also drafted in the second round, 60th overall. He is a defenseman from Finland who plays with Assat in the Liiga in his home nation. He is a defensive blueliner who has scored one goal and notched seven assists across 40 games. In the WJC with Finland, he operated at an impressive point-per-game clip, totaling seven points in as many games. He’s been a fluid and skillful puck mover for his team and will be valuable on the Ducks’ back end one day.
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He was, unfortunately, ruled out for the rest of the season in February with an undisclosed injury. He is under contract with Assat through next season, so fans should expect to wait another year or so before seeing Boelius sign an NHL contract.
Noah Read
Drafted 72nd overall was forward Noah Read of the Niagara IceDogs. This is his second Ontario Hockey League (OHL) team, as he was previously part of the London Knights. He is a high-energy forward who is just as effective in the defensive zone as he is in the offensive zone. This season, he has 22 points (11 goals, 11 assists) in 60 games. Because of his consistent performance, he has earned a “Player of the Game” title multiple times this season.
The IceDogs clinched an OHL playoff berth, and Read has already registered an assist in the postseason on the team’s lone goal in Game 1. They play Game 2 on March 28, and Games 3 and 4 on March 31 and April 2 if fans want to see Read in action. He will likely require more time at the junior level to develop before signing with the Ducks.
Drew Schock
Drew Schock, an American defenseman, was drafted 101st overall in the fourth round. He is in his rookie season at the University of Michigan, where he has been a strong defender and has accumulated 10 points (one goal, nine assists) in 36 games.
Michigan is the top-ranked team in the NCAA Tournament, and Shock made his first appearance in the regionals. He registered two shots and finished with a plus-1 rating. He is a highly mobile defenseman who can move the puck effectively and create pressure. He will be a valued member of the Ducks someday, but expect to see him in the NCAA for at least another season.
Elijah Neuenschwander
Elijah Neuenschwander was the lone goalie selection and was picked 104th overall. The Swiss player is on loan to EHC Chur of the Swiss League (SL), but has also played with HC Fribourg-Gotteron this season. Across his 17 games, he has been stellar, with a 1.95 goals-against average (GAA) and a .911 save percentage (SV%). His 6-foot-4 frame is a major advantage, and he knows how to use it effectively.
He also appeared with Switzerland in the WJC, where he had 2.51 GAA and a .902 SV%. He went 1-1-0 in two games. Neuenschwander seems primed for NHL action, but the Ducks’ goalie pipeline runs deep. It is unclear where he stands for next season, but unless the team opts to move one of their AHL goalies, he will need to remain in a different league for the time being.
Alexis Mathieu
Alexis Mathieu is a Québécois defenseman who was drafted in the fifth round, 136th overall. He has played for two teams in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) this season: the Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Newfoundland Regiment, his current team. In his combined 61 games, he has 14 points.
He is a physical, violent defenseman who already stands at 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds at just 18 years old. He and the Regiment are in the QMJHL Playoffs, facing the Cape Breton Eagles in the first round. Mathieu needs further development time, so fans should expect to see him at the junior level for a few more seasons.
Emile Guite
Chicoutimi Sagueneens forward Emile Guite was selected 159th overall. He is a highly skilled offensive player who has had a phenomenal season in the QMJHL. He has scored 32 goals and registered 33 assists for 65 points in 59 games. His most impressive game of the season came in early March, when he scored a hat trick in under three minutes.
His team is also in the QMJHL Playoffs and is facing the Halifax Mooseheads in Round 1. While his future remains unclear as of now, it would not be surprising to see the team sign such a powerfully offensive player to a contract with the San Diego Gulls next season to bolster their AHL team.
Anthony Allain-Samake
Anthony Allain-Samake was selected in the sixth round, 186th overall. He is a left-handed defenseman, which stands out among the Ducks organization — most of their defenders are right shots. He is playing with the University of Connecticut this season as a rookie and has totaled one goal and nine assists in 38 games. His team made it to the NCAA Tournament but was eliminated in the first round of the regionals. Allain-Samake will need further development time in the NCAA before signing with the Ducks.
Brady Turko
The final draft pick from the Ducks was Brady Turko, who was taken 200th overall. The forward is in his third season with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). This season, he has totaled 36 points (18 goals, 18 assists) in 66 games. Turko was a teammate of McQueen when he was drafted. He is likely to continue developing at the junior level, but could shape up to be a solid middle-six skater for the Ducks in a few years.
Currently, the team has six draft picks for 2026. As the season comes to a close and the draft season ramps up, it will be interesting to see who they choose to add to their future. The 2026 NHL Entry Draft takes place June 26-27 in Buffalo.
